Contact:
Tania Panczyk-Collins
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tpanczyk@apts.org

Many Americans Reject Paid TV Services if Public Television Channels Are Off the Menu

WASHINGTON—July 24, 2008—As American households are inundated with a seemingly unlimited array of television channels, Public Television stands alone. In fact, the availability of Public Television programming is a deciding factor for millions of consumers who consider subscribing to a paid television service provider, according to a recent Association of Public Television Stations’ (APTS) survey.

If a cable, satellite or telephone company’s video services do not include Public Television in their channel lineup, 37 percent of all viewing households surveyed said they would reject such services. That percentage has virtually remained the same throughout the course of APTS’ surveys, which began in November 2006.

Among PBS members the impact is much greater—48 percent would opt not to select a paid TV service provider that did not include Public Television programming.

“Americans continue to value the public service and local content that Public Television stations provide,” said APTS Acting President and CEO Mark Erstling. “As the deadline for the transition to digital television nears, video service providers should take notice of the millions of potential viewers that could be lost if Public Television content is not available to their subscribers.”

Erstling continued: “With the advent of digital, the breadth and richness of Public Television programming will only increase. That’s why DIRECTV, Verizon and major cable systems like Time Warner, Cox and Comcast are delivering Public Television stations’ digital programming to their viewers.”

The study results are based on a May 2008 survey of 1,439 households conducted by research firm CENTRIS in Fort Washington, Pa.