America's Largest Classroom, the Nation's Largest Stage and a Trusted Window to the World
 
Every day, PBS and nearly 350 member stations fulfill our essential mission to the American public, providing trusted programming that is uniquely different from commercial broadcasting and treating audiences as citizens, not simply consumers. For 15 consecutive years, a national study has rated PBS as the most-trusted institution in America.
 
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. Of the 155 licensees, 82 are community organizations, 51 are colleges/universities, 18 are state authorities and four are local educational or municipal authorities. 
 
PBS Programs Management works to ensure universal service for the purpose of ensuring public safety. Leveraging our national footprint, stations work to ensure public safety while engaging stakeholders to support efforts.