The Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS, is the nation’s only publicly funded, full-service cable network. Its programming is as diverse as the country it has served for over 50 years. Shows range from high-class dramas and award-winning children’s programs to news, concerts, and cultural events to locally produced programming for regional interests.
Cord-cutters and public media organizations have one major belief in common: Great television should be easily accessible and free (or at least very affordable). You may wonder how to access PBS programming if you're not a cable subscriber. PBS has always been available through free over-the-air channels with a TV antenna, and many people still watch it that way. However, in the age of streaming services, web streaming, and proprietary apps from networks, you have a few options to watch your favorite PBS shows. This guide will outline the ways you can watch PBS without a cable subscription.
| Price | Channels | Free Trial | ||
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#1
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$69.99 - $159.99 | 140+ | 5 days | Watch Now |
How to Watch PBS Online Without Cable
Many people still turn to “PBS Newshour” as their go-to nightly news, kids can’t get enough of shows like “Sesame Street” and “Cyberchase” — and who could live without classic dramas like “Downton Abbey” and “Sherlock”? PBS programming makes up some of the best of TV, so finding ways to watch without cable is a must for cord-cutters.
Because most of PBS’s programming is already available for free, it’s not a channel option on streaming platforms. However, you can find it on streaming services that aim to replicate a traditional cable experience, like DIRECTV and YouTube TV. PBS is available on DIRECTV as PBSNET Channel 389 and on YouTube TV under the name of your local PBS station. YouTube TV also has a secondary PBS Kids 24/7 channel.
One of the best ways for cord-cutters to access the full schedule of PBS shows is with a quality HD TV antenna. PBS is broadcast through your local TV tower, allowing you to watch completely free. We’ve got a full guide walking you through the basics of setting up free over-the-air TV and information on choosing an HD TV antenna.
PBS.org lets you watch much of its content without an antenna, subscription, or anything else except your phone or laptop. There, you can browse complete shows to watch, including popular programs like “Frontline,” “Nature,” and “Midsomer Murders.” Some premium content requires a PBS Passport membership, which is a benefit of donating to your local PBS station. You can find all of the content from PBS.org on the PBS Video app downloaded from your device’s app store.
Here are all the ways to watch PBS without cable:
Can I Watch PBS on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast?
If you’re watching PBS via DIRECTV, YouTube TV, or the PBS Video app, you can switch screens with ease by connecting your chosen streaming service to a streaming device like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, Android, and your web browser. This function won't be available if you’re watching via antenna or on the PBS website.
More to Love for PBS Fans
NBC is a neutral source of daily news offering time-limited news segments in the morning and evening and entertaining programming like “Friends” and “The Office” the rest of the time. They also cover major events like the ball drop on New Year's Eve. To watch without cable, check out our guide to watching “NBC Nightly News.”
When it comes to the nightly news, another information source, like ABC, can double your information. ABC also offers morning and evening news and shows like “Abbott Elementary.” Our blog is the place to find out how to watch ABC World News Tonight.
CBS completes the nightly news trifecta. “CBS Evening News” and “CBS News Mornings” broadcast daily between shows like “NCIS” and “The Amazing Race.” Read our tips on how to watch CBS without cable.
I just installed a Roku device on my kitchen TV last night and also have access to PBS Passport on my computers because I donate to my local PBS station (KQED). My question is: how can I add PBS Passport access to my Roku device so I can watch PBS on my TV rather than my computer?
Add the PBS APP. You’ll have to do the sign-up thing for it on the PBS site. This is what I had to do for both of my ROKU TV’s.
Is there. Monthly charge
I was getting all 5 PBS stations ota which is where I like to watch it on my digital tv. I lost all 5 stations on my tv this past week and don’t understand why⁉️ I don’t want to watch on my iPad but don’t know how to get it back on my tv as I refuse to pay spectrum their robbery prices for cable. That defeats it as FREE AND ON MY LARGE TV SCREEN. Needing cable and internet does not make it FREE‼️‼️‼️On my tablet is not free‼️‼️‼️‼️PBS says it’s so more people can see it-well you just kicked a whole neighborhood off as we can no longer see it on our tv for free as we have for the last 55yrs‼️‼️‼️‼️So how does this make it viewable to more people for free⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️Us seniors have help make you relevant so why are you now making us pay and figure out how to get your programs back on our TVs for FREE⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️This is absolutely wrong but shoving us aside is going to cost you or delete you and we funded you for so many years‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️NOW you’re asking us to spend more money on top of our support and pay someone to get it set up as we weren’t brought up with this knowledge. This will prove t be your downfall. WAIT AND SEE! Those young kid ss aren’t going to keep you going‼️Your funds will dry up. This is what you do to those that support you⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️
Did you rescan to see if PBS changed their broadcast signal location?
Bravo
PBS took Canadian subscribers and our money for years, robbing the Canadian cable services of subscribers. Once PBS was successful at our expense they dropped us Canadians, until now with this suspect offer. Sure PBS. We love the programming but your business ethics? Not so much.
The letter above is spot on. I am 85 years old and ever since I re-scanned my T.V. { I have an antenna} half the channels are gone or they are so messed up they can’t be watched. I’m mad as hell!!!!!
I totally agree with you! I’m having a hell of a time.
We don’t get PBS with an antenna because we live in the woods. We had to pay for dish satellite TV to get any television until recently when we switched to a broadband option, and now we want to stream PBS and cut the cord. We have a Roku TV and we do have the PBS app on that TV, but very little of their programming is available for us. Now what???
I echo the immediately above post on12/21/21, except now it’s /5/01/22 & I’m in NC. A few years back, I enjoyed subscribing to PBS Passport, but when my income became fixed, I had to stop the nominal cost of Passport. No longer having Passport access, I uninstalled the PBS app from my ROKU TV because what was available was so uninteresting. Now, a few years later, I am trying again & the disappointment is no less the reaction. PBS, an institutional channel available for free once upon a time has learned there is money to be gained by those who stream. I cannot even choose the PBS station of my choice, I am stuck with what PBS determines. So far, it’s cooking shows ad nauseum. Here I go again with the uninstallment of the ROKU TV PBS app.
Is there a charge ? I have. Passport number but don’t remember it and just installed the app on my TV
We got the pbs passport to watch on roku but the concerts are only the trailers. We can’t find the full length concerts anywhere!
Any
Ideas?
A couple of days ago ch 08.1 and 8.2 quit showing on my tv.
I am on antenna.
My zip code is 77437 el campo.
I bought an antenna and had it installed on my roof , better antenna so I could get ch 08 and it disappeared.
Did the thunderstorms mess up your broadcast?
I have also lost my local station this past week.
I have called called and called leaving messages and requests – nothing!!!!
Tried all the on line web sites lengthy instructions I could possibly follow-nothing.
This is basically all I watch and have for years.
What happened to OETA that just in the wink of an eye it is not available and I can’t get help to
Solve this problem.
Frustration is really getting up there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why did I just lose all my PBS stations? (channel 18)
With a Roku TV, you can use the PBS Video app to watch a lot of recent PBS shows for free. If you want access to their complete archive you can pay $5 a month or $60 a year for a membership from your local PBS TV station.
https://www.pbs.org/pbs-video-app/
Sign up for a membership on your local PBS station’s web site, then create an online username and password that you will need for full access in the streaming app.
I did this for the first year I switched to streaming with YouTube TV. I stopped paying for the membership and full access when YouTube TV added PBS stations to its local channels lineup. I still have the PBS app on my Roku TVs and just used it a couple days ago to watch a recent episode of Frontline.
Why does the screen freeze when I back up while watching a PBS video via Passport? How can I prevent this from happening? It seems to happen when I back up several times for a short time.
I don’t understand why it is only possible to watch the main PBS NC station online. I also watch the PBS Explorer Channel here in NC, but it isn’t available online. Why is that ? How can they claim ownership of FOUR channels, but only allow the viewer to watch ONE???
The only way I can watch it is to either continue to pay Spectrum an exorbitant amount of money per month or pay an equally high amount to a streaming service. I live in the mountains, so an antenna is not going to cut it.
That doesn’t make sense, for one thing. For another, it just doesn’t seem right.
For those of us who contribute financially to the programming that appears on ALL of those channels, it feels a bit like a slap in the face.
I totally agree with you! I’m having a hell of a time.