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In the 1994 production of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which was an industrial publication releasing a study of non-profit charitable organizations popularity and credibility, ranked PBS to be the 11th most popular in America from a list of over 100 charities done with a sample of 38.2% of the Americans of over 12 years of age. PBS signed up for the Nielsen rating for the first time in December 2009.
In December 24, 1984, PBS coined the phrase 'Viewers Like You' as a way of appreciation to its viewers' support. This was geared by viewers support through donations to support the PBS station's running. The phrase appeared in the underwriters list at the start and end of PBS programs with the viewers’ contributions. Before then, the PBS contributions were recognized only from 'this station and other public television stations and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.'
In their programming, the Public Broadcasting Service evening schedule emphasize on fine arts such as great performances, drama, science, history, public affairs and independent films. The PBS has engaged in kids’ channels where in its kids' distribution, it has distributed many shows and animations series. Moreover, PBS has imported various British children series like the Teletubbies and Boohbah. However, most of these programs have migrated to the commercial televisions.
More to that, in the broadcasting, PBS has been well known as a re-broadcaster of British television costume dramas and comedies which have been acquired from the British based network, the BBC. The shows are generally aired over Saturday evenings (which has been regarded as the least watched show of the week since most of the viewers are usually out covering other activities among them being concerts and watching movies). Because of their being so much on the British channels, the PBS has been jokingly said to mean Primarily British Series.
For the critics, controversies were that PBS was always over funded; it had outdated technological equipment, bad fund raising methods, corporate influence and political biases. However, the main reason for the creation of PBS was to provide diversity in programming and thereby add to the number of signals that communities received. Its goal has born fruits. Today, many households, after the subscription of the cable TV or satellite TV can now receive hundred of signals on their TV set unlike before when the most one could get was 4 signals.
Controversy has risen towards the main role of the PBS. Some think that public broadcasting should mirror the composition of the society that it serves thereby providing a programming that reaches all constituencies formed on the basis of race, age, intelligence, educational background, social class, and interests among others.
On the other hand, some people believe that public broadcasting should focus on high minded programming that would not be afforded by other broadcasters. They claim it should focus on arts, literature, history and philosophy. However, the controversy still stands with other saying there is much potential for whites and middle class biases. As time progresses, PBS and other public broadcasters must adapt and change to meet all the rising needs of the public.
In August 2009, following the announcement made by the PBS station, WQED in Pittsburgh, PBS announced plans of moving the 'Viewer Like You' credit to the front of their donors. This was meant to give its home viewers more recognition as they appreciated their contributions to its development. Moreover, the move was geared by the knowledge that having their phrase at the end of donor list brought unintended consequences of making viewers feel unappreciated and left out in spite of them being the top contributors to its running.
Today, a series of networks has sprout off from the Public Broadcasting Services. Among the most known are the PBS YOU (ended in 2006 paving way for the American Public Television's Create Network), PBS KIDS (terminated in 1st October 2005), PBS KIDS Sorout and PBS DT2 (a feed of High Definition Television).
In the future, PBS plans to be a node for video literacy. Offer a ground where people could get training, have their work reviewed edited and published if good. PBS also plans to be a place where the community can get a voice, learn to speak and resonate.
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