Method

PBS.org is the home of comprehensive companion websites for more than 1,300 PBS television programs and specials, as well as original Web content and real-time learning adventures. By merging online and television media, PBS has pioneered the creation and distribution of interactive programming to advance education, culture and citizenship worldwide.

Challenge

This wealth of media content now available from PBS and its affiliates brought about a need to help users discover and view content from any variety of PBS sources. Method partnered with PBS on this long-term project to define, design, develop and roll out a new and innovative video player as well as a content-rich web experience for PBS.org. The main challenge that Method faced lay in bringing together the disparate resources among PBS' 168 member stations and scores of producers, while at the same time translating PBS' brand mission and experience through online video.

Approach

To provide users the ability to find exactly what they are looking for, and also discover new content, Method designed and built a simple, elegant, and extensible front-end for browsing and searching the robust PBS library. The new video player allows PBS to take their current broadcast content and remix it into new, curated digital video streams.

The innovative video experience that Method created required an administrative back-end interface that allowed PBS' member stations and producers to easily add and curate video content and end user experience. Method worked closely with video partner, thePlatform, to build an interface that gave member stations and producers the ability to populate their respective sites with additional and related content, contextual information and customized design elements for their experiences.

Outcome

By clearly organizing, prioritizing and highlighting the most important video/content types and the most powerful user paths, Method radically improved and innovated the accessibility and view-ability of PBS' vast array of video content. The power of this video player will serve not only PBS.org, but the PBS member stations as well, allowing them to adapt the look and functions to serve their individual sites and content needs.

The new PBS.org and video player allows PBS to take their current broadcast content and mix it into new, curated digital content streams. It will serve PBS and PBS member stations, allowing members to adapt the look and functions to serve their individual web and content needs.

NY Times: PBS Brings Bugs, Presidents and Souffles to the Web
LA Times: Watch PBS Online? You Can If You Visit Its New Video Portal
Wall Street Journal: PBS Expands Online Video Offerings