FUNDING STANDARDS AND PRACTICES

1. Introduction & Background
   1. Policy Base
   2. Policy Objectives
   3. Policy Application
   4. Policy Procedures
   5. Regulatory Requirements
   6. Who May be Identified as an Underwriter?
   7. Special Restrictions
   
   
   
2. General Principles for Determining the Acceptability of National Program Funding
   This section addresses the process for determining the acceptability of pro­posed program funding arrangements. If the funding arrangement is determined to be acceptable, a separate evaluation of the proposed funding credit will then take place (see Sections III and IV).

   Three "tests" are applied to every proposed funding arrangement in order to determine its acceptability:

   • Editorial Control Test: Has the underwriter exercised editorial control? Could it?
   • Perception Test: Might the public perceive that the underwriter has exercised editorial control?
   • Commercialism Test: Might the public conclude the program is on PBS principally because it promotes the underwriter’s prod­ucts, services or other business interests?

   The following describes these tests and their application in more detail.

   1. Editorial Control Test
   2. Perception Test
   3. Commercialism Test
   
   
   
3. Guidelines for On-Air Underwriting Credits
   Once an underwriting arrangement has been approved, the next step is to review and approve the proposed on-air credit that will identify the underwriter(s). This section sets forth the rules applying to credit content, duration and placement.

   RULE 1	Overall Appearance and Effect of Credits
   RULE 2	Children's Programs
   RULE 3	How-To Programs
   RULE 4	Treatment of PBS and CPB Funding
   RULE 5	Text of Credits for Production or Acquisition Funding
   RULE 6	Disclaimer for Controversial Issue Programs
   RULE 7	Frequency of Credits
   RULE 8	Placement of Underwriting Credits
   RULE 9	Order of Underwriting Credits
   RULE 10	Duration of Underwriting Credits
   RULE 11	Number of Permissible Underwriters
   RULE 12	In-Kind Goods and Services
   RULE 13	Credits for Program Distributors

   
   
4. Guidelines for PBS Internet Sponsorship
   
   • Principles
   • PBS Review and Advance Approval
   • Full Disclosure
   • Privacy/Personal Data Collection

Amended January 27, 2008.

PBS Production Guidelines

	PBS Editorial Standards and Practices
	PBS National Program Funding Standards and Practices
	Operating Parameters for Sponsorship Acknowledgment on Program Web Sites
	PBS Guidelines for On-Air Announcements Promoting Program-Related Goods and Services

 
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