PBS Producer’s Handbook

PBS Producer's Handbook

As of December 2019

Welcome to the PBS Producer's Handbook

The PBS Producer's Handbook is designed to help producers create and deliver content for PBS. This comprehensive Handbook provides detailed information on a wide range of producer responsibilities and requirements, including production and promotional deliverables, broadcast standards and practices and general policies.

Producers are encouraged to read the Handbook and share it with their production teams.

About PBS

PBS is a private, nonprofit corporation, founded in 1969, whose members are America's public TV stations -- noncommercial, educational licensees that operate more than 330 PBS member stations and serve all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

In partnership with its member stations, PBS serves the American public with programming and services of the highest quality, using media to educate, inspire, entertain and express a diversity of perspectives. PBS empowers individuals to achieve their potential and strengthen the social, democratic and cultural health of the U.S.

Every day, PBS and its more than 330 member stations fulfill an essential mission to the American public, providing trusted programming that is uniquely different from commercial broadcasting and treating audiences as citizens, not simply consumers. For 16 consecutive years, a national study has rated PBS as the most trusted institution in America.

PBS Producer's Handbook

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY1

INCLUSION

4

SECTION 1: PBS PROGRAMMING

5

Types of Broadcast Programs

6

SECTION 2: GENERAL AUDIENCE PROGRAMMING

7

Deliverables

8

Formats/Rundowns

8

Broadcast Packaging Elements

10

Top of Show Tease10

Cold Opens10

Graphic Title/Title Animation10

Top of Show Advisory11

Parental Guidance Television Rating11

On-Air Funding Credit Pods12

In-Show Program Text15

Webtag17

Social Media References17

On-Air Offer18

Bumper19

Next Time Tease19

Production Credits20

PBS System Cue28

Program Filler28

Content Review

29

Personal Information29

Product Placement29

Non-PBS Digital and Social Media29

Notifications to PBS

30

Flagged Content30

Official Candidate Appearances

30

Awards and Festivals30

Broadcast Paperwork

31

Program Acceptance Agreement (PAA)

31

Packaging Forms31

Music Cue Sheets & Visual Cue Sheets

31

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Broadcast Technical Delivery Standards

32

Technical Operating Specifications

32

Containerization32

File Delivery32

Title Safety & Station Bug Safety Guide

32

SECTION 3: STANDARDS & PRACTICES

33

Funding Rules

34

Policies34

Definition of a Funder

34

Types of Funders35

Identifying Funders

36

Placement of Funding36

Duration of Funding37

Treatment of Funding37

Number of Permissible Funders38

Introductory Language38

PBS Funding Credits38

CPB Funding Credits38

Funder Order39

SECTION 4: LEGAL

40

Rights Requirements

41

SECTION 5: PRODUCER BUSINESS COMPLIANCE POLICY

43

Overview

44

U.S. Trade Controls

44

Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing

45

Anti-Corruption Policy (FCPA)

45

Reporting Violations

46

SECTION 6: PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS

47

Vendor Set-Up and Invoicing

48

Cost Reporting

48

SECTION 7: PROGRAM PUBLICITY49

PBS Pressroom

50

Program Descriptions and Listings

51

SECTION 8: MULTIPLATFORM MARKETING

53

Marketing

54

Branding54

Images54

Title Treatment55

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SECTION 9: PROMOS

56

On-Air Promotional Spots

57

Promo Content Best Practices57

Versions57

Important Tips to Promo Creation57

Promo Content Guidelines58

Digital File Delivery Specifications

60

Promo Selects

61

PBS DAM Onboarding

61

SECTION 10: PBS DIGITAL

62

Streaming Video

63

Short-Form Video63

Full Episode Catch-Up Streaming63

Full Episode PBS Passport Streaming

63

Webpage / Website Engagement

63

Base Level Webpage63

Expanded Website63

Webtags / Webmarkers

64

Webmarkers64

Webtags64

SECTION 11: PBS SOCIAL MEDIA

65

Social Platform Overview

66

Content Mix Overview

66

Video Assets66

Image Assets66

Social Video Branding Guidelines66

Social Image Branding Guidelines67

Social Asset Types67

Delivery Timeline and Program Promotion

67

Social Asset Delivery67

Promotional Timeline67

Official Hashtag

67

Social Account Management68

SECTION 12: PBS DISTRIBUTION

69

Production Guidelines

70

Marketing Deliverables70

Video Deliverables70

On-Air Offer

71

PBS International

71

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