Mission
PBS is a membership organization that, with its member stations, serves the American public with programming and services of the highest quality, using media to educate, inspire, entertain and express the diversity of perspectives. PBS empowers individuals to achieve their potential and strengthens the social, democratic and cultural health of the U.S.
PBS offers programming that expands the minds of children, documentaries that open up new worlds, non-commercialized news programs that keep citizens informed on world events and cultures and programs that expose America to the worlds of music, theater, dance and art. It is a multi-platform media organization that serves Americans through television, mobile devices, the web, in the classroom, and more.
PBS is a private, nonprofit corporation, founded in 1969, whose members are America’s public TV stations -- noncommercial, educational licensees that operate nearly 350 PBS member stations and serve all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.
America’s Largest Classroom
As America’s largest classroom, PBS is available to all of America’s children – including those who can’t attend preschool – and offers educational media that help prepare children for success in school. PBS is the No. 1 source of media content for preschool teachers and a leading place parents turn to for preschool video online, with content proven to improve critical literacy skills in young children.
America’s Largest Stage
At a time when funding for music and arts within our schools is being cut, PBS is helping to keep the arts alive today and for generations to come by ensuring the worlds of music, theater, dance and art remain available to all Americans, many of whom might never have had the opportunity to experience them otherwise. During the 2014-'15 season, PBS offered nearly 600 hours of arts and cultural programming, which was watched by over 110 million people.
A Trusted Window to the World
PBS offers programming for a wide range of ages, interests and genres. Each month, nearly 100 million people through television and nearly 33 million people online explore the worlds of science, history, culture, great literature and public affairs through PBS’ trusted content.
PBS: America's Most Trusted Institution