PBS Distribution
{{Short description|Home video distribution company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = PBS Distribution
| former_name = {{Plainlist|
- PBS Venture
- PBS Home Video
- Public Media Distribution
}}
| logo = PBS_Distribution_2019.svg
| image =
| caption =
| type = Joint venture
| industry = Public TV
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1977|9|7}} in New York City, New York, U.S.
| founder =
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = Crystal City, Virginia
Boston, Massachusetts[https://pbsdistribution.org/contact/ PBS Distribution OFfices, Contact us page]
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products =
| owners = PBS
WGBH Educational Foundation
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| divisions = PBS International
PBS America (JV)
| subsid =
| website = {{URL|http://www.pbsdistribution.org/}}
}}
PBS Distribution (PBSd), formerly known as PBS Ventures, PBS Home Video, and Public Media Distribution,{{Cite web |last=Sefton |first=Dru |date=2017-05-26 |title=NETA's Hinton sets retirement, PBS picks CFO, and other comings and goings |url=https://current.org/2017/05/netas-hinton-sets-retirement-pbs-picks-cfo-and-other-comings-and-goings/ |access-date=2018-11-21 |website=Current |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Tom Tardivo, CFO and Treasurer |url=http://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/leadership/tom-tardivo/ |access-date=2018-11-21 |website=pbs.org |publisher=Public Broadcasting Service}} is the home distribution unit of the American television network PBS. The company manages streaming channels, video on demand releases, and sells home videos of PBS series and movies and PBS Kids series in various formats, as well as programming from other public television distributors such as American Public Television and the National Educational Telecommunications Association.[http://www.pbsdistribution.org/about/ PBS Distribution (PBSd)] . accessed April 16, 2017.
It is jointly owned by the Public Broadcasting Service and the WGBH Educational Foundation. PBSd manages the PBS Masterpiece channel on Amazon's Prime Video Channels.{{Cite web |last=Sefton |first=Dru |date=2018-03-21 |title=PBS Distribution brings Brit drama 'Jamestown' to Passport, Amazon viewers first |url=https://current.org/2018/03/pbs-distribution-brings-brit-drama-jamestown-to-passport-amazon-viewers-first/ |access-date=2018-11-21 |website=Current |language=en-US}}
It is currently distributing PBS programs and movies on DVD and Blu-ray (through its distribution partnership with Studio Distribution Services), digital downloads, and streaming media and PBS Kids programs on DVD and digital downloads.[http://www.shoppbs.org/home/index.jsp shopPBS] In 2017 independent films produced by PBSd were added for theatrical distribution and home video releases.[http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-pbs-distribution-announce-plans-to-expand-theatrical-distribution-efforts-for-independent-film/ PBS.org: "PBS & PBS Distribution Announce Plans to Expand Theatrical Distribution Efforts for Independent Film"]; January 19, 2017. accessed April 16, 2017.
History
Established on September 7, 1977, the PBS Home Video, Inc. company originally distributed and sold VHS and Betamax tapes simply on their own.
Starting in 1989, PBS secured a deal with Pacific Arts to distribute PBS Home Video's products. In 1994, PBS moved to distribution through Turner Home Entertainment. In 1996, when Turner Home Entertainment's parent company merged with Time Warner, distribution was through Warner Home Video until 2004, when distribution moved to Paramount Home Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Netherby |first=Jennifer |date=2004-01-16 |title=Par, PBS pact on vids |url=https://variety.com/2004/digital/features/par-pbs-pact-on-vids-1117898555/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
PBS Home Video was renamed PBS Distribution—PBSd in 2009, and became independent again in 2011. PBSd is jointly owned by PBS and the WGBH Educational Foundation. It is currently distributing PBS programs and movies on DVD, Blu-ray, digital downloads, and video on demand and PBS Kids programs on DVD and digital downloads. In 2017 independent films produced by PBSd were added for cinema and home video releases. PBS International offers factual content for broadcast, cable, and satellite services internationally.
On November 1, 2011, PBS UK was launched on BSkyB. Canadian-born entrepreneur David Lyons and PBS Distribution formed a joint venture to run the channel.{{Cite web |date=2011-08-11 |title=PBS sets U.K. launch |url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/pbs-sets-u-k-launch-1118041198/ |access-date=2018-11-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
=Independent films=
After a backlash from filmmakers over WNET's attempts to move independent documentary series to its secondary station, PBS took feedback from the documentary community and developed an indie film strategy.
Through Independent Lens, PBS acquired Stanley Nelson's documentary film The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution. The history of The Black Panthers was especially timely due to the contemporary Black Lives Matter movement's growth. The film was first released in theaters in late 2015, then had a special nationwide public television premiere in late 2016.{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Luis |date=2015-08-05 |title=PBS appeals to indie filmmakers with bigger marketing budget, multiplatform strategy |url=https://current.org/2015/08/pbs-appeals-to-indie-filmmakers-with-bigger-marketing-budget-multiplatform-strategy/ |access-date=2017-01-28 |website=Current |language=en-US}}
PBSd expanded its operation to included theatrical distribution of documentary films by hiring Erin Owens as PBS Distribution's Head of Theatrical Distribution; and Emily Rothschild as Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing. Owens and Rothschild had just worked with PBS on Stanley Nelson's The Black Panthers distribution.
The operations expansion of PBSd was announced at the Sundance Film Festival on 19 January 2017. The company plans to get theatrical and non-theatrical rights for up to six feature-length documentaries to release per year.{{Cite web |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=2017-01-19 |title=Jaunt Unveils 2017 Production Slate; PBS To Expand Indie Film Distribution Efforts — Sundance Briefs |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/jaunt-production-slate-2017-pbs-indie-film-sundance-1201890075/ |access-date=2017-01-28 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
PBSd put British show, Jamestown as a streaming first run on PBS Passport and PBS Masterpiece as of March 23, 2018.
See also
- {{C|Public Broadcasting Service|PBS−Public Broadcasting Service topics}}
- {{C|WGBH Educational Foundation|WGBH Educational Foundation topics}}
References
{{Reflist|25em}}
External links
- [http://www.pbsdistribution.org/ Official PBS Distribution − PBSd website]
- [https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/665 Bill Reed papers], at the University of Maryland libraries. Reed was one of the creators of PBS Video, and his papers contain documents on video and home video unit of the network.
- [https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/666 Robert M. Reed papers], at the University of Maryland libraries. Reed was the executive director of PBS Video from 1969-1976.
{{PBSTV}}
{{WGBH|position=closed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Home video companies of the United States
Category:Public Broadcasting Service
Category:WGBH Educational Foundation
Category:DVD companies of the United States
Category:Film distributors of the United States
Category:Home video distributors
Category:Video on demand services
Category:Companies based in Arlington County, Virginia
Category:Companies based in Boston
Category:American companies established in 1977