PBS & ITVS: Fertile Soil for Independent Videographers

If you've ever dreamed of seeing your video production on television or bringing your vision to a broader audience than friends and family, now is the time and PBS is the place. PBS - both independently and through its liaison with ITVS - offers unparalleled opportunities for videographers with unique vision and a compelling story. You'll find a surprising number of opportunities with ongoing series (such as Frontline, American Masters, POV, and American Experience), limited jointly-curated series (like Digital Divide and Independent Lens) and one-offs (stand-alone, independent films). This article will help you evaluate whether your project is PBS/ITVS material and show you how to break into this ever-expanding market.

PBS, ITVS and You: The Time is Now
PBS has a strong tradition of working with independent producers. It's a common misconception, but PBS is not a television network. Instead, it is a membership organization made up of independent public television stations around the country, funded, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation created by the US Congress in 1967. PBS is available to 99% of US households and strives to reach all portions of the population with quality, accessible, relevant programming. Pat Mitchell, PBS President and CEO, says key components of the PBS mission are "to inform, to inspire and to educate. "

Independent producers frequently challenge convention and provide in-depth analyses of complex topics. PBS makes available programming designed to spur discussion and active community involvement in social issues. Their goal is to provide thorough examination of a story, theme or issue, including all conflicting points of view.