How To Watch Local Pbs Stations Without Cable

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 10:04 PM

how to watch local pbs stations without cable

PBS is a local broadcast channel that is available free as an over-the-air TV channel, and through a number of free and subscription-based streaming services. “Masterpiece”, “PBS NewsHour”, and the latest Ken Burns documentaries are among the PBS programs that you can watch for free. You can use the PBS Video app (with or without PBS Passport), and Local Now to stream local PBS stations for free across most of the U.S. A subscription to DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV includes local PBS and PBS Kids stations. There is also on-demand PBS content offered through PBS Passport, Amazon Prime and Netflix. PBS has been maximizing options for its viewers in recent years, especially cord-cutters who no longer pay for a cable TV subscription.

You can now watch thousands of local and national PBS shows without a pay TV provider. I watch and record my PBS station using a TV antenna and OTA DVR. It’s a dependable way for me to save my favorite episodes of “Austin City Limits” and “Front and Center.” If you have an internet connection, you can also use a number of streaming apps... You can watch hundreds of episodes of your favorite PBS programs at our official website, PBS.org. Stream videos of PBS NewsHour, Nature, NOVA, Antiques Roadshow, American Experience, and more, straight from your computer - no account required! Our site supports the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge web browsers.

You must have a device that connects to the internet with a stable network connection in order to stream videos online. You can find all the videos on PBS.org on the PBS App, available for download on supported devices. These devices connect to your television and use your television as the screen for watching videos. We currently support Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Android TV, Samsung TV (2017 and newer), and VIZIO SmartCast TV. We also support Apple iPhone and iPad, and Android mobile devices. You must have a device that connects to the internet with a stable network connection in order to stream videos online.

To use the PBS App, you must create an account with PBS or sign in through Google, Facebook, or Apple ID. To download the PBS App, please follow the download instructions for your specific device: 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. 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... 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... 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? 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. PBS has always been an accessible educational resource for TV viewers of all ages, and that hasn't changed in the streaming age. The free-to-air service's broadcasts and local live streams are available almost everywhere, including on their website, PBS.org. But when it comes to streaming services, the best way to watch PBS local channels is through live TV platforms like DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV.

They might be on the pricier side, but their solid interface and extensive lineup of both live and on-demand content justify the price. Meanwhile, the cheapest way to watch local channels is via PBS' free and downloadable app. You can watch it on major streaming devices, and if you want to extend your selection to include exclusive films and TV shows like the award-winning series Finding Your Roots, then you can purchase... If you enjoy using the DVR option, Youtube TV is arguably the best option in the market for you: it gives you unlimited DVR storage on the Cloud (accessible from any of your devices),... Also, you can share Youtube TV with up to six accounts, so if you have a big family, this is a much better option than getting a bunch of cheaper Live TV subscriptions. Youtube TV allows up to three accounts of the six to watch at the same time.

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Sharp, Vizio, Xbox DirecTV is a Live TV streaming platform with a twist: you can download the app on any of your existing devices, or for a $120, you can get a box with a custom remote... But without the box, DirecTV functions like a Netflix or Hulu, allowing you to stream Live TV from anywhere by downloading the app. Within your home, you can stream on up to 20 devices (!), and from outside your home you can stream on up to three devices. Streaming your local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations without cable is still one of the biggest and most expensive challenges for cord cutters. In this article and the featured video below, I review the latest options to help you decide if they’re worth it.

You can now stream three of the four major networks 24/7 through standalone apps: That leaves ABC. The new ESPN Unlimited app includes live ESPN on ABC content, but not a 24/7 feed of your local ABC station. Hulu still streams ABC shows the next day. Free standalone apps worth mentioning: The CW and PBS. Only PBS includes a live stream of your local station.

Do you love PBS but can’t get it with an antenna? Or do you just wish you could stream it? Good news: you can now do just that for free. For a long time, PBS was not cord cutting friendly: there were limited options to stream its channels live for free or even if you wanted to pay. A lot of that was caused by old TV contracts and the way local PBS stations are owned. Now PBS channels can be streamed for free on multiple services.

Your first option is the official PBS app. In most areas the local PBS app will still stream your local PBS channel for free. You can even watch it for free through the PBS website. Want PBS Kids? Good news: it also streams for free through the PBS Kids app on most popular streaming devices. Don’t want to use the PBS app?

Good news: Local Now offers PBS streaming for free in most areas. Over the last year, PBS stations have been slowly added to Local Now giving you access to your local PBS station. Many viewers are choosing to cut ties with traditional cable subscriptions as various new ways to watch local channels on cable become popular. This shift, known as “cord-cutting,” often raises a crucial question: How can you watch local channels without a cable subscription? This guide explores practical methods for cord-cutters to continue enjoying local news and shows. You’ll find step-by-step instructions for setting up your streaming devices and exploring various ways to access local content without a cable subscription in 2025.

Whether you want to save money or simply modernize your viewing experience, this guide covers you. Let’s get to it! With the help of OTA TV, you can capture free broadcast signals from local network affiliates like ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS. Here’s how to get started:- Want to watch local TV channels but don’t want to shell out for cable? We’ve rounded up the top ways you can stream your local and major networks cable-free.

With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, HBO, and Hulu, many Americans are cutting cable out of their lives altogether. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, cable usage dropped dramatically from 76% to 56% between 2015 and 2021. Among the reasons cited were that people could find the content they wanted online, their cable bill was too high, and they just didn’t watch enough TV to make paying for cable worth it. While these points are valid, many people who have cut the cord on cable have noticed that it has become increasingly harder to find local news and broadcast networks. What was once easy to stumble across while channel surfing now seems impossible to find. However, there are a few solutions to this problem, which we’ve rounded up below.

Keep reading to see how you can access local TV channels without cable. The non-profit streaming service Locast used to be the place to watch local TV stations live. That is, until they lost their court battle with the four major networks — ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC —and had to shut down for good. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ seem to be taking over the home entertainment scene, though traditional cable is still a family favorite in numerous households across America. Local channels broadcasting the latest news, weather updates, live sports, and classic TV shows exhibit an unbeatable charm. A detailed comparison should help: Streaming vs.

Cable: Which One Should You Choose? Flipping through TV channels on a lazy Sunday morning or wrestling for the remote might seem second nature to you, but what if you have to let go? Maybe you’ve moved to a place where you cannot get a cable TV connection, or perhaps you want to cut the cord to reduce monthly expenses (why pay for 100+ channels when you only... Either way, there’s nothing to be upset about because you can watch local channels without cable. Intrigued? Stay tuned to learn how…

How To Watch Local Pbs Stations Without Cable

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