diff --git a/spec/operators/publish-spec.ts b/spec/operators/publish-spec.ts
index ba4784bab1..c461bb8442 100644
--- a/spec/operators/publish-spec.ts
+++ b/spec/operators/publish-spec.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,23 @@ describe('Observable.prototype.publish', () => {
     published.connect();
   });
 
+  it('should accept selectors', () => {
+    const source =     hot('-1-2-3----4-|');
+    const sourceSubs =     ['^           !'];
+    const published = source.publish(x => x.zip(x, (a, b) => (parseInt(a) + parseInt(b)).toString()));
+    const subscriber1 = hot('a|           ').mergeMapTo(published);
+    const expected1   =     '-2-4-6----8-|';
+    const subscriber2 = hot('    b|       ').mergeMapTo(published);
+    const expected2   =     '    -6----8-|';
+    const subscriber3 = hot('        c|   ').mergeMapTo(published);
+    const expected3   =     '        --8-|';
+
+    expectObservable(subscriber1).toBe(expected1);
+    expectObservable(subscriber2).toBe(expected2);
+    expectObservable(subscriber3).toBe(expected3);
+    expectSubscriptions(source.subscriptions).toBe(sourceSubs);
+  });
+
   it('should multicast an error from the source to multiple observers', () => {
     const source =     cold('-1-2-3----4-#');
     const sourceSubs =      '^           !';
diff --git a/src/add/operator/publish.ts b/src/add/operator/publish.ts
index cf571880e2..6a15ecf834 100644
--- a/src/add/operator/publish.ts
+++ b/src/add/operator/publish.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import {Observable} from '../../Observable';
 import {publish, PublishSignature} from '../../operator/publish';
 
-Observable.prototype.publish = publish;
+Observable.prototype.publish = <any>publish;
 
 declare module '../../Observable' {
   interface Observable<T> {
diff --git a/src/operator/publish.ts b/src/operator/publish.ts
index 133b9d078f..66c972a365 100644
--- a/src/operator/publish.ts
+++ b/src/operator/publish.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {Subject} from '../Subject';
+import {Observable} from '../Observable';
 import {multicast} from './multicast';
 import {ConnectableObservable} from '../observable/ConnectableObservable';
 
@@ -8,14 +9,21 @@ import {ConnectableObservable} from '../observable/ConnectableObservable';
  *
  * <img src="./img/publish.png" width="100%">
  *
+ * @param {Function} Optional selector function which can use the multicasted source sequence as many times as needed,
+ * without causing multiple subscriptions to the source sequence.
+ * Subscribers to the given source will receive all notifications of the source from the time of the subscription on.
  * @return a ConnectableObservable that upon connection causes the source Observable to emit items to its Observers.
  * @method publish
  * @owner Observable
  */
-export function publish<T>(): ConnectableObservable<T> {
-  return multicast.call(this, new Subject<T>());
+export function publish<T>(selector?: (source: Observable<T>) => Observable<T>): Observable<T> | ConnectableObservable<T> {
+  return selector ? multicast.call(this, () => new Subject<T>(), selector) :
+                    multicast.call(this, new Subject<T>());
 }
 
+export type selector<T> = (source: Observable<T>) => Observable<T>;
+
 export interface PublishSignature<T> {
   (): ConnectableObservable<T>;
+  (selector: selector<T>): Observable<T>;
 }