PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is a non-profit public broadcasting network in the United States that distributes educational, cultural, and news programming to a nationwide system of member public television stations. Its mission emphasizes informing, educating, and inspiring the public through noncommercial television and digital content, including children’s programming, documentaries, arts and science shows, and public affairs.
Typically supports policies that secure and sustain public funding for public media (including Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding), strengthen federal/state support for local public stations, expand educational and children’s media, protect public-interest journalism and independent production, advance accessibility and closed-captioning, promote diversity and localism in media, and pursue favorable copyright/licensing and retransmission policies for public broadcasters.
Funding derives from a mix of sources: viewer donations and membership drives, dues and fees from member stations, corporate underwriting and sponsorship, foundation and philanthropic grants, federal funding channeled through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and limited state and local support.
National network of member stations (notably WGBH Boston, WNET New York, WETA Washington, KCET Los Angeles), related entities such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the PBS Foundation, PBS Kids, American Public Television, and independent public media producers (e.g., WGBH, ITVS).
Non-profit public broadcasting network (membership organization, 501(c)(3))
