System/Policy

PBS proposes video-on-demand service in FY15 budget

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PBS’s fiscal year 2015 draft budget includes the launch of a Membership Video on Demand service that will generate revenue by drawing on the network’s expansive library of content. MVOD members will get exclusive access to on-demand PBS videos, according to a budget document acquired by Current. “This is a critical product to help stations drive membership of the growing digital audience,” it said. The service will be integrated with PBS’s COVE video platform, and the public broadcaster anticipates hiring additional staff for the project. The budget proposal, now awaiting comment from stations, also requests a 2.5 percent increase in assessments from stations.

Quick Takes

PBS, six stations testing donation requests on COVE

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PBS and six stations are testing approaches for soliciting donations through COVE, PBS’s local-national video platform, according to PBS. Five 15-second pre-roll ads will instruct users to click on a donation button that is linked to a local station’s fundraising page. PBS will compare results for each ad with click-through rates and donor conversions. It expects to report on results by the end of October. Stations participating in the pilot are Iowa Public Television; KPBS in San Diego; KLRU, Austin, Texas; PBS SoCal in Los Angeles; WGVU, Kalamazoo, Mich.; and Chicago’s WTTW.