The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) was founded in 1969 as a successor to National Educational Television (NET). The idea for PBS came from Hartford N. Gunn Jr., who envisioned a network of public television stations that could share programming and resources. Gunn, along with other educational broadcasters and the Carnegie Commission on Educational Television, worked to establish PBS as a non-profit corporation. Unlike commercial networks, PBS is not owned by a single entity but is a collective of member stations. It is governed by PBS member stations, who elect the PBS Board of Directors. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, PBS covers a wide range of topics through its news and programming. This includes in-depth reporting on national and international news, politics, science, technology, arts, and culture. PBS NewsHour, their flagship news program, provides comprehensive coverage of current events. While not primarily focused on sports or entertainment news, PBS does offer educational and cultural programming in these areas. PBS also produces and distributes documentaries, children's programming, and various educational content across multiple platforms. One interesting fact: PBS has a unique funding model that sets it apart from commercial networks. While it receives some government funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a significant portion of its budget comes from “viewers like you“ - individual donations from its audience. This grassroots support allows PBS to maintain its commitment to educational and non-commercial programming, making it one of the few major networks directly supported by its viewers.