Editing 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 = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = {{Start date and age|1977|9|7}} in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| founder = <!-- or: | founders = -->
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|2021|01|05}} -->
| hq_location_city = [[Crystal City, Virginia]]<br>[[Boston, Massachusetts]]<ref>[https://pbsdistribution.org/contact/ PBS Distribution OFfices, Contact us page]</ref>
| hq_location_country = [[United States]]
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| key_people = 
| products = 
| owners = [[PBS]]<br>[[WGBH Educational Foundation]]
| num_employees = 
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent = 
| divisions = PBS International<br>[[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''',<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> is the home distribution unit of the American television network [[PBS]]. The company manages streaming channels, video on demand releases, and sells [[home video]]s 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]].<ref name="PBSd">[http://www.pbsdistribution.org/about/ PBS Distribution (PBSd)] . accessed April 16, 2017.</ref>

It is jointly owned by the [[PBS|Public Broadcasting Service]] and the [[WGBH Educational Foundation]]. PBSd manages the PBS Masterpiece channel on Amazon's Prime Video Channels.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>

It is currently distributing PBS programs and movies on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]] (through its distribution partnership with [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Studio Distribution Services]]), [[Digital distribution|digital downloads]], and [[streaming media]] and [[PBS Kids]] programs on DVD and digital downloads.<ref name=PBSd/><ref>[http://www.shoppbs.org/home/index.jsp  shopPBS]</ref> In 2017 independent films produced by PBSd were added for theatrical distribution and home video releases.<ref name="pbssundance">[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.</ref>

==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 Corporation|Pacific Arts]] to distribute PBS Home Video's products. In 1994, PBS moved to distribution through [[Turner Entertainment|Turner Home Entertainment]]. In 1996, when Turner Home Entertainment's [[Turner Entertainment|parent company]] merged with [[Time Warner]], distribution was through [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment|Warner Home Video]] until 2004, when distribution moved to [[Paramount Home Entertainment]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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]].<ref name=PBSd/> It is currently distributing PBS programs and movies on [[DVD]], [[Blu-ray]], [[Digital distribution|digital downloads]], and [[video on demand]] and [[PBS Kids]] programs on DVD and digital downloads.<ref name=PBSd/> 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 America|PBS UK]] was launched on BSkyB. Canadian-born entrepreneur David Lyons and PBS Distribution formed a joint venture to run the channel.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Independent films===
After a backlash from filmmakers over [[WNET]]'s attempts to move independent documentary series to its [[WLIW-TV|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref name=pbssundance/>  The company plans to get theatrical and non-theatrical rights for up to six feature-length documentaries to release per year.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

PBSd put British show, ''[[Jamestown (TV series)|Jamestown]]'' as a streaming first run on PBS Passport and PBS Masterpiece as of March 23, 2018.<ref name=":0" />

==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|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|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]]<!--theatrical distribution estab. 2017-->
[[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]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1977]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1977]]