Producer Resources

Find out more about the variety of funding and broadcasting opportunities available to independent producers at PBS.

PBS

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314-1698
(703) 739-5000; (703) 739-0775 fax
www.pbs.org

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a private, nonprofit corporation whose members are America's noncommercial public television stations. PBS provides quality TV programming and related services to 347 stations serving all 50 states. For over three decades, PBS has set the standard of excellence in U.S. television programming, with more viewers turning to PBS than any other TV resource for engaging, accessible and intellectually satisfying programs. Proposals are evaluated on an ongoing basis. Guidelines regarding submissions are available at www.pbs.org.

CPB

Corporation for Public Broadcasting
401 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004-2129
(202) 879-9600; (202) 879-9700 fax
www.cpb.org

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967. The mission of CPB is to facilitate the development of, and ensure universal access to, noncommercial high-quality programming and telecommunications services. It does this in conjunction with noncommercial educational telecommunications licensees across America.

In addition to several targeted initiatives like the America at the Crossroads and New Voices, New Media Fund, CPB reviews proposals on an ongoing basis. For more information, please contact programming@cpb.org.

ITVS

Independent Television Service (ITVS)
501 York Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 356 8383; (415) 356 8391fax
www.itvs.org

ITVS's mission is to create and present independently produced programs that engage creative risks, advance issues and represent points of view not usually seen on public or commercial television. ITVS is committed to programming that addresses the needs of underserved and underrepresented audiences, and expands civic participation by bringing new voices into public discourse. ITVS has a number of funding initiatives, including LINCs and Open Call. ITVS also co-curates and presents the Independent Lens series on PBS (see listing below). For more information visit www.itvs.org.

PBS Series
American Experience

American Experience
125 Western Avenue, Boston, MA 02134
www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex

Since its debut in 1988, American Experience has brought stories of the people and events that have shaped this country into nearly eight million homes each week. As television's longest-running, most-watched history series, American Experience brings to life the incredible characters and epic stories that helped form this nation. Now in its fifteenth season, and airing on Monday nights at 9 pm, the series has produced over 150 programs and garnered every major broadcast award. American Experience will only consider proposals in writing. Producers should not call or email first "to test out ideas" before submitting. Faxed proposals and those sent via email will not be accepted. Proposals should be sent to the attention of "Proposal Coordinator" at above address.

American Masters

American Masters
450 West 33rd Street, NY, NY 10001
(212) 560-6975; (212) 560-2900 fax
www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters

American Masters, Thirteen/WNET's award-winning biography series, celebrates our nation's arts and culture. Launched in 1986 and still acclaimed as "the best biographical series ever to appear on television," American Masters has produced an exceptional library of more than 130 titles, exploring the lives and illuminating the creative journeys of our most enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists and filmmakers. In content and in style, these are uniquely crafted programs, each reflecting the particular attention deserved by its subjects and resonating with the extraordinary mosaic of our creative heritage and traditions. American Masters produces most of its programming in-house and is able to accept very few proposals. Proposals can be submitted, in writing only, to Executive Producer Susan Lacy at the address above.

FRONTLINE

FRONTLINE
125 Western Avenue, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 300-3500; (617) 300-1001 fax
www.pbs.org/frontline

Since 1983, FRONTLINE has served as PBS's flagship public affairs series, now airing at 9 pm on Tuesday nights. Hailed upon its debut as "the last best hope for broadcast documentaries," FRONTLINE's stature over 20 seasons has been reaffirmed each week by incisive documentaries covering the scope and complexity of the human experience. Story ideas can be sent to the above address, to the attention of the FRONTLINE Series Editor. FRONTLINE welcomes suggestions from viewers and reviews all letters and ideas. The series produces approximately 18 new programs each season and evaluates over 600 program suggestions and proposals each year.

Wide Angle

Wide Angle
450 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001-2605
www.pbs.org/wideangle

Wide Angle, American television's only international public affairs documentary series, returns for a fourth season on PBS at 9 pm Tuesday nights during the summer. The series broadcasts timely documentaries from current and future global pressure points, providing American audiences with insight into the economic, cultural and political factors shaping the world today. Each program focuses on a single subject, with character-driven narratives revealing the humanity behind the headlines of international events and issues urgently relevant to Americans today. Proposals are reviewed on an on-going basis from December through June. Please visit www.thirteen.org/wideangle for more details.

Independent Lens

Independent Lens (ITVS)
501 York Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 356 8383; (415) 356 8391fax
www.itvs.org

Independent Lens is a 29-week national PBS prime time series that features programs united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of independent producers. Presented by ITVS and curated with PBS, Independent Lens is supported by interactive companion websites, series marketing efforts, and national publicity and community outreach campaigns. Independent Lens celebrates innovation and the full spectrum of independent film by American and international producers. with formats including history, drama, animation, shorts and social-issue documentaries. Submission information is available at www.pbs.org/independentlens/submissions.html.

Minority Consortia
LPBP

Latino Public Broadcasting
6777 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-7110; (323) 466-7521 fax
www.lpbp.org

Latino Public Broadcasting supports the development, production, acquisition and distribution of noncommercial educational and cultural television programming that is representative of Latino people or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. These programs are produced for dissemination to public broadcasting stations and other public telecommunication entities. Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, LPB acts as a minority consortium with a mission to provide a voice to the diverse Latino community throughout the United States.

LPB funds television programs including dramas, documentaries, comedies, satire and animation. These may be single programs or limited series, new productions or works in progress. Guidelines for submission are available at www.lpbp.org.

NAPT

Native American Public Telecommunications
1800 No 33 St Lincoln, NE 68583
PO Box 83111 Lincoln, NE 68501
(402) 472-3522
www.nativetelecom.org

Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT) aims to inform, educate and encourage the awareness of tribal histories, cultures, languages, opportunities and aspirations through the fullest participation of American Indians and Alaska Natives in creating and employing all forms of educational and public telecommunications programs and services, thereby supporting tribal sovereignty. Funding guidelines are available on NAPT's Web site at www.nativetelecom.org.

NAATA

National Asian American Telecommunications Association
145 Ninth Street, Suite 350, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 863-0814; (415) 863-7428 fax
www.naatanet.org

Founded in 1980, the National Asian American Telecommunications Association (NAATA) is at the forefront in creating opportunities for Asian American media through production funding, national public television broadcasts, educational distribution and the annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

In 1990, NAATA established the Media Fund, made possible with funds from the Congress-mandated Corporation for Public Broadcasting with the goal of increasing visibility of Asian American programs on public television and impacting the way in which Asian Americans are perceived and understood. To date, over $3 million has been granted to over 150 projects. For more information on NAATA's funding initiatives, visit their Web site at www.naatanet.org.

NBPC

National Black Programming Consortium
68 E. 131st Street, 7th Fl., New York, NY 10037
(212) 234-8200; (212) 234-7032
www.nbpc.tv

The National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) is a nonprofit national media arts organization committed to the presentation, funding, promotion, distribution and preservation of positive images of African Americans and the African Diaspora. NBPC sets the standard for and is one of the leading providers of historically accurate programming about the African American experience on American public television.

NBPC funds, commissions, acquires and awards quality African American film and video projects. Selected programs reflect a variety of subjects and production styles. NBPC funds every phase of the production process — research and development, scripting, production, post-production and outreach. Since 1979, NBPC has provided more than $5 million in grants to both independent and station-based producers. Grant guidelines are available on NBPC's Web site at www.nbpc.tv.

PICCOM

Pacific Islanders in Communications
1221 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 6A-4, Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 591-0059; (808) 591-1114 fax
www.piccom.org

Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) aims to support, advance and develop Pacific Island media content and talent that results in a deeper understanding of Pacific Island history, culture and contemporary challenges. PIC funds and distributes film, video and new media to the broadest possible audience and supports media talent through scholarships, training, and professional development.

Information about PIC's funding programs is available on their Web site www.piccom.org.

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Left: WELL-FOUNDED FEAR by Shari Robertson and Michael Camerini (P.O.V. 2004)