APT History
American Public Television
History
As public television’s longest-running program distributor, APT’s pioneering roots extend to the early days of public television, pre-dating the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) by eight years. Incorporated in 1961 as the Eastern Educational Television Network (EEN), APT provided public television’s first interstate interconnection.
The first to distribute such public television staples as The French Chef, hosted by the iconic Julia Child, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Washington Week in Review, APT continued to feed the appetite of American television audiences with entertaining and educational programs. With Tennis from Longwood, APT introduced professional tennis to television in 1963. And, APT brought Monty Python’s Flying Circus to American audiences in 1974.
In 1991, APT presented the original “Three Tenors” performance special — Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert — one which continues to garner rave reviews nearly 25 years after its initial release. And, in 2001, APT offered the first high-definition series on public television, Smart Travels — Europe with Rudy Maxa.
APT Worldwide launched in 1999, introducing an international licensing division responsible for providing high-quality, innovative, non-fiction programming to the global marketplace. APT Worldwide's program catalog includes documentary, lifestyle, science, health, arts, culture, business, history, performance and music. Today, they license content in every market in the world.
APT Today
An industry leader, APT distributes programming to the more than 350 local public television stations across the United States. Working with public-media leaders, producers and talent across the country, the organization continues to seek strong content to complement both locally and nationally produced programs.
APT’s diverse catalog — representing more than 1,000 active titles — provides public TV stations with the flexibility to customize their broadcast schedules to meet local interests and demands. Each year, APT offers public television station programmers nearly 300 new and returning series and specials through a mix of teleconferences and an on-site screening at its annual Fall Marketplace meeting.
APT’s website, APTonline.org, provides valuable information and resources to a variety of users: public television colleagues, program producers, members of the press and viewers. The website continues to grow to provide more information through ever-expanding features, including streaming video, password-protected sections, links to local public television schedules to help viewers find their favorite programs and enhanced search capabilities.
APT counts among its talent some of public television’s most recognizable faces, the hosts viewers know and trust — including Rick Steves, Lidia Bastianich, Christopher Kimball, Steven Raichlen, Rick Bayless, Ming Tsai, Nick Stellino, P. Allen Smith and many, many others.
With a staff of about 30 people, APT continues to hold an important position as a leading distributor of programming to public television stations across the country.
History
As public television’s longest-running program distributor, APT’s pioneering roots extend to the early days of public television, pre-dating the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) by eight years. Incorporated in 1961 as the Eastern Educational Television Network (EEN), APT provided public television’s first interstate interconnection.
The first to distribute such public television staples as The French Chef, hosted by the iconic Julia Child, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Washington Week in Review, APT continued to feed the appetite of American television audiences with entertaining and educational programs. With Tennis from Longwood, APT introduced professional tennis to television in 1963. And, APT brought Monty Python’s Flying Circus to American audiences in 1974.
In 1991, APT presented the original “Three Tenors” performance special — Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert — one which continues to garner rave reviews nearly 25 years after its initial release. And, in 2001, APT offered the first high-definition series on public television, Smart Travels — Europe with Rudy Maxa.
APT Worldwide launched in 1999, introducing an international licensing division responsible for providing high-quality, innovative, non-fiction programming to the global marketplace. APT Worldwide's program catalog includes documentary, lifestyle, science, health, arts, culture, business, history, performance and music. Today, they license content in every market in the world.
APT Today
An industry leader, APT distributes programming to the more than 350 local public television stations across the United States. Working with public-media leaders, producers and talent across the country, the organization continues to seek strong content to complement both locally and nationally produced programs.
APT’s diverse catalog — representing more than 1,000 active titles — provides public TV stations with the flexibility to customize their broadcast schedules to meet local interests and demands. Each year, APT offers public television station programmers nearly 300 new and returning series and specials through a mix of teleconferences and an on-site screening at its annual Fall Marketplace meeting.
APT’s website, APTonline.org, provides valuable information and resources to a variety of users: public television colleagues, program producers, members of the press and viewers. The website continues to grow to provide more information through ever-expanding features, including streaming video, password-protected sections, links to local public television schedules to help viewers find their favorite programs and enhanced search capabilities.
APT counts among its talent some of public television’s most recognizable faces, the hosts viewers know and trust — including Rick Steves, Lidia Bastianich, Christopher Kimball, Steven Raichlen, Rick Bayless, Ming Tsai, Nick Stellino, P. Allen Smith and many, many others.
With a staff of about 30 people, APT continues to hold an important position as a leading distributor of programming to public television stations across the country.
Last updated: 2026-11-02