Opportunity Fund award will support new episodes, expand reach of top series
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) today announced that NOVA - the most-watched documentary series on PBS - will receive funding of approximately $4 million over two years. The funds will support new episodes, an expanded Web site, and other elements of a strategic plan intended to build viewership and strengthen support for the program.
NOVA is the second recipient of a grant from the CPB and PBS Opportunity Fund, which was initiated and funded by CPB to ensure the continued vitality of key PBS primetime series that were cited as especially meaningful to PBS audiences in a recent CPB primetime research study. NOVA is produced for PBS by WGBH Boston.
"NOVA represents what is most distinctive about public television," said Pat Harrison, CPB's President and CEO. "I am delighted that this grant will help NOVA continue to offer viewers a peerless blend of analysis and exploration into the realm of fact."
"NOVA captures our minds and imagination through great stories and cutting-edge science," said John F. Wilson, Sr. VP, PBS Programming. "The PBS/CPB grant ensures that NOVA will continue to break new frontiers in learning, television and media content."
NOVA is the highest-rated science series on television and the most-watched documentary series on public television; it also is the most visited Web site on PBS.org (pbs.org/nova). Now in its 33rd broadcast season on PBS, it is one of the medium's most celebrated series, having won every major industry award, most of them many times over, from the Emmy to the Peabody.
"We're extremely grateful to CPB and to PBS for their support," said Paula S. Apsell, Senior Executive Producer of NOVA. "This generous grant allows us to extend the reach of the series on-air and online, strengthening NOVA's - and our local stations' connection to our viewers and their relationship to science and the thrill of discovery."
The $27 million Opportunity Fund was designed to help strengthen PBS core primetime series in accordance with CPB audience research and strategic priorities. The first grant, made in October 2005, went to WGBH Boston's MASTERPIECE THEATRE.
CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related online services.
PBS is a private, nonprofit media enterprise that serves the nation's 348 public noncommercial television stations, reaching nearly 90 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is the leading provider of educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of other educational services. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online pbskids.org, continue to be parents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at pbs.org one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.
Contact Information:
CPB
Michael Levy
Corporate and Public Affairs
press@cpb.org or
(202) 879-9758
PBS
Carrie Johnson
(703) 739-5129
cjohnson@pbs.org
NOVA | WGBH Boston
Anna Lowi
(617) 300-5342
anna_lowi@wgbh.org
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