The Independent Television Service (ITVS) formed out of a decade-long struggle by independent media artists and community activists to support diverse, innovative and independent voices on public television in the United States. In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed legislation directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to negotiate with a national coalition of independent producer groups to establish ITVS. In 1991, ITVS opened its doors, funding its first wave of independently produced programs for public television.

The Independent Television Service (ITVS) funds, presents, and promotes award-winning documentaries and dramas on public television and cable, innovative new media projects on the Web, and the Emmy Award-winning weekly series Independent Lens Thursday nights at 10:00 PM on PBS.

Mission Statement

The Independent Television Service (ITVS) brings independently-produced, high-quality public broadcast and new media programs to local, national and international audiences. The independent producers who create ITVS programs take creative risks, tackle complex issues and express points of view seldom explored in the mass media. ITVS programs enrich the cultural landscape with the voices and visions of underrepresented communities, and reflect the interests and concerns of a diverse society.

Vision

ITVS supports a dynamic field of independent media makers whose programs creatively engage audiences, expand cultural awareness and catalyze civic participation. ITVS embraces technical innovation to advance the production and distribution of independent media worldwide. The independent perspectives embodied in ITVS programs are considered by a broad public to be essential to a civil society.

ITVS serves three constituencies: the viewing public, the independent media community and the public television system. They expand viewers' horizons with adventurous and diverse programming. They support independent makers working in the public interest by providing them with funding and services to help them complete, deliver, broadcast, promote, and engage audiences around their programs. Finally, they serve the public television system by making available diverse programming created by independent producers. ITVS International is a division of the Independent Television Service that runs the Global Perspectives Project (GPP), an international exchange of documentary films made by independent producers, bringing international voices to U.S. audiences and American stories to audiences abroad.

ITVS receives core funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. The GPP is made possible through the support of Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.