English
PBS Distribution: the public network grows internationally
PBS is the U.S.well-known public broadcaster network, non – profit organization, which is comprised of about 350 member TV stations across the country. PBS Distribution is the division that distributes PBS content internationally.Based in Boston, PBSd licenses over 3500 hours of documentaries, factual, kids & teens, science, technology, History, life style and social affairs, programmingfor free TV, pay TV, digital in all its options: SVOD, AVOD, TVOD and FAST. The new thing are international co-productions and product localization for different regions.
Joe Barrett, VP of sales at PBS Distribution, has a table with his team at MipCancun, approaching Latin America. ‘PBSd is about 30 years old, setting up a progressive more important positionat the international market. Apart from sales, co-productions and collaborations are a good way to grow abroad, to open closed markets. We’ve made co-production projects in Germany, France, UK, Japan, Australia, among other countries. We want to expand in Latin America, Asia, Middle East’.
‘In digital, we have already 6 FAST channels in the U.S. market, and five in the international market with more on the horizon. We have a portal to attend well our customers, they have there all the information they need about our products: not only synopsis and cast, but also promotional materials and information and screenings. In product localization, we are investing to handle contents in Spanish and Portuguese languages, to enter better in Latin America’.
‘Cancun was a good market, we could consolidate many relationships and get in touch with new buyers. We are a good option for specific market segments, as doc & factual channels, national networks,niche broadcasters. In 2024, we expect to add important new product to our catalogue, with more genre alternatives. We are especially good to provide formative but attractive programming to the new generations of viewers, in any platform’.
LC