Every month over 170 million Americans use public media – through 368 public television stations, 934 public radio stations, hundreds of online services, education services, and in-person events and activities. (1)
Every month over half of all Americans use public media.
Click here for more information about the audience for public broadcasting.
Impact on Local and National Journalism
Since it began in the 1960s, public broadcasting has helped ensure that the American people have access to high quality journalism, news and public affairs reporting. This is especially true now: As more local news outlets turn to cost-cutting consolidation measures and eliminating local reporters and staff, public broadcasters maintain a strong local, national, and international reporting presence.
Impact on the Arts
Public television shows that highlight the world of dance and theater are a mainstay of the public broadcasting programming. Musical formats typically ignored on commercial radio -- such as jazz, classical, opera and local music -- are prominent in public radio. And local stations themselves often partner with community arts organizations to bring arts and cultural events into our neighborhoods.
As public broadcasting continues to attract younger audiences, new programs are highlighting emerging, independent and experimental artists in music, digital arts, storytelling, and other forms that typically receive little attention from commercial channels.
Impact on Education
Public broadcasting supports lifelong learning for all Americans by producing award winning educational programming for children and adults. Ranging from full-length audio and video documentaries on science and history to daily television programs for children, public broadcasters are a heavily relied upon resource in living rooms and classrooms alike. (continued on the Education page)
(1) Station Resource Group (SRG), working with research directors at public media’s national networks, the RRC, and others, has prepared the first cross-media, cross-platform estimate of public media’s unduplicated cumulative audience, which exceeds 170 Million Americans per month. SRG’s report, with methods and documentation is available here.
