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PBS

File:PBS_logo_2019.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Also known as Public Broadcasting Service

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educational programs to public television stations in the United States, distributing shows such as Nature, Nova, Frontline, PBS News Hour, Washington Week, Masterpiece, American Experience, and children's programs such as ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Barney & Friends, Arthur, Curious George, The Magic School Bus'', and others. Certain stations also provide spi

Key facts

Television channel.name
PBS
Television channel.logo
PBS logo 2019.svg
Television channel.logo_alt
PBS logo, a three P-head followed by the "PBS" wordmark
Television channel.logo_caption
Logo used since November 4, 2019
Television channel.headquarters
Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Television channel.owner
PBS's member public television stations
Television channel.replaced
National Educational Television (1952–1970)
Television channel.affiliates
List of member stations
Television channel.webcast
(US only)
Television channel.online_serv_1
Service(s)
Television channel.online_chan_1
DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Prime Video Live TV, YouTube TV

via Wikipedia infobox

Research organization · ROR

Type
Other
Founded
1955
Location
Arlington, United States
Also known as
PBS
Status
Active

GRID grid.427226.7 · ISNI 0000 0004 0368 1518

Wikidata facts

Revenue
558177775
Official website
www.pbs.org
Image
2100 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA April 2019.jpg
Show 9 more facts
Commons category
PBS (United States)
inception
1969-11-03
date of official opening
1970-10-05
National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities code
A32
social media followers
1510000
official shop URL
shop.pbs.org
short name
PBS
donations
271289329
total assets
654554638
Sources (15)

via Wikidata · CC0

~48 min read

Article

30 sections
Contents
  • History
  • Operations
  • Programming
  • PBS Kids
  • Sports
  • Governance
  • Member stations
  • Participating stations
  • PBS networks
  • Independent networks
  • Visual identity
  • Reception
  • Critical response
  • On-air fundraising
  • Concerns and investigations
  • Accusations of political/ideological bias
  • Accusations during Tomlinson tenure
  • Second Trump administration
  • FCC underwriting investigation
  • Executive Order 14290
  • Rescissions Act of 2025
  • Lawsuit with Pacific Arts
  • Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN)
  • See also
  • Similar public broadcasting services
  • Notes
  • References
  • Works cited
  • Further reading
  • External links

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educational programs to public television stations in the United States, distributing shows such as Nature, Nova, Frontline, PBS News Hour, Washington Week, Masterpiece, American Experience, and children's programs such as ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Barney & Friends, Arthur, Curious George, The Magic School Bus, and others. Certain stations also provide spillover service to Canada.

PBS is funded by a combination of member station dues, pledge drives, corporate sponsorships, and donations from both private foundations and individual citizens. From its founding in 1969 up until 2025, it also received funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. All proposed funding for programming is subject to a set of standards to ensure the program is free of influence from the funding source. PBS has over 350 member television stations, many owned by educational institutions, nonprofit groups both independent or affiliated with one particular local public school district or collegiate educational institution, or entities owned by or related to state government.

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