PBS's Slogans & Taglines

PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) was created on 3 November 1969 by Hartford N. Gunn Jr., John Macy, James Day, and Kenneth A. Christiansen, and officially launched on 5 October 1970 as the successor to National Educational Television (NET). Headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia, the network was established as a nonprofit cooperative of public television stations, designed to distribute educational and cultural programming free from commercial pressures. Its debut broadcast featured the iconic words "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll" and the first episode of Sesame Street, which had premiered on NET in 1969. Over five decades, PBS has grown into America's most prominent public broadcaster, reaching over 90% of U.S. households through approximately 350 member stations.

The brand's core products are educational and cultural television programming, including acclaimed series such as Sesame Street, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Nova, Frontline, Masterpiece, Downton Abbey, Antiques Roadshow, Arthur, Barney & Friends, The Magic School Bus, Nature, and the PBS NewsHour. Its portfolio spans children's education, science documentaries, historical investigations, arts programming, and public affairs journalism.

From the 1990 campaign "Just Watch Us Now!" to the enduring promise "Be More" introduced in 2002, PBS has built its identity on inspiring viewers to learn, explore, and grow. The secondary tagline "This is PBS" reinforces its role as a trusted public institution, reflecting a journey from a fledgling educational network to one of America's most respected and beloved broadcasters.