WASHINGTON – February 24, 2016 – America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) announced on Sunday the renewal of their historic 2005 Public Television Digital Cable Carriage Agreement with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). The renewal of this agreement ensures that local public television stations’ multicast digital programming will be carried on cable systems serving the vast majority of the nation’s cable subscribers.
“This agreement benefits the millions of public television viewers who receive this programming over cable,” said APTS president and CEO Patrick Butler. “In a rapidly changing media environment, the renewal of this agreement is a testament to the faith these parties have in one another and in our future of service to the American people.”
“We are extremely pleased that this critical agreement has been renewed,” said PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger. “Cable carriage is an indispensable part of reaching the American public, and this partnership ensures that the programming viewers rely on from their local public television stations – including news, public affairs, performing arts, educational children’s media, local productions, emergency messaging and more – is accessible to audiences across the nation. I’d like to thank the NCTA and APTS for making this continued collaboration possible.”
“NCTA is pleased to extend our partnership with APTS and PBS to ensure that U.S. cable customers will continue to enjoy the quality programming provided by local public television stations,” said NCTA president and CEO Michael Powell. “Public television has long been an important part of cable’s video service and we are pleased that it will continue to be in the future.”
