History Creator / PBS

* ''Series/Annika2021''

Some local PBS stations create their own content, but most buy content produced by others. The largest content producer in the country is UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}'s WGBH, which has produced shows like the science documentary series ''Nova'' and the {{edutainment}} show ''Series/{{ZOOM}}''. And while we're on the subject, WGBH's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEAQn1Zle5s ident]] (which remained unchanged until 2020), and features theme music from synthesizer pioneer Gershon Kingsley that the station has used since 1971) happens to be pure NightmareFuel (as were some of PBS's [[VanityPlate own early logos]]). WQED in Pittsburgh was historically another major provider, but it gradually petered out (with the end of the ''Neighborhood'' in 2001, it ceased to produce nationally-distributed programming). Similarly, WTTW of Chicago's output has dwindled in recent years; in the past it provided ''Series/SiskelAndEbert'' their first TV series, ''The Frugal Gourmet'', ''Series/LambChopsPlayAlong'' as well as a revival of ''Series/{{Kidsongs}}'' on television. It still co-produced ''Series/TheMcLaughlinGroup'' for both PBS and network stations until creator, executive producer, and host John [=McLaughlin=]'s death in 2016. WNET of New York also contributes major programming, including ''Great Performances'', ''American Masters'', ''Nature'', producing ''PBS [=NewsHour=] Weekend'', and a large amount of PBS Kids programming. Some noteworthy programs broadcast throughout PBS' history include many of Ken Burns' documentaries and the controversial show ''An American Family'' in 1973, which is now viewed as the UrExample for the entire genre of [[RealityTV reality television]]. (The {{irony}} of a network with a reputation as highbrow as PBS inventing the RealityShow is not lost on some of us.) Some PBS affiliates also let other companies use their studios for filming non-PBS programs. An example is Philadelphia's WHYY, who had among other things, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s quintessential game show, ''[[Series/DoubleDare1986 Double Dare]]'', as well as sister series ''Series/FindersKeepers'' and ''Series/ThinkFast'', taped at their facilities until Nick moved to Orlando- and Ride/UniversalStudios- in 1990.

Many PBS stations also rely on content from the BBC, leading to a joke claiming that the network's acronym stood for "[[FunWithAcronyms Primarily British Series]]." For many years during its original run, several PBS stations aired ''Series/DoctorWho''. Two other popular British imports are ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' and ''Series/AreYouBeingServed'', which have been airing on a PBS station somewhere or other since they first acquired the programs in the mid-1970s. The sci-fi sitcom ''Series/RedDwarf'' was also broadcast on some PBS stations, on occasion being the focus of the aforementioned pledge drives. Finally, the [[LongRunner long-running]] ''Masterpiece Theatre'' (now known simply as ''Series/{{Masterpiece}}'') consists mostly of British productions (including some from Creator/{{ITV}} and Creator/ChannelFour), the most popular of which currently are ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' and the revival of ''Series/UpstairsDownstairs'', which have been among [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/19/downton-abbey-season-3-becomes-top-rated-pbs-drama-of-all-time.html the biggest hits]] the network's had in its history. PBS also imports some content from its Canadian counterpart, the {{Creator/CBC}}, such as the ''{{Franchise/Degrassi}}'' shows and ''Series/TheRedGreenShow'', and from provincial public broadcasters such as Ontario's TVO (''Series/TodaysSpecial'' was shown on some affiliates). Many PBS Kids shows, including ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Cyberchase}}'', are Canadian-made productions as well. Public television stations in some markets - for example, San Jose, California - also found cult audiences broadcasting {{anime}}, often in Japanese with English subtitles.

* Late night brings more public affairs programming. This block was severely affected by the [=#MeToo=] movement and resulting Weinstein Effect, which saw mainstays Charlie Rose and Tavis Smiley get the boot in a span of three and a half weeks. The current inhabitant of the block is Creator/{{CNN}}, which produces in association with WNET sister station WLIW an hour-long daily program ''Amanpour & Co.'', featuring British CNN personality Christiane Amanpour and other PBS public affairs personalities, including Hari Sreenivasan. Stations have also been known to run ''BBC World News'', ''Nightly Business Report'', ''The Whole Truth with David Eisenhower'', ''Great Decisions in Foreign Policy'', ''NHK Newsline'', ''Asia Insight'', and ''Radio/DemocracyNow'', among others, in this block as part of their own local programming.

As a government-run television network, PBS has been subjected to fights within the government over funding as far back as TheSixties ([[Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood Fred Rogers']] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q speech to the Senate]] in defense of the young network was a defining moment in television history for just that reason). The usual cry of public television's opponents is that PBS was created in [[TheSixties a time]] when there were only [[Creator/{{CBS}} three]] [[Creator/{{NBC}} television]] [[Creator/{{ABC}} networks]] in the United States as opposed to over a hundred, and that the public need for it no longer exists in today's world of cable, satellite and streaming TV. Supporters, meanwhile, argue that PBS is essential for rural viewers and those who can't afford cable or satellite, that it provides things like science documentaries, hard-hitting investigative journalism and educational children's programming that would never last a day on commercial television, and that commercial educational and niche programming channels are vulnerable to NetworkDecay.[[note]]The experience of the Creator/DiscoveryChannel, Creator/TheHistoryChannel, Creator/NickJr, TLC, and BBC America in the last several years bears that out pretty well.[[/note]] The large degree of control given to local affiliates is also a point of contention, with some people arguing that this is an outmoded, inefficient structure that should be replaced with something more centralized, and others saying that it's necessary for the community involvement for which PBS stations are known. Also, despite the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 prohibiting political bias in PBS broadcasting, it has been accused of such by both sides over the years. On at least one occasion, the reverse has happened: In 1982, Congress asked PBS to abandon its official neutral position in order to air the program ''Let Poland Be Poland'', which criticized the Soviet-enforced declaration of martial law in Poland in 1981.

* ''Series/DoctorWho''[[note]]While the original series was seen on practically every PBS station (in select markets), the new series ended up being another issue. The BBC first gave the US distribution rights first to the Sci-Fi Network then to BBC America, where, generally, they hung on to the new episodes for about a year before handing it over to PBS. But, even then, not all PBS stations aired the new episodes. Then in 2015, the writing was on the wall as Series 8 was the last of the new series to air on PBS. As of this writing, the only station that still shows Doctor Who in some shape or form is Iowa PBS for the entire state of Iowa.[[/note]]

->This page was made possible by [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/donate.php contributions]] to your Website/TVTropes website from {{viewers like you}}. Thank you.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[http://www.pbs.org Be more.]]'']]

Of course, this page wouldn't be complete without a list of anime broadcast by certain affiliates, including, most prominently, KTEH (and its then-satellite KCAH in Watsonville, currently known as KQED Plus while KCAH became KQET and released KQED). These include:

* ''Franchise/{{Degrassi}}''[[note]]PBS actually came up with the show's title, not Creator/{{CBC}}. ''The Kids of Degrassi Street'' was originally a series of unconnected Series/{{Afterschool Special}}s, but when PBS bought the American distribution rights, they wanted an umbrella title for all of them, so they [[LineOfSightName named it after the main filming location]] on De Grassi Street on the east side of UsefulNotes/{{Toronto}}.[[/note]]

* ''Series/DoctorWho''[[note]]While the original series was seen on practically every PBS station, the new series ended up being another issue. The BBC first gave the US distribution rights first to the Sci Fi Network then to BBC America, where, generally, they hung on to the new episodes for about a year before handing it over to PBS. But, even then, not all PBS stations aired the new episodes. Then in 2015, the writing was on the wall as Series 8 was the last of the new series to air on PBS. As of this writing, the only station that still shows Doctor Who in some shape or form is IPTV for the entire state of Iowa.[[/note]]

* ''Series/FawltyTowers''[[note]]Premiered on PBS in 1977, with the original roster including KERA in Dallas, TX, KETC in St. Louis, MO, WNET in New York, NY, WPTD in Dayton, OH, and WQED in Pittsburgh, PA.[[/note]]

* ''Series/TheJoyOfPainting''

* ''Series/RickStevesEurope''

Of course, this page wouldn't be complete without a list of anime broadcast by certain affiliates, including, most prominently, KQED Plus. These include:

Many PBS stations also rely on content from the BBC, leading to a joke claiming that the network's acronym stood for "[[FunWithAcronyms Primarily British Series]]." For many years during its original run, PBS was the U.S. distributor of ''Series/DoctorWho''. Two other popular British imports are ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' and ''Series/AreYouBeingServed'', which have been airing on a PBS station somewhere or other since they first acquired the programs in the mid-1970s. The sci-fi sitcom ''Series/RedDwarf'' was also broadcast on some PBS stations, on occasion being the focus of the aforementioned pledge drives. Finally, the [[LongRunner long-running]] ''Masterpiece Theatre'' (now known simply as ''Series/{{Masterpiece}}'') consists mostly of British productions (including some from Creator/{{ITV}} and Creator/ChannelFour), the most popular of which currently are ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' and the revival of ''Series/UpstairsDownstairs'', which have been among [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/19/downton-abbey-season-3-becomes-top-rated-pbs-drama-of-all-time.html the biggest hits]] the network's had in its history. PBS also imports some content from its Canadian counterpart, the {{Creator/CBC}}, such as the ''{{Franchise/Degrassi}}'' shows and ''Series/TheRedGreenShow'', and from provincial public broadcasters such as Ontario's TVO (''Series/TodaysSpecial'' was shown on some affiliates). Many PBS Kids shows, including ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Cyberchase}}'', are Canadian-made productions as well. Public television stations in some markets - for example, San Jose, California - also found cult audiences broadcasting {{anime}}, often in Japanese with English subtitles.

Despite being primarily American in its coverage, PBS has quite a few member stations that broadcast outside of the United States. Most famously, there are eleven US-Canada border stations: KCTS Seattle (also covers Vancouver), KSPS Spokane (also covers Calgary and Edmonton in addition to parts of British Columbia and Saskatchewan), Maine Public Broadcasting Network (also covers Southeastern Canada), Prairie Public Television (also covers Winnipeg), Vermont PBS (also covers Montreal and by extension most of Quebec on cable), WCFE Plattsburgh (also covers Montreal), WNED Buffalo/Toronto, WPBS Watertown/Ottawa, WQLN Erie/London, WTVS Detroit (also covers Windsor), and WXXI Rochester (covers populous parts of southern Ontario east of Toronto). Most cable systems in Canada carry at least one PBS station, and WTVS was seen coast to coast on cable starting in the 1980s thanks to carriage on the Cancom broadcast satellite, sometimes - though not always - supplanting other, closer affiliates (for example, WTVS replaced Duluth's WDSE on cable systems in Thunder Bay, but both WTVS and KCTS are carried on Vancouver cable to this day). In fact, many PBS stations in border regions rely on support from Canadian viewers to stay afloat, and many programs on these stations are underwritten at least in part by Canadian sponsors. In some areas, PBS also competes with domestic non-commercial public broadcasters operated by the provincial governments, including Ontario's English-speaking TVO[[note]]Which for many years aired ''Sesame Street'' reruns while Creator/{{CBC}} had the rights to first-run episodes[[/note]] and French-speaking TFO[[note]]Formerly known as La Chaine Francaise[[/note]], British Columbia's Knowledge Network, Alberta's now-defunct Access Network (now a [[Creator/{{CTV}} CTV2]] affiliate), and Télé-Québec.

Currently, they have branched out to the Internet, creating a well-received, informative WebVideo series on Website/YouTube, The WebVideo/PBSIdeaChannel. Other TV ventures include several diginets, including ''World'', offering PBS' current affairs library 24/7, and ''Create'', focusing on DIY-type and cooking shows; these digi-nets are not operated by PBS, but by close ally American Public Television, which syndicates various programs to PBS stations. (Previous PBS digi-nets included ''PBS YOU'', which was the predecessor to Create and carried college tele-courses, and ''V-Me'', a Spanish-language network that has since broken away from PBS.) PBS has a [[UsefulNotes/HomeVideoDistributors home video division]], PBS Distribution (formerly named PBS Home Video).

-->--Callum Crashaw, ''Pressing Issues'' (Radio/GTARadio)

* ''Series/DoctorWho''[[note]]While the original series was seen on practically every PBS station, the new series ended up being another issue. The BBC first gave the US distribution rights first to the SyFy Network then to BBC America, where, generally, they hung on to the new episodes for about a year before handing it over to PBS. But, even then, not all PBS stations aired the new episodes. Then in 2015, the writing was on the wall as Series 8 was the last of the new series to air on PBS. As of this writing, the only station that still shows Doctor Who in some shape or form is IPTV for the entire state of Iowa.[[/note]]

* ''Series/DoctorWho''[[note]]While the original series was seen on practically every PBS station, the new series ended up being another issue. The BBC first gave the US distribution rights first to the SyFy Network then to BBC America, where, generally, they hung on to the new episodes for about a year before handing it over to PBS. But, even then, not all PBS stations aired the new episodes. Then in 2017, the writing was on the wall as Series 8 was the last of the new series to air on PBS. As of this writing, the only station that still shows Doctor Who in some shape or form is IPTV for the entire state of Iowa.[[/note]]

* ''Series/DoctorWho''[[note]]While the original series was seen on practically every PBS station, the new series is another issue. The BBC currently gives the US distribution rights first to BBC America, where they will hang on to the new episodes for about a year before handing it over to PBS. And even then, not all PBS stations still show the new episodes. As of this writing, the only stations that still show new episodes are: WTTW in Chicago, IL, WPT in Madison, WI, KLRU in Austin, TX, WETA in Washington D.C., OETA in Oklahoma City, OK, and IPTV for the entire state of Iowa.[[/note]]

* ''Anime/SakuraWarsTV''

* ''Series/pbsGreatMuseums'' - A show about different museums in which they go talk about the history of each a museum that they feature (except in the case of riches rivalries and rascals, 100 years episode in which they did an overview of museums instead of focusing on one.), aired episodes inconsistently over the course of a decade.

* ''Series/{pbsGreatMuseums}}'' - A show about different museums in which they go talk about the history of each a museum that they feature (except in the case of riches rivalries and rascals, 100 years episode in which they did an overview of museums instead of focusing on one.), aired episodes inconsistently over the course of a decade.

* ''Series/pbsGreatMuseums'' - A show about different museums in which they go talk about the history of each a museum that they feature (except in the case of riches rivalries and rascals, 100 years episode in which they did an overview of museums instead of focusing on one.), aired episodes inconsistently over the course of a decade.

* Series/pbsGreatMuseums - A show about different museums in which they go talk about the history of each a museum that they feature (except in the case of riches rivalries and Rascals, 100 years episode in which they did an overview of museums.), aired episodes inconsistently over the course of a decade.

* Series/pbs Great Museums - A show about different museums in which they go talk about the history of each a museum that they feature (except in the case of riches rivalries and Rascals, 100 years episode in which they did an overview of museums.), aired episodes inconsistently over the course of a decade.

* pbs Great museums - A show about different museums in which they go talk about the history of each a museum that they feature (except in the case of riches rivalries and Rascals, 100 years episode in which they did an overview of museums.), aired episodes inconsistently over the course of a decade.

Despite being primarily American in its coverage, PBS has quite a few member stations that broadcast outside of the United States. Most famously, there are eleven US-Canada border stations: KCTS Seattle (also covers Vancouver), KSPS Spokane (also covers Calgary and Edmonton in addition to parts of British Columbia and Saskatchewan), Maine Public Broadcasting Network (also covers Southeastern Canada), Prairie Public Television (also covers Winnipeg), Vermont PBS (also covers Montreal and by extension most of Quebec on cable), WCFE Plattsburgh (also covers Montreal), WNED Buffalo/Toronto, WPBS Watertown/Ottawa, WQLN Erie/London, WTVS Detroit (also covers Windsor), and WXXI Rochester (covers populous parts of southern Ontario east of Toronto). Most cable systems in Canada carry at least one PBS station, and WTVS was seen coast to coast on cable starting in the 1980s thanks to carriage on the Cancom broadcast satellite, sometimes - though not always - supplanting other, closer affiliates (for example, WTVS replaced Duluth's WDSE on cable systems in Thunder Bay, but both WTVS and KCTS are carried on Vancouver cable to this day). In fact, many PBS stations in border regions rely on support from Canadian viewers to stay afloat, and many programs on these stations are underwritten at least in part by Canadian sponsors. In some areas, PBS also competes with domestic non-commercial public broadcasters operated by the provincial governments, including Ontario's English-speaking TFO and French-speaking TFO, British Columbia's Knowledge Network, Alberta's now-defunct Access Network (now a [[Creator/{{CTV}} CTV2]] affiliate), and Télé-Québec.

Many PBS stations also rely on content from the BBC, leading to a joke claiming that the network's acronym stood for "[[FunWithAcronyms Primarily British Series]]." For many years during its original run, PBS was the U.S. distributor of ''Series/DoctorWho''. Two other popular British imports are ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' and ''Series/AreYouBeingServed'', which have been airing on a PBS station somewhere or other since they first acquired the programs in the mid-1970s. The sci-fi sitcom ''Series/RedDwarf'' was also broadcast on some PBS stations, on occasion being the focus of the aforementioned pledge drives. Finally, the [[LongRunner long-running]] ''Masterpiece Theatre'' (now known simply as ''Series/{{Masterpiece}}'') consists mostly of British productions (including some from Creator/{{ITV}} and Creator/ChannelFour), the most popular of which currently are ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' and the revival of ''Series/UpstairsDownstairs'', which have been among [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/19/downton-abbey-season-3-becomes-top-rated-pbs-drama-of-all-time.html the biggest hits]] the network's had in its history. PBS also imports some content from its Canadian counterpart, the {{Creator/CBC}}, such as the ''{{Franchise/Degrassi}}'' shows and ''Series/TheRedGreenShow'', and from provincial public broadcasters such as Ontario's TVO (''Series/TodaysSpecial'' was shown on some affiliates). Many PBS Kids shows, including ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Cyberchase}}'', are Canadian-made productions as well. Public television stations in some markets - for example, San Jose, California - also found cult audiences broadcasting anime, often in Japanese with English subtitles.

Despite being primarily American in its coverage, PBS has quite a few member stations that broadcast outside of the United States. Most famously, there are eleven US-Canada border stations: KCTS Seattle (also covers Vancouver), KSPS Spokane (also covers Calgary and Edmonton in addition to parts of British Columbia and Saskatchewan), Maine Public Broadcasting Network (also covers Southeastern Canada), Prairie Public Television (also covers Winnipeg), Vermont PBS (also covers Montreal and by extension most of Quebec on cable), WCFE Plattsburgh (also covers Montreal), WNED Buffalo/Toronto, WPBS Watertown/Ottawa, WQLN Erie/London, WTVS Detroit (also covers Windsor), and WXXI Rochester (covers populous parts of southern Ontario east of Toronto). Most cable systems in Canada carry at least one PBS station, and WTVS was seen coast to coast on cable starting in the 1980s thanks to carriage on the Cancom broadcast satellite, sometimes - though not always - supplanting other, closer affiliates (for example, WTVS replaced Duluth's WDSE on cable systems in Thunder Bay, but both WTVS and KCTS are carried on Vancouver cable to this day). In fact, many PBS stations in border regions rely on support from Canadian viewers to stay afloat, and many programs on these stations are underwritten at least in part by Canadian sponsors.