What We Do

BRINGING PBS TO YOU

Costume dramas that transport you to bygone eras that somehow still feel current. Travel documentaries that give you an excuse for a little armchair adventure. Science shows that explore the peak of the tallest mountains and the smallest speck of an atom. Performances that give you a front-row seat from the comfort of your home.

TPT brings you the best of PBS so you can indulge your curiosity every day of the week.

INSPIRING KIDS’ IMAGINATIONS 

On September 16, 1957, TPT – then known as KTCA – began broadcasting from the University of Minnesota campus. Those early broadcasts revolved around educational programming for kids.

Our devotion to children’s programming continues to this day with the 24/7 PBS Kids channel and streaming platform that families can access anytime, anywhere. Plus, we host a variety of family friendly events, including our free monthly affair, Second Saturdays, which allows kids to meet-and greet their favorite PBS Kids characters and to participate in a slew of hands-on activities.

BUILDING CONNECTIONS TO THE ARTS

With a blend of broadcast shows, digital-exclusive stories, live concerts and pop-up performances, TPT serves as both stage and studio for the arts. Whether profiling Minnesota’s creative set on MN Original or showcasing the country’s wild array of musical stylings on shows such as Austin City Limits and Great Performances, TPT connects artists to our communities – and our communities to the arts.

We also throw open the doors of our studios to host a spectrum of arts events that shine a spotlight on Minnesota’s creative culture.

TELLING STORIES THAT MATTER

Walk the streets of any Minneapolis or Saint Paul neighborhood, and you’ll encounter a rich diversity of people who have built lives in our great state. No two communities are carbon-copies of each other – and the issues that most impact their lives are as varied as Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.

That’s why we partner with other nonprofit, educational, government and public-service organizations that share a similar mission: to uncover the stories that help Minnesotans of all backgrounds to engage around the important issues that matter to them.