PBS Partners With LTN to Manage Upper C-band Transition
The partnership will help bring content to over 330 public television stations.
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2026 – PBS has selected LTN to build and manage an IP video distribution network serving more than 330 public television stations.
The move comes as broadcasters prepare for the Federal Communications Commission's planned auction of additional upper C-band spectrum. Nearly 1,000 local television stations across the country are required to move to new frequencies due to the upcoming auction.
The transition will shift key distribution functions onto IP-based infrastructure, reducing reliance on satellite capacity and positioning PBS for future spectrum changes.
Under a multi-year agreement, LTN will provide managed video transport, connectivity and contribution services across the PBS station network. The deployment will start immediately and continue through the end of 2026.
The network will distribute PBS public television content, including PBS East and PBS West feeds, PBS KIDS, NHK World, FNX and Create, with the ability to deliver up to nine linear feeds to PBS member stations.
LTN Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Malik Kahn explained, “LTN is proud to provide the network, reliability and operational foundation required to support one of the largest and most important media networks in the U.S.”
He noted that LTN’s IP network provides the scale, reliability and flexibility required to help PBS modernize and strengthen its interconnection system, future proofing the platform and supporting the future of public media.
“Moving to a scalable, IP-based infrastructure will increase reliability, reduce costs and enable new opportunities for content sharing, collaboration and audience reach across the entire PBS system,” said Dana Golub, vice president of strategic infrastructure initiatives at PBS, in the release.
Under the agreement, LTN will implement a fully managed IP network to provide end-to-end connectivity, two-way video transport across station locations and ISP services. The platform will enable always-on content to allow sharing among stations and allow station contribution workflows for regional and national distribution of locally produced content.
This partnership comes as the FCC must auction at least 100 megahertz of upper C-Band spectrum by July 2027, part of the effort mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill.
PBS has received funding cuts in the past year. Last July, Congress passed the Recession Act, cancelling about $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS and NPR.
