PBS Fast Facts

Each month, more than 36 million people watch their local PBS stations, more than 16 million viewers watch video on PBS’s site and apps, and over 53 million fans enjoy PBS Digital Studios and other content on YouTube.

• Over the course of a year, 58% of all U.S. television households – more than 130 million people – watch PBS via traditional television.
• PBS KIDS averages 13 million monthly users and 364 million monthly streams across PBS KIDS’ digital platforms.
• PBS stations reach more children, and more parents of young children, than any of the children’s TV networks.
• PBS member stations are often the only independent, locally owned media in a community and they are responsible for creating content in communities that often get overlooked.
• 60% of our audience live in rural communities, and 87% of non-internet homes and 56% of low-income homes are PBS viewers.

For 22 consecutive years, a national study has rated PBS as the most-trusted institution in America. When asked which networks they trust most when it comes to news and public affairs programming, respondents ranked PBS #1, ahead of the major broadcast and cable news networks.

Last updated May 2025