• The New York Times, Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:45 AM

While PBS has the luxury of shunning commercials in its TV broadcasts, in the online world PBS is welcoming ads. The publicly supported, not-for-profit television network announced it will be streaming several programs on the Hulu Web site, including "Nova," "Wired Science," "Carrier" and "Scientific American Frontiers."

This isn't the first ad deal that PBS has struck, although it is the first that will get widespread distribution. Hulu will place a 30-second spot before each program, splitting the revenue with PBS. Commercials will only be allowed at the beginning of its shows and ads for tobacco companies and politicians are off limits.

The arrangement is an effort to balance revenue needs with PBS' noncommercial heritage, says Andrew Russell, head of PBS Ventures. "It is very important to carry the principles of public television into these environments," he says.

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