How To Watch Pbs Without Cable

Leo Migdal

-Nov 25, 2025, 1:00 AM

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 is a TV channel that you can watch with a live TV streaming service. We recommend DIRECTV for most viewers.You'll be able to watch PBS and 31 of the Top 35 Cable channels. If you’d like to remove ads from Hulu’s on demand library, the subscription is $95.99/month. Start streaming DIRECTV & save $40 off your first month of service. Learn how. You can stream PBS with a live TV streaming service.

No cable or satellite subscription needed. Start watching with a free trial. 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... PBS is rolling out a packed slate of new primetime and streaming content for Fall 2025, and there’s never been a better time for cord-cutters to dive in.

From gripping documentaries and historical deep dives to stunning wildlife footage and world-class performances, PBS is bringing premium programming straight to your living room. The best part is that it’s all available for free with a digital antenna or to stream online and in the PBS app. Here’s how to watch and what not to miss this fall. PBS content is widely accessible for cord-cutters: Cord-cutters looking to stream PBS without cable have two solid options worth checking out. Frndly TV offers select local PBS stations in many areas, making it one of the most affordable ways to catch PBS content live and on demand.

Philo may also include PBS depending on your market, and while it’s primarily known for entertainment channels, it’s a budget-friendly way to expand your streaming lineup. Availability varies by region, so be sure to check both platforms to see which one includes PBS in your area. Several international dramas from Walter Presents are dropping full seasons for binge-watching: Giving up cable doesn’t mean surrendering all of your favorite networks. You can get local channels and extended networks on streaming platforms that give you more flexibility and a price break. In addition to getting sports content by way of live TV streaming, you can get niche networks like PBS with educational programming.

Learning how to watch PBS without cable is simple, and the network may be available to additional platforms in the future. PBS is short for Public Broadcasting System, a network that is comprised of hundreds of regional member stations. The channel survives on public donations and features a variety of programs with a focus on educational content. Series vary from dramas to news programs and documentaries. Shows available include “PBS News Hours,” “Finding Your Roots,” and “Hotel Portofino.” Read on to discover where to stream PBS without a cable subscription. You can get Hulu + Live TV as a stand alone, but for just $1 more a month, you’ll also get the entire Hulu on-demand catalog as well as access to ESPN Plus and...

In addition to being a valuable streamer for entertainment and news, Hulu + Live TV is good for sports fans. You can get professional football, baseball and basketball coverage in real-time. YouTube TV has just one base plan, but the platform offers a lot of potential for customization. Users can add the Entertainment Plus extra to their account and get Max, SHOWTIME and STARZ for $29.99 per month. YouTube TV has a wide array of channels in its base plan, ranging from ESPN and Golf Channel to BBC America and PBS. Other popular networks include NBC News Now, FX, HGTV, NBA TV and USA.

If you can’t watch your favorite program in real-time, you can take advantage of the platform’s unlimited DVR storage space. 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. Amazon and PBS have moved forward on their partnership to offer free access to local member stations and some national programming feeds via Prime Video. Starting this week, streamers have access to their local PBS member station, PBS Kids and two free, ad-supported streaming channels — PBS Documentaries and PBS Drama — through the Prime Video app on phones,...

The streams are accessible even if a user does not pay for Prime or Prime Video, the organizations affirmed. PBS and Amazon first announced their distribution pact last November, one that will also involve the launch of new curated streams that offer hit PBS series like “Reading Rainbow” in the coming months. Those curated content streams will be exclusive to Prime Video and its companion app Freevee, Amazon and PBS said at the time. Amazon is in the process of winding down its Freevee service and incorporating that content into Prime Video. Amazon is not the first to offer free access to PBS — the public broadcaster itself has long made PBS member stations and PBS Kids available to stream for free through its own phone,... The PBS content streams on Prime Video offer access to hit PBS series like “Finding Your Roots,” “Independent Lens,” “PBS Nature,” “American Experience” and “PBS NewsHour” along with locally-produced programming and shows acquired from...

How To Watch Pbs Without Cable

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