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As a public service provider and a membership organization, PBS must serve and anticipate the constantly changing needs of our member stations and their audiences. We meet these challenges by pursuing programs employing innovative techniques to satisfy viewers' interests in a multitude of subjects including News and Public Affairs; Science and History; Natural History; Drama and Performing Arts; and Children's Programming.
Though we appreciate the value of the programs submitted to us, as well as the enormous effort that goes into executing quality programming, we have limited opportunities and funding for new shows and specials in our schedule. Therefore, not only must producers adhere to the criteria communicated in our PBS Mission (http://www.pbs.org/producers/mission.html) and Content Priorities, but also programs and proposals must often go above and beyond our expectations to merit serious consideration for development, funding and broadcast.
In your endeavor to contribute inspirational, informative, educational, and of course entertaining programming to PBS, ask yourself the following questions to conclude whether or not your program and/or proposal will meet our priorities, as these are the same questions our team will use during evaluation:
 Does the program/proposal correspond with our mission to inspire, inform and educate (http://www.pbs.org/producers/mission.html)? Is the production value of high-quality? Will it add to the value of public television? Is the content accurate and contemporary?
Though many media outlets attempt to tackle similar subjects, whether current, historical or impending, does your program/proposal offer new information either previously unavailable or unacknowledged? What about a different perspective? Have you checked to make sure one of our existing continuing series or anthologies has recently undertaken this or a similar topic? If so, understand your program/proposal may not be a scheduling priority, regardless of innovation. Perhaps consider waiting to submit to us at a later date.
Is the program/proposal entertaining? How would you describe the pace? Is this something that would hold your interest for half an hour? What about a full hour? Two hours? Is there any point where people might be tempted to change the channel?
Does the program/proposal engage the viewer? Do you believe it will speak to people on multiple emotional and intellectual levels? Will the content inspire people to investigate the subject further once the program has ended? Have you provided opportunities for member stations to benefit their communities with your materials?
Will the program/proposal attract a large, diverse audience? Will the material appeal to a wide age range? Will both 25-year-olds and 45-year-olds relate to the content? What about both men and women? Do you believe people that live in urban, rural and suburban areas will connect with the program? Is there a chance people might be offended by the content?
How will the program/proposal comply with PBS’ interactive requirements? Have you provided opportunities for web development? What about other media outlets like podcasting or video on-demand.
Though PBS collaborates with member stations to develop programming for the national schedule, stations also have their individual scheduling needs and therefore, programs with local or regional focus often find more success at the local station level. Additionally, producers are welcome to submit their programs and/or proposals to specific member stations, which are likewise qualified to advise producers on how to match their projects to PBS’ mission and content priorities. You may find contact information for member stations at PBS Station Finder (http://www.pbs.org/stationfinder/index.html).
CONTINUING SERIES AND ANTHOLOGIES ON PBS
Continuing series and anthologies comprise 80% of our primetime schedule. Producers who wish to have their programs considered for continuing series and anthologies should send their ideas and submissions directly to the attention of the series’ producers. We strongly advise producers to review the web sites for these series prior to submission as their processes and requirements may differ from ours. Also, please be aware that PBS will not be responsible for forwarding materials to series’ producers should submissions be sent to PBS in error.
Please send all Independent Lens submissions to:
PBS
2100 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
Contact information for additional series may be found at PBS Program Contacts (http://www.pbs.org/search/search_contacts.html).
FACTUAL PROGRAMMING ON PBS
Non-fiction programs and proposals must adhere to the criteria stated in the PBS Mission (http://www.pbs.org/producers/mission.html) and Content Priorities (http://www.pbs.org/producers/priorities.html), as well as provide only accurate and responsible information corroborated by established and reputable historians, experts, scholars, scientists and their institutions. When applicable, the show’s host must be charismatic and knowledgeable to engage the viewer and advance the story. There should also be as much focus placed on content as there is on context, with visual, factual and narrative elements fashioning a clear statement on the subject. Just as in narrative programming, observational documentaries should present a story with drama and character development.
DRAMA, PERFORMING ARTS, AND CULTURE ON PBS
Programs or proposals for arts documentaries should place music, dance and other forms of artistic expression in a historical and cultural context and be accessible to a broad audience. American-oriented dramas and documentaries that show the process behind artistic endeavors are also desirable as well as performance specials covering a variety of arts.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ON PBS
PBS KIDS educates, enriches and entertains all of America's children, employing the full spectrum of media to build knowledge and critical thinking; to empower children as members of their communities, nation and world; and to welcome parents, teachers and caregivers as learning partners.
PBS KIDS employs a multi-media approach to content, providing pre-school and elementary school aged children with an entertaining, non-violent and non-commercial environment in which to learn about themselves and the world around them. Programs are extended beyond broadcast to interactive activities and fun, fact-filled adventures on PBSKIDS.org, as well as through educational outreach activities and print materials.
Programs and proposals offered to PBS KIDS should reflect solid,
age-appropriate educational goals, which incorporate the work of
educational advisors and/or research to support the program's specific objectives. Program proposals should include plans describing how the educational and entertainment value of the program content will be extended through online, outreach and print activities.
Those wishing to submit proposals for programming for PBS KIDS must be experienced television producers and have a demonstrated track record in educational television production for pre-school and/or elementary school aged children. Producers should also have knowledge of and experience in working with educational experts skilled in the creation of curriculum materials and learning tools for various media platforms, particularly the web. Proposals will only be given serious consideration if the educational goals and objective are clearly outlined, an outreach plan for extending the property to the local stations and communities is included, and the content includes diverse, entertaining, and engaging characters and themes.
PBS Kids Producer Guidelines(PDF; Adobe Reader required)
PBS PLUS
PBS PLUS is an optional programming service for public television stations, providing fully underwritten series and specials. Over 99% of PBS stations subscribe to this service - reaching 100% of national TV households. Annually, stations are provided with approximately 600 hours of programming.
PBS PLUS is seeking programs with national appeal that supplement PBS's National Program Service for prime time and Ready to Learn Children's programming. PBS PLUS series and specials range from "how-to" and self-help programs such as THIS OLD HOUSE, HOMETIME and VICTORY GARDEN to topical news and information programs like CHARLIE ROSE and RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY. PBS PLUS also looks for content that embraces our country's cultural diversity through heritage documentaries and holiday celebration programs for both adults and children. Half-hour lifestyle series in the cooking, home improvement, and technology genres are also a content priority.
FUNDRAISING PROGRAMMING
Fundraising Programming specials are programs that are designed to prompt regular and new PBS viewers into becoming members of their local PBS station. The most successful fundraising programs tend to be performance shows of exceptional quality, usually appealing to a 50+ demographic and often nostalgic in nature. Notable programs include music specials which showcase stars in "Doo Wop," "Folk," "Standard," "Popera," and "Baby Boomer music" genres i.e., Andrea Bocelli, Chris Botti, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Roy Orbison. Self-help programs which impart advice or techniques about finance, personal growth, health, and lifestyle issues are also very popular with many PBS viewers/ members. Other programs featured during on-air fundraising periods include: Travel specials, Cultural Documentaries, Cooking programs, and various specials pulled from the regular PBS-NPS program schedule.
The key to a fundraising program's success is its ability to motivate a viewer to become a financial supporter because of the quality programs found on the local PBS station. Fundraising programs are an extremely important part of each station’s Fundraising and Development endeavors and are very visible additions to the overall TV program schedule.
INTERACTIVE WEB PROGRAMMING ON PBS.ORG
PBS has a cross-platform content strategy. Producers wishing to present ideas to PBS should determine before submission the optimal means by which to tell their story, in a way that leverages the strengths and unique attributes of television and the Web as appropriate. PBS will then determine whether to accept the proposed television program and/or Web site; some projects are accepted only for television, and occasionally a project is accepted only for the Web.
If a Web site proposal is included with the television program proposal, the Web proposal should demonstrate how the proposed site will meet the following criteria:
- Content need. (Will the site fill a gap on PBS.org and/or the wider Web? Does the proposed site meet the PBS mission, including opportunities to serve classrooms and/or promote diversity and innovation?)
- Potential for impact. (What is the likelihood that there will be an audience for this site? Relevant factors include Web usage trends, promotion and outreach plans, and projected station carriage.)
- Production team skill level. (What other professional content sites has the team produced?)
If a television program proposal has already been submitted and a producer wishes to propose a companion Web site, the Web proposal must be received no later than 17 weeks prior to broadcast.
Web sites on PBS.org must meet PBS's standards for quality, including but not limited to fairness, accuracy and depth. For information regarding PBS.org's editorial, design, and technical requirements, and e-commerce and sponsorship policies, please refer to the Web Production Manual.
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