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Presenting Station

Twin Cities PBS can present your finished film to PBS audiences over the air and on our streaming channels.

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Work with us as a Presenting Station

Public television distribution services may require independent producers to hire a "Presenting Station" to assess and facilitate delivery of content for national distribution. A Presenting Station is a local PBS affiliate, like Twin Cities PBS, that charges independent producers a fee to help them navigate distribution of their program in the national public media marketplace.

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Guidelines for completed programs

Twin Cities PBS receives queries from independent filmmakers seeking distribution of their completed films. Learn more below then complete the submission form.

Go to Submission Form

Specifications

A Presenting Station reviews programs for adherence to PBS and Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) content and technical guidelines, ensuring that all necessary deliverables arrive on time and at the quality needed for the program’s premiere. Programs must adhere to strict specifications for broadcast, the first is timing. Twin Cities PBS will help the producer get to the required length if requested.

  • A thirty minute program must be 26:46 in finished length
  • A sixty minute program must be 56:46
  • A ninety minute program must be 86:46
  • A two hour program must be 1:26:46

Commitment to review

As a PBS member station, Twin Cities PBS supports the mission and values of public television. We abide by PBS principles and guidelines, especially its Editorial Standards and Practices, Funding Standards and Practices, and Production Guidelines. We also abide by FCC rules and regulations pertaining to non-commercial educational television stations. Twin Cities PBS will review and consider each proposal submitted to us for consideration for potential local distribution by Twin Cities PBS, distribution statewide via the Minnesota Channel, regional distribution to other PBS member stations in the Midwest, and nationally to PBS, APT, and NETA with Twin Cities PBS serving as a Presenting Station.

Scheduling

Twin Cities PBS's local and state distribution schedule is determined 3-4 months in advance, so please keep this in mind when submitting programs that are timely in nature. Regional and national distribution schedules may vary, with PBS, APT, and NETA often making determinations 4-6 months in advance of broadcast.

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Other accepted submissions

Twin Cities PBS is committed to creating and distributing diverse views and content that follows a strict set of standards and practices when evaluating any content included in our programming. As a PBS member station, we align our standards and practices with those of PBS and use those standards to inspire and inform our own.

Go to Submission Form

Idea for documentary or show

If you have an idea for a documentary or series that showcases Minnesota’s rich history, vibrant arts scene, or civic and social engagement, please select: Idea for Documentary, children’s programming, non-fiction series or other programming ideas. Twin Cities PBS's local and state distribution schedule is determined 3-4 months in advance, so please keep this in mind when submitting programs that are timely in nature

Almanac and public affair pitches

If your submission is a timely news, events, or public affairs story, please select Pitches for Almanac and Public Affairs on the submission form above for consideration of inclusion on Almanac.

Other pitches

There are some pitches — such as breaking news, community hearings, or requests to cover a local event — better suited for other sources. For these types of ideas, we encourage you to reach out to your local news organizations, public access channels, newspapers, or public radio.

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Editorial standards and submission process

The Editorial Standards and Submissions Process FAQ provides answers to questions about how we make decisions and what to do if you want Twin Cities PBS to consider your idea for a story, a collaboration, or distribution of your project.