American Public Television

American Public Television
Non-profit
Industry Public television
Founded 1961 (1961)
Headquarters Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Area served
 Worldwide
Website APTonline.org

American Public Television (APT) is the largest syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States. APT continues to distribute a wide variety of public television programs nationally, as well as administering the Create and World channels on public TV.

History


APT began in 1961[1] when it was incorporated as the Eastern Educational Television Network (EEN). At first EEN was a regional cooperative that began to exchange programs between a couple of its member stations.[2] EEN was one of the first distributors of shows such as The French Chef (with Julia Child) in 1963,[2] Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,[1] and Washington Week in Review on a national basis.

Another first from EEN was the distribution starting in 1970 of Newsfront, America's first live and non-commercial daily news program.[2] EEN introduced Wall Street Week in November 1970 before PBS began distributing it nationwide in January 1972. EEN began the import to America of BBC and CBC productions in 1974 with Monty Python's Flying Circus being one of them. In 1978, the EEN started the Free Library.[2]

In 1980, Eastern Educational started the Syndication Service and was renamed Interregional Program Service (IPS). IPS started the Premium Service in 1989. The organization became American Program Service in 1992.[2]

American Public Television

American Program Service was renamed American Public Television (APT) in 1999. Also, with many fax requests from international outlets, an international division called APT Worldwide was started.[2]

With the digital role out, APT became the distributor of a couple of multicast networks. In January 2006, APT started distributing Create.[3] The nonprofit started distributing World in 2010.[4]

Programming services

Networks

APT also owns two digital subchannel networks together with WGBH and WNET.ORG:[2]

Programs

APT distributes more than 300 new program titles per year,[1] including documentaries, talk shows, dramatic and comedic series, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. Shows currently or previously distributed by APT include, but are not limited to, The Open Mind, Rick Steves' Europe, Painting the Town with Eric Dowdle, Simply Ming, America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated and its sister series Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen, Yan Can Cook, The Big Comfy Couch, Net Cafe, Computer Chronicles, Richard Bangs' Adventures with Purpose, Globe Trekker (aka Pilot Guides in other countries), Doc Martin, Rudy Maxa's World, Sara's Weeknight Meals and Scully: The World Show.

APT distributes weeknight international news series BBC World News (programme) and Newsline from NHK, as well as the business news program Nightly Business Report.

APT has also distributed special pledge shows to public television, including programs such as Liza's at the Palace...!, Anne of Green Gables, Carreras Domingo Pavarotti, Celine Dion: A New Day, Mike Douglas – Moments & Memories, Broadway: The Golden Age and Tony Bennett Duets: The Making of an American Classic.

In 2001, APT was the first company to bring a high-definition series to public television with the premiere of Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa.

APT carries more than ten thousand hours of ground breaking television.

Children's or Family Programming

References

  1. 1 2 3 Block, Alex Ben (November 9, 2014). "American Public Television Sheds Its 'Mister Rogers' Past". The Hollywood Reporter (November 2014). Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Androich, Alicia (January 1, 2011). "Growing up in public". Real Screen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ Egner, Jeremy (April 3, 2006). "World and Go! streams flow into PBS plans". Current. Retrieved March 30, 2016. (sidebar) American Public Television announces launch of national Create channel, January 2006.
  4. ↑ "About". aptonline.org. America Public Television. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.

External links

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