State of the System

Paula Kerger

PBS

Paula A. Kerger is president and chief executive officer of PBS, the nation’s largest non-commercial media organization with nearly 350 member stations throughout the country. Having joined PBS in March 2006, Kerger is the longest-serving president and CEO in PBS history.

Under Kerger’s leadership, PBS has grown its audiences across genres and platforms. PBS has moved from the 15th most-watched network in America to number six in the past decade. Over the course of a year, eighty percent of all U.S. television households watch PBS, and each month Americans view an average of 260 million videos across PBS’ web, mobile and connected device platforms.

Since Kerger’s arrival, PBS has consistently presented high-quality, groundbreaking content that delivers on the founding mission of public television — to educate, inspire and entertain the American people. Among her accomplishments are the pop culture phenomenon “Downton Abbey” on MASTERPIECE, Ken Burns’s and Lynn Novick’s critically acclaimed THE VIETNAM WAR, the documentary “Hamilton’s America” about the Broadway smash hit musical, “Freedom Riders” on AMERICAN EXPIERENCE, and award-winning children’s programs such as DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD.

In the past year, PBS and its producing partners have been recognized with prestigious honors, including four Peabody Awards, two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, seven Daytime Emmy Awards and 12 News & Documentary Emmy Awards — more than any other organization.

Kerger has made particularly strong commitments to PBS’ work in children’s education. She led the historic launch of the PBS KIDS 24/7 broadcast and streaming channel, ensuring that PBS’ educational programming can reach children anytime and anywhere through local stations. In addition, Kerger oversaw the development of PBS LearningMedia, which empowers teachers across America to engage and inspire their students with high-quality digital content.

Kerger also serves as president of the PBS Foundation, an independent organization that raises private sector funding — a significant source of revenue for new projects at PBS.