WETA has been a part of the production of "PBS NewsHour" (first named "The Robert MacNeil Report" and then the "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer") since its creation in 1973. At that time, the program was produced in part by WNET in New York with assistance from WETA, which served as the program's Washington news studio.
Since 1995, "PBS NewsHour" has made WETA its production home. Working closely with MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, WETA provides technicians, cameras, equipment and its production facility to bring "PBS NewsHour" to more than 300 PBS stations.
"PBS NewsHour" originates from the WETA studios. "PBS NewsHour"also has a West Coast studio at KQED/San Francisco. The program maintains a video production facility in Denver, Colorado.
According to A.C. Nielsen, the program reaches 99% of the nation's television households. Nearly 2.7 million people tune in to "PBS NewsHour" each weeknight (1.4 HH rating) and more than 8 million unduplicated viewers watch at least one night a week. In addition, the program has been singled out in surveys as America's most credible news program.
"PBS NewsHour" is fed live by satellite from 6:00 to 7:00pm (ET) each weeknight, with repeat feeds updated when news warrants, from 7:00 to 8:00pm and 9:00 to 10:00pm. (ET). WETA TV 26 and 90.9 FM broadcast the program Monday through Friday at 7:00pm.
"PBS NewsHour" is also carried daily in Japan by NHK Broadcasting, via the Direct Broadcast Satellite System (Channel One); in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa, via the U.S. Information Agency's WorldNet Satellite; and in 23 countries in the Middle East and North Africa via Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network.
For additional information about the history of "PBS NewsHour," news summaries, special reports, forums, letters, underwriters and more, visit www.pbs.org/newshour.
