PBS Distribution
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media distribution |
| Predecessor | PBS Home Video, PBS Ventures, Public Media Distribution |
| Founded | September 7, 1977 |
| Headquarters | Arlington County, Virginia and Boston , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Erin Owens (Head of Theatrical Distribution), Emily Rothschild (Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing) |
| Products | DVDs, Blu-rays, digital downloads, streaming services, theatrical film distribution |
| Owner | Public Broadcasting Service, WGBH Educational Foundation |
| Website | pbsdistribution |
PBS Distribution (PBSd), previously known as PBS Ventures, PBS Home Video, and Public Media Distribution, serves as the home distribution division for the American television network PBS. This entity oversees streaming services, video-on-demand platforms, and retail sales of home video content featuring PBS series, films, and PBS Kids programming in various formats. Additionally, PBSd distributes programming from other public broadcast organizations like American Public Television and the National Educational Telecommunications Association.
Co-owned by the Public Broadcasting Service and the WGBH Educational Foundation, PBSd manages the PBS Masterpiece channel available on Amazon Prime Video Channels. Its distribution channels include DVDs and Blu-rays produced through a collaboration with Studio Distribution Services, alongside digital downloads and streaming offerings.
In 2017, PBSd broadened its operations to include theatrical distribution and home video releases of independent films created by PBS, thereby expanding its presence in content distribution markets and enhancing business growth.
History
Founded on September 7, 1977, PBS Home Video, Inc. originally focused on independently distributing VHS and Betamax videotapes.
In 1989, PBS entered into a distribution agreement with Pacific Arts, which was later replaced in 1994 by a partnership with Turner Home Entertainment. Following Turner's merger with Time Warner, PBS shifted its distribution to Warner Home Video in 1996. By 2004, the responsibility for distribution had moved to Paramount Home Entertainment.
The company adopted the name PBS Distribution (PBSd) in 2009, regained its independent status in 2011, and is jointly owned by PBS along with the WGBH Educational Foundation. PBSd handles distribution of PBS content through DVDs, Blu-rays, digital downloads, and video-on-demand services, including titles from PBS Kids. Since 2017, it has also ventured into theatrical releases of independent films. On an international level, factual content is supplied by PBS International for broadcast and cable networks.
On November 1, 2011, PBS UK was launched on BSkyB as a joint venture between Canadian entrepreneur David Lyons and PBS Distribution.
Independent films
In response to concerns from filmmakers regarding programming changes at WNET, PBS developed a dedicated strategy for independent films. Through the series Independent Lens, PBS acquired Stanley Nelson's documentary The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, which coincided with the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. The documentary debuted in theaters in late 2015 and was broadcast nationwide on public television in late 2016.
To bolster its theatrical distribution efforts, PBSd appointed Erin Owens as Head of Theatrical Distribution and Emily Rothschild as Director of Theatrical Acquisitions and Marketing; both had prior involvement with Nelson’s film. This strategic expansion was announced during the Sundance Film Festival in January 2017 with plans to secure rights to up to six feature-length documentaries annually.
In March 2018, PBSd introduced the British drama series Jamestown as an exclusive streaming premiere on PBS Passport and PBS Masterpiece.
See also
External links
- Official site of PBS Distribution − PBSd
- Bill Reed collection, University of Maryland Libraries. Reed was a co-founder of PBS Video; collection contains materials related to network and home video divisions.
- Robert M. Reed collection, University of Maryland Libraries. Reed held the position of executive director at PBS Video from 1969 to 1976.
- Articles with short description
- Home video companies of the United States
- Public Broadcasting Service
- WGBH Educational Foundation
- DVD companies of the United States
- Film distributors of the United States
- Home video distributors
- Video on demand services
- Companies based in Arlington County, Virginia
- Companies based in Boston
- American companies established in 1977
- Entertainment companies established in 1977
- Mass media companies established in 1977
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
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