Public broadcasting facts for kids
Public broadcasting is a type of radio, television, and other electronic media that focuses on serving the public. Unlike commercial stations that aim to make money, public broadcasters usually focus on things like education, news, and cultural programs.
Contents
What is Public Broadcasting?
Public broadcasting stations have a main goal: to provide a service to the community. This means they offer programs that might not be found on regular TV or radio. These programs often include in-depth news, documentaries, educational shows, and music or arts programs. They are meant to inform, educate, and entertain people, rather than just sell products.
How Public Broadcasting is Funded
The way public broadcasting gets its money can be different depending on the country.
Funding Around the World
In many parts of the world, public broadcasting gets most of its money from the government. Sometimes, people pay an annual fee for their radios or TVs, and this money goes to support public broadcasting. This helps make sure the stations can operate without needing to sell a lot of advertisements.
Funding in the United States
In the United States, public broadcasters get some money from the government, both from federal and state sources. However, a lot of their financial support comes from other places. Foundations (groups that give money for good causes) and businesses often help out. These businesses can be small local shops or large companies. Also, people who listen or watch public broadcasting often donate money during special "pledge drives." Most public broadcasting organizations in the U.S. are run as private, non-profit groups. This means they don't aim to make a profit.
Where You Find Public Broadcasting
Public broadcasting can be set up in different ways, depending on the country or even the specific station.
Local and National Stations
Some public broadcasting is run at a national level, meaning one big organization covers the whole country. Other times, it's run locally, with different stations serving specific cities or regions. In some countries, there's just one main public broadcasting group. In others, there might be many different groups, perhaps operating in different languages or focusing on different areas.
History of Public Broadcasting
Years ago, public broadcasting was often the only type of broadcasting available in many countries. The United States was a bit different, as commercial stations started earlier there. Over time, commercial broadcasting became more common in most countries. However, public broadcasting still plays a very important role, offering unique programs that might not be available anywhere else.
Images for kids
-
Amherst Island public radio
-
The Gregory Hall on the campus of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign hosted an important meeting of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters in the 1940s, that spawned both PBS and NPR.
See also
In Spanish: Radiodifusión pública para niños
