PBS Promotes Beth Bruns to Vice President, Business Affairs

PBS announced the promotion of Beth Bruns to Vice President, Business Affairs. Bruns will begin this role immediately and will report directly to PBS Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary Katherine Lauderdale.  

As Vice President of Business Affairs, Bruns will collaborate with PBS’s General Audience and PBS KIDS programming teams to structure, negotiate and draft program and other content-related deals (including co-production, commission and licensing deals). In this leadership role, she will manage the attorneys, negotiators and other personnel on the Business Affairs team. Bruns will also advise management with respect to industry trends and will be responsible for the development of deal parameters and execution of agreements that further PBS’s business objectives.  

“PBS is fortunate to have Beth leading our Business Affairs efforts. Her industry knowledge, extensive Intellectual Property and digital experience, and deep commitment to PBS’s mission are invaluable for this leadership role,” said Lauderdale. 

Beginning in 1999, Bruns has worked for PBS in various legal and business affairs capacities. Most recently, she served as Acting Principal Counsel, Business Affairs, managing all business and legal affairs for General Audience and PBS KIDS television and digital networks and services. Prior to that role, she served as Senior Legal and Business Affairs Counsel for PBS Children’s Media and Education.  

Bruns has also worked for Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp and served as Senior Legal Editor for Intellectual Property & Technology at Practical Law, owned by legal publishing and resources outlet Thomson Reuters. She began her legal career as an associate at the law firm of Hunton & Williams. On an adjunct basis, she has taught Entertainment Law at The George Washington University Law School, as well as American University Washington College of Law. 

Bruns is a member of the Virginia State Bar and District of Columbia Bar. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Best Buddies of Virginia and Washington, D.C. Bruns received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctorate from William and Mary Law School.  

About PBS 

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.