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Partners
About PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service: An Overview
PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, non-profit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 349 public television stations. A trusted community resource, PBS uses the power of noncommercial television, the Internet and other media to enrich the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services that inform, inspire and delight. Available to 99 percent of American homes with televisions and to an increasing number of digital multimedia households, PBS serves nearly 100 million people each week.
PBS in Brief
- A private, nonprofit corporation whose members are America's public TV stations.
- Founded in 1969.
- Provides quality TV programming and related services to 349 noncommercial stations serving all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.
- PBS oversees program acquisition, distribution and promotion; education services; new media ventures; fundraising support; engineering and technology development; and video marketing.
- Programs are obtained from PBS stations, independent producers and sources around the world. PBS does not produce programs.
How many people watch PBS?
The PBS audience reflects the social and economic makeup of the nation. Almost 76 million households, representing 146.1 million people tune in to their local Public Television station. Approximately 89 million people watch PBS in an average week.
Who runs Public Television?
Public television stations are local community institutions that are operated under the direction of the licensee-i.e., state/local government, nonprofit community group, college/university. There is no network as there is in commercial television. PBS and APT are membership organizations that oversee program acquisition, distribution and promotion. Stations also have access to other program providers for material to create their own local schedule.
How many Public Television stations are there?
There are 170 licensees operating 349 public television stations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam.
PBS - Underwriting
PBS is respected and recognized nationwide as a quality provider of broadcast programs. PBS underwriters in turn are connected to this message of dependability and integrity resonating directly with viewers.
- 72% of respondents said that PBS sets the standards of quality for television.
- 70% of respondents feel that companies that fund PBS programs have a commitment to quality and excellence.
- 63% are more inclined to purchase from companies that support PBS.
- 54% say they would consider switching brands to support PBS sponsors.
Public television demographics:
Below is a breakdown, by TV household characteristics, of the full day public TV audience for an average week from January 2003 and February 2003. National persons demographic figures are also provided by sex/age. (Source: Nielsen Television Index.)
| CHARACTERISTICS |
TOTAL U.S.
TV HOUSEHOLDS |
PTV
AUDIENCE |
CHARACTERISTICS |
TOTAL U.S.
TV HOUSEHOLDS |
PTV
AUDIENCE |
| Race* |
|
|
Household Income* |
|
|
| Black |
12.0% |
10.9% |
Less than $20,000 |
20.0% |
18.1% |
| Spanish Origin |
9.1 |
9.0 |
$20,000-$39,999 |
23.9 |
23.4 |
| |
|
|
$40,000-$59,999 |
18.2 |
18.9 |
| |
|
|
$60,000+ |
37.9 |
39.6 |
 |
| Education* |
|
|
Occupation* |
|
|
| Less than 4 yrs. high school |
14.9% |
13.7% |
Prof./Owner/Manager |
25.8% |
26.1% |
| 4 years high school |
30.5 |
29.2 |
Clerical & Sales |
16.3 |
15.2 |
| 1-3 years college |
27.6 |
27.2 |
Skilled & Semi-skilled |
26.7 |
24.7 |
| 4+ years college |
27.0 |
30.0 |
Not in labor Force |
31.2 |
34.0 |
|
| Age |
| Children (2-5) |
5.7% |
9.1% |
| Children (6-11) |
9.0 |
9.0 |
| Teen-agers (12-17) |
9.1 |
5.0 |
| Women (18-34) |
12.0 |
8.9 |
Men (18-34) |
11.8 |
7.4 |
| Women (35-49) |
12.0 |
11.5 |
Men (35-49) |
11.5 |
10.6 |
| Women (50-64) |
8.7 |
10.2 |
Men (50-64) |
8.0 |
9.0 |
| Women (65+) |
7.1 |
10.9 |
Men (65+) |
5.1 |
8.4 |
* Head of household
July 2003 |
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