This service makes the deep and diverse resources of Penn State available in your home, on your schedule. Through provocative interviews, concise instructional and educational videos, revealing documentaries and newly uncovered archival material, we are committed to providing a range of programs that will enable you to find exactly what interests you. Are you interested, for instance, in gardening, or in organic food? You can watch demonstrations and pick up invaluable tips and insights with Penn State’s expert agricultural extension officers (go to Home & Gardening). Want to get up to date on the most current Alzheimer’s information? We have a panel of distinguished researchers from Penn State and across the country available to fill you in (see the Research section). Perhaps you know someone who is looking at colleges? Check out in-depth profiles of Penn State’s academic programs, as well as a fascinating documentary on the University’s history, all on-demand (see Penn State Life).

But this service is about more than Penn State. It is about making a place on-demand where you can always find in-depth, thoughtful programs that answer your questions and provoke new ones. From stories that explore the rich heritage and complexity of Pennsylvania, to frank, in-depth, and civil discussions of difficult racial issues, you will find much here that is rare, if not unique, on television. And with extensive program updates each week, you can always find something new.

This webpage will serve as an extension of the television service, but we hope it will take on a role in its own right. All on-demand programs will be viewable and searchable here, along with supplementary links and information whenever possible. You will also be able to review the schedule for on-demand to find out what is coming up, and what is about to be taken down. Finally, we hope that you will use the interactive features of the page to let us know what you think, and what we could do better.

This space will be used occasionally to draw attention to certain programs, and to provide some behind the scenes information. To start us off, I’d like to suggest that you check out the “PJ O’Connell” section this and every month. PJ was a producer at Penn State Public Broadcasting from the late 1960’s to the mid 1990’s. Throughout his career, PJ chronicled the stories of regular people, small-town communities and local institutions in rural Pennsylvania. But he treated these subjects as if they were the most important in the world. He often spent months or years at a time immersed in communities, documenting their characters, uniqueness and complexity. In doing so, he pushed his viewers to take a breath and look closely at themselves, their families, and their communities. For in looking closely, PJ reminded us, we may find even more there than when we look far away.