PBS

==Controversies==

===Accusations of political/ideological bias===
A 1982 broadcast of the [[United States Information Agency]] program ''Let Poland be Poland'' about the [[Martial law in Poland|martial law declared in Poland in 1981]] was widely viewed in the U.S., but met with skepticism on the part of eastern European broadcasters (communist countries at the time) due to concerns that the program's "provocative and anticommunist" tone was intended as propaganda.<ref>{{cite web |title=Let Poland Be Poland (1982, TV) |date=January 31, 1982 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0785022/ |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=February 4, 2016 |archive-date=February 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201042929/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0785022/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=US Public Diplomacy in Hungary: Past and Present |url=http://www.publicdiplomacycouncil.org/uploads/Eichler_Public_Diplomacy_Hungary.pdf |author=Edward Eichler |work=Public Diplomacy Council |date=April 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225051216/http://www.publicdiplomacycouncil.org/uploads/Eichler_Public_Diplomacy_Hungary.pdf |archive-date=February 25, 2009}}</ref>

In 1999, at least three public television stations were caught selling or trading their mailing lists with the [[Democratic National Committee]]. Under [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] regulations, [[nonprofit organization]]s are prohibited from participating in political actions. Officials from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting condemned the practice and conducted an investigation into the matter. The stations involved were in New York, Boston, and Washington.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seelye |first=Katharine Q. |date=July 17, 1999 |title=PBS Stations Shared Donor Lists With Democrats, Stirring Trouble |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/17/us/pbs-stations-shared-donor-lists-with-democrats-stirring-trouble.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=March 31, 2017 |archive-date=April 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401061449/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/17/us/pbs-stations-shared-donor-lists-with-democrats-stirring-trouble.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Individual programs aired by PBS have been the targets of organized campaigns by individuals and groups with opposing views, including by former [[United States Secretary of Education]] [[Margaret Spellings]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 26, 2005 |title=Education chief rips PBS for gay character: Network won't distribute episode with animated 'Buster' visiting Vt. |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6869976 |work=[[NBC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-date=November 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121224256/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6869976/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Nonetheless, in every year since 2004, surveys of Americans have shown PBS to have been consistently ranked as the most trusted institution in comparison to [[Commercial broadcasting|commercial]] [[Broadcasting in the United States|broadcast]] and [[Cable television in the United States|cable television]], [[Newspapers in the United States|newspapers]], and [[Streaming media|streaming services]], and in January 2021, Americans valued tax dollars spent on PBS behind only [[Military budget of the United States|military defense]] and [[Food and Drug Administration|oversight of food and drug safety]].<ref>{{cite news |date=February 2, 2021 |title=PBS and Member Stations Voted 'Most Trusted' Institution for 18 Consecutive Years |url=https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/pbs-and-member-stations-voted-most-trusted-institution-for-18-consecutive-years/ |publisher=PBS |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316092412/https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/pbs-and-member-stations-voted-most-trusted-institution-for-18-consecutive-years/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Accusations during Tomlinson tenure====
In September 2003, [[Kenneth Tomlinson]] was chosen as chairman of the CPB board.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Labaton |first=Stephen |date=November 4, 2005 |title=Broadcasting Ex-Chairman Is Removed From Board (Published 2005) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/04/politics/broadcasting-exchairman-is-removed-from-board.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=January 8, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109171104/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/04/politics/broadcasting-exchairman-is-removed-from-board.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He criticized PBS and [[NPR]] for an allegedly "liberal bias".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=July 1, 2005 |title=CPB Liberal Bias Study Flawed, Critics Say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/07/01/cpb-liberal-bias-study-flawed-critics-say/f961983c-20fb-41c1-91d1-13866cc20b85/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 8, 2021 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109104756/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/07/01/cpb-liberal-bias-study-flawed-critics-say/f961983c-20fb-41c1-91d1-13866cc20b85/ |url-status=live}}</ref> His efforts sparked complaints of political pressure.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Labaton |first1=Stephen |last2=Weisman |first2=Steven R. |date=November 5, 2005 |title=Spending Inquiry For Top Official On Broadcasting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/05/politics/05broadcast.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425141741/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/05/politics/05broadcast.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

To partially balance out the perceived left-leaning PBS shows, from June 2004 to July 2005, PBS aired ''Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered'' with conservative commentator [[Tucker Carlson]], and from September 2004 to December 2005, PBS aired ''[[The Journal Editorial Report]]'' with [[Paul Gigot]], a conservative editor of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' editorial page.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 4, 2007 |title=PBS: Back to bias basics |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/may/04/20070504-085842-9258r/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |publisher=[[News World Communications]] |access-date=December 30, 2009 |archive-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414144501/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/may/04/20070504-085842-9258r/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2004, [[Bill Moyers]] resigned as a PBS regular, citing political pressure to alter the content of his program, and saying Tomlinson had mounted a "vendetta" against him.<ref>{{cite web |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=April 22, 2005 |title=PBS Scrutiny Raises Political Antennas |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8067-2005Apr21.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 7, 2017 |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622060245/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8067-2005Apr21.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2005, two House Democrats requested the CPB inspector general investigate the complaints of political interference.<ref>{{Cite news |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=May 13, 2005 |title=CPB's Inspector General to Pursue Probe of Chairman |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/05/13/cpbs-inspector-general-to-pursue-probe-of-chairman/32a405bf-7a62-4534-87e5-a5c852e0db18/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 8, 2021 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110093839/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/05/13/cpbs-inspector-general-to-pursue-probe-of-chairman/32a405bf-7a62-4534-87e5-a5c852e0db18/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The inspector general's report was issued in November 2005 and described possible political influence on personnel decisions, including e-mail correspondence between Tomlinson and the White House which indicated that Tomlinson "was strongly motivated by political considerations in filling the president/CEO position", a position filled in June 2005 by former [[Republican National Committee]] co-chair [[Patricia Harrison]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=CNN - Report: Politics may have influenced former public broadcasting chief |date=November 15, 2005 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/15/tomlinson.cpb/index.html |work=[[CNN]] |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111085841/https://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/15/tomlinson.cpb/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Tomlinson resigned from the CPB board on November 3, 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=November 3, 2005 |title=Tomlinson Resigns from CPB Ahead of Report |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4989040 |website=[[National Public Radio]] |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109183214/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4989040 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Accusations since the Tomlinson tenure====
In January 2021, Michael Beller, the chief attorney for PBS resigned after being caught on tape suggesting that the children of [[Donald Trump]] supporters should be sent to [[Concentration Camp|re-education camps]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Christopher |date=January 14, 2021 |title=PBS attorney resigns after saying Trump voters' children should face 're-education camps' |url=https://wcti12.com/news/nation-world/pbs-attorney-fired-after-video-shows-him-pushing-for-re-education-camps-for-trump-voters |work=[[WCTI-TV]] |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127015021/https://wcti12.com/news/nation-world/pbs-attorney-fired-after-video-shows-him-pushing-for-re-education-camps-for-trump-voters |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Lawsuit with Pacific Arts===
In the 1990s, PBS became involved in a dispute over home video licensing rights with [[Pacific Arts Corporation]], a multimedia company owned and operated by former [[The Monkees|Monkees]] guitarist [[Michael Nesmith]].

In 1990, Pacific Arts secured a contract with PBS to distribute their back catalog of programming on VHS under the [[PBS Home Video]] banner. However, in the early 1990s, Pacific Arts and PBS went through a series of serious disagreements. Lawsuits were filed: by Nesmith and Pacific Arts against PBS for breach of contract, intentional misrepresentation, intentional concealment, negligent misrepresentation, and interference with contract; and by PBS against Nesmith and Pacific Arts for lost royalties.<ref name=Behrens>{{cite news |last=Behrens |first=Steve |date=February 8, 1999 |title=Nesmith wins $47 million in video suit against PBS |url=http://current.org/files/archive-site/pbs/pbs902v.html |newspaper=Current |access-date=May 30, 2016 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818000313/http://current.org/files/archive-site/pbs/pbs902v.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The lawsuits escalated in 1994 and 1995 into major litigation between the parties over these rights and payments. PBS and Nesmith and Pacific Arts vigorously prosecuted these multimillion-dollar counter-suits.

The six plaintiffs included PBS, [[WGBH-TV]], [[WNET]], the [[Ken Burns]]-owned American Documentaries and Radio Pioneers Film Project and the [[Children's Television Workshop]]. They sought approximately $5 million in disputed royalties, advances, guarantees and license fees for programs and the use of the PBS logo from the defendants Pacific Arts and Nesmith.

Due to the cost of the litigation, Pacific Arts was forced to cease distribution operations and suspended the use of the PBS logo on the Pacific Arts videos.<ref name=Behrens /> Though Pacific Arts distribution system had ceased operating, the various plaintiffs were counting on capturing a personal financial guarantee Nesmith had made to PBS in the original PBS deal in 1990.

The cases went to jury trial in Federal Court in Los Angeles in February 1999. After three days of deliberation, the jury unanimously sided with Nesmith.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mifflin |first=Lawrie |date=February 3, 1999 |title=Jury Rules That PBS Must Pay Video Distributor $47 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/03/business/jury-rules-that-pbs-must-pay-video-distributor-47-million.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=May 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630171648/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/03/business/jury-rules-that-pbs-must-pay-video-distributor-47-million.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The court awarded Pacific Arts $14,625,000 for loss of its rights library, plus $29,250,000 in punitive damages. The jury awarded $3 million to Nesmith personally, including $2 million in punitive damages for a total award to Nesmith and Pacific Arts of $48,875,000. The jury resolved the outstanding license fee issues by ordering Pacific Arts and Nesmith to pay approximately $1.2 million to American Documentaries for ''[[The Civil War (TV series)|The Civil War]]'', about $230,000 to [[WGBH-TV]], and $150,000 to [[WNET]].<ref name=Behrens />

Following the ruling, Nesmith expressed his personal disappointment with PBS and was quoted by [[BBC News]] as stating "It's like finding your grandmother stealing your stereo. You're happy to get your stereo back, but it's sad to find out your grandmother is a thief."<ref>{{cite news |title=Hey, hey, it's a Monkee victory |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/271357.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=May 30, 2016 |archive-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409001839/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/271357.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

The decision never went to an appeals court and the final amount paid to Pacific Arts and Nesmith was an undisclosed sum agreed to in an out-of-court settlement.