PBS

==History==
[[File:2100 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA April 2019.jpg|thumb|Former PBS headquarters in [[Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia]]]]
PBS was established on November 3, 1969, by [[Hartford N. Gunn Jr.]] (president of [[WGBH Educational Foundation|WGBH]]), [[John Macy]] (president of [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting|CPB]]), [[James Day (journalist)|James Day]] (last president of [[National Educational Television]]), and Kenneth A. Christiansen (chairman of the department of broadcasting at the [[University of Florida]]).<ref>{{cite news |date=January 14, 2000 |title=Articles of Incorporation of Public Broadcasting Service |url=http://www.current.org/pbpb/documents/PBSarticles69.html |newspaper=[[Current (newspaper)|Current]] |access-date=January 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010406090018/http://www.current.org/pbpb/documents/PBSarticles69.html |archive-date=April 6, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

It began operations on October 5, 1970, taking over many of the functions of its predecessor, [[National Educational Television]] (NET), which later merged with [[Newark, New Jersey]] station WNDT to form [[WNET]]. In 1973, it merged with [[Educational Television Stations]].<ref name="JARVIK">{{cite book |title=PBS, behind the screen |author=Laurence Ariel Jarvik |publisher=Forum |location=[[Rocklin, California]] |year=1997 |isbn=0-7615-0668-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Public TV Faces Fund Struggles |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SelHAAAAIBAJ&pg=805,469633&dq=hartford+public+broadcasting+television+gunn&hl=en |newspaper=[[Record-Journal|The Morning Record]] |via=[[Google News]] |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906010404/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SelHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n_8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=805,469633&dq=hartford+public+broadcasting+television+gunn&hl=en |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Vanishing Vision: The Inside Story of Public Television |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dKYZynRiU6YC&q=hartford+n+gunn+jr&pg=PA137 |author=James Day |via=[[Google Books]] |date=September 16, 1969 | publisher=University of California Press |access-date=October 23, 2013 |isbn=978-0-520-08659-3 |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628045327/https://books.google.com/books?id=dKYZynRiU6YC&q=hartford+n+gunn+jr&pg=PA137 |url-status=live}}</ref> Around the same time, the groups started out the National Public Affairs Broadcast Center (later National Public Affairs Center for Television), which offered news and national affairs to the service.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1971-08-30 |title=Public broadcasting gets it together |pages=46 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting Magazine]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/71-OCR/1971-08-30-BC-OCR-Page-0046.pdf |access-date=2023-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1971-09-27 |title=NPACT hires former NBC newsman |pages=38 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting Magazine]] |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/71-OCR/1971-09-27-BC-OCR-Page-0038.pdf |access-date=2023-07-15}}</ref> The group was later merged into member station [[WETA-TV]] in 1972.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-04-05 |title=Public Affairs Center and Capital's WETA to Join (Published 1972) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/05/archives/public-affairs-center-and-capitals-weta-to-join.html |access-date=2021-01-01 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-04-10 |title=NPACT, Washington's WETA-TV to merge |pages=42 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting Magazine]]}}</ref>

Immediately after public disclosure of the [[Watergate scandal]], on May 17, 1973, the [[United States Senate Watergate Committee]] commenced proceedings; PBS broadcast the proceedings nationwide, with [[Robert MacNeil]] and [[Jim Lehrer]] as commentators. Although all of the [[Big Three TV Networks]] ran coverage of the hearings, PBS re-broadcast them on [[prime time]].<ref>Graff, Garrett M. (2022). ''Watergate: A New History'' (1 ed.). New York: Avid Reader Press. pp. 443-444. {{ISBN|978-1-9821-3916-2}}. {{OCLC|1260107112}}</ref> For seven months, nightly "gavel-to-gavel" broadcasts drew great public interest, and raised the profile of the fledgling PBS network.<ref>[https://americanarchive.org/exhibits/watergate/watergate-and-public-broadcasting "'Gavel-to-Gavel': The Watergate Scandal and Public Television", ''American Archive of Public Broadcasting''. Retrieved November 10, 2019.]</ref>

In 1991, the [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]] resumed funding for most PBS shows that debuted prior to 1977, with the exceptions of ''[[Washington Week|Washington Week in Review]]'' and ''[[Wall Street Week]]'' (CPB resumed funding of ''Washington Week'' in 1997).

In 1994, ''[[The Chronicle of Philanthropy]]'' released the results of the largest study on the popularity and credibility of charitable and non-profit organizations. PBS ranked as the 11th "most popular charity/non-profit in America" from over 100 charities researched in the study conducted by the industry publication, with 38.2% of Americans over the age of 12 choosing "love" and "like a lot" for PBS.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 13, 1996 |title=The Charities Americans Like Most And Least |work=The Chronicle of Philanthropy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Karen S. Peterson |date=December 20, 1994 |title=Charity begins with health, Concern over diseases cited |edition=Final |page=01D |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Laura Castaneda |date=December 13, 1994 |title=Survey helps firms choose charities |edition=Home Final |page=1D |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[A. H. Belo|A. H. Belo Corporation]]}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Interview with Lavalle |date=September 7, 2009}}</ref>

Since the mid-2000s, [[GfK|Roper Opinion Research]] polls commissioned by PBS have consistently placed the service as the ''most-trusted national institution'' in the United States.<ref name="PBS infographic">{{cite web |title=15 Years As America's Most Trusted Institution |url=http://bento.cdn.pbs.org/hostedbento-prod/filer_public/PBS_About/Files%20and%20Thumbnails/PBS_TrustBrochure2018.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611073823/http://bento.cdn.pbs.org/hostedbento-prod/filer_public/PBS_About/Files%20and%20Thumbnails/PBS_TrustBrochure2018.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2018 |access-date=June 11, 2018 |website=PBS}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=PBS #1 in public trust for the sixth consecutive year, according to a national Roper survey |url=https://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20090213_pbsropersurvey.html |website=PBS |date=February 13, 2009 |access-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-date=July 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705213550/http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20090213_pbsropersurvey.html |url-status=live}}</ref> A 2016{{ndash}}2017 study by [[Nielsen Media Research]] found 80% of all US television households view the network's programs over the course of a year.<ref name="About PBS" /> However, PBS is not responsible for all programming carried on public television stations, a large proportion of which may come from its [[Network affiliate|member stations]]—including [[WGBH-TV]], [[WETA-TV]], [[WNET]], [[WTTW]], [[WQED (TV)|WQED]], [[WHYY-TV]], [[Twin Cities PBS]]—[[American Public Television]], and independent producers. This distinction regarding the origin of different programs on the service presents a frequent source of viewer confusion.<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Getler |author-link=Michael Getler |date=May 15, 2008 |title=Caution: That Program May Not Be From PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/2008/05/caution_that_program_may_not_be_from_pbs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304103738/http://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/2008/05/caution_that_program_may_not_be_from_pbs.html |archive-date=March 4, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2008 |website=PBS}}</ref>

In December 2009, PBS signed up for the [[Nielsen ratings]] [[audience measurement]] reports, and began to be included in its primetime and daily "Television Index" reports, alongside the major commercial broadcast networks.<ref>{{cite web |author=Bill Gorman |date=December 20, 2009 |title=PBS Signs Up For Nielsen Ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/20/pbs-signs-up-for-nielsen-ratings/36822 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222215318/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/20/pbs-signs-up-for-nielsen-ratings/36822 |archive-date=December 22, 2009 |access-date=March 10, 2011 |work=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref>

In May 2011, PBS announced that it would incorporate breaks containing underwriter spots for corporate and foundation sponsors, [[promo (media)|program promotions]] and identification spots within four breaks placed within episodes of ''[[Nature (TV series)|Nature]]'' and ''[[Nova (American TV series)|NOVA]]'', airing episodes broken up into segments of up to 15 minutes, rather than airing them as straight 50- to 55-minute episodes. The strategy began that fall, with the intent to expand the in-program breaks to the remainder of the schedule if successful.<ref>{{cite news |author=Elizabeth Jensen |date=May 30, 2011 |title=PBS Plans Promotional Breaks Within Programs |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/business/media/31adco.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402233604/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/business/media/31adco.html?_r=0 |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>

In 2011, PBS released [[mobile app|apps]] for [[iOS]] and [[Android (OS)|Android]] to allow viewing of full-length videos on mobile devices.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 7, 2011 |title=PBS Launches Free Full-Length Video App for iPhone and iPod touch and Antiques Roadshow Game App |url=https://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-launches-free-full-length-video-app-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-and-antiques-roadshow-game-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819141455/http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-launches-free-full-length-video-app-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-and-antiques-roadshow-game-app/ |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=July 13, 2016 |website=PBS}}</ref> Vern Seward of ''The Mac Observer'' calls the PBS iPad App, "...cool on so many levels."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seward |first=Vern |date=October 29, 2010 |title=3 iPad Apps to Help Cut the Cable |url=https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/3_for_cutting_the_cable |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003191458/https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/3_for_cutting_the_cable |archive-date=October 3, 2020 |access-date=2020-04-11 |website=The Mac Observer}}</ref> An update in 2015 added [[Chromecast]] support.<ref>{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Bertel Jr. |date=July 9, 2015 |title=PBS Video For Android Can Now Stream Full Episodes To Your Chromecast |publisher=Android Police |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/06/09/pbs-video-for-android-can-now-stream-full-episodes-to-your-chromecast/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821171137/http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/06/09/pbs-video-for-android-can-now-stream-full-episodes-to-your-chromecast/ |archive-date=August 21, 2016}}</ref>

"PBS UK" was launched as a paid subscription channel in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2011, featuring American documentary programming sourced from PBS. Better identifying its subject matter, this channel was renamed "[[PBS America]]" on July 4, 2012. The channel has subsequently become available in other parts of Europe and Australia.

On February 28, 2012, PBS partnered with AOL to launch ''[[Makers: Women Who Make America]]'', a digital documentary series focusing on high-achieving women in male-dominated industries such as war, comedy, space, business, Hollywood and politics.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dwyer |first=Kate |date=March 28, 2016 |title=How You Can Be in the Music Video for Michelle Obama's Song With Zendaya and Lea Michele |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/makers-stories-app-michelle-obama-music-video |magazine=[[Teen Vogue]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302113908/http://www.teenvogue.com/story/makers-stories-app-michelle-obama-music-video |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 28, 2012 |title=AOL and PBS Announce "Makers: Women Who Make America" |url=https://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/aol-and-pbs-announce-makers-women-who-make-america/ |publisher=PBS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805145825/http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/aol-and-pbs-announce-makers-women-who-make-america/ |archive-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref>

PBS initially struggled to compete with online media such as [[YouTube]] for market share. In a 2012 speech to 850 top executives from PBS stations, Senior Vice President of Digital [[Jason Seiken]] warned that PBS was in danger of being disrupted by YouTube studios such as [[Maker Studios]]. In the speech, later described as a "seminal moment" for public television,<ref>{{cite news |date=May 29, 2012 |title=GMs take up PBS plan to expand web video output |url=http://current.org/2012/05/gms-take-up-pbs-plan-to-expand-web-video-output-2/ |newspaper=Current |access-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713072343/http://current.org/2012/05/gms-take-up-pbs-plan-to-expand-web-video-output-2/ |archive-date=July 13, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> he laid out his vision for a new style of PBS digital video production. Station leadership rallied around his vision and Seiken formed [[PBS Digital Studios]], which began producing educational but edgy videos, something Seiken called "PBS-quality with a YouTube sensibility".<ref>{{cite web |date=October 23, 2012 |title=Why PBS Autotuned Mr. Rogers |url=http://digiday.com/publishers/why-pbs-autotuned-mr-rogers/ |work=[[Digiday]] |access-date=February 4, 2016  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201042929/http://digiday.com/publishers/why-pbs-autotuned-mr-rogers/ |archive-date=February 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The studio's first hit, an auto-tuned version of the theme from one of their most famous television programs, ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'', was one of YouTube's 10 most viral videos of 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stampler |first=Laura |date=December 3, 2012 |title=The 20 Most Viral Ads Of 2012 |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-20-most-viral-ads-of-2012-2012-12?op=1&IR=T |work=Business Insider |access-date=July 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143854/http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-20-most-viral-ads-of-2012-2012-12?op=1&IR=T |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> By 2013, monthly video views on PBS.org had risen from 2 million to a quarter-billion, PBS.org traffic had surpassed that of the CBS, NBC, and ABC web sites, PBSKids.org had become the dominant US children's site for video, and PBS had won more 2013 [[Webby Awards]] than any other media company in the world.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 18, 2013 |title=How PBS Won at Digital |url=http://digiday.com/publishers/pbs-sees-success-with-year-old-digital-studios |work=Digiday |access-date=February 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201042930/http://digiday.com/publishers/pbs-sees-success-with-year-old-digital-studios/ |archive-date=February 1, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 8, 2013, full-length episodes of PBS' prime time, news and children's programs were made available through the [[Roku]] streaming player; programming is available on Roku as separate streaming channels for "PBS" and "[[PBS Kids|PBS KIDS]]" content.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 8, 2013 |title=Roku's PBS, PBS Kids channels go live, stream full episodes |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57583465-221/rokus-pbs-pbs-kids-channels-go-live-stream-full-episodes/ |work=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Corporation]] |access-date=May 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607065553/http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57583465-221/rokus-pbs-pbs-kids-channels-go-live-stream-full-episodes/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Some content is only available with a {{visible anchor|PBS Passport}} member benefit subscription.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=December 15, 2015 |title=PBS Passport serves up on-demand content for public TV's members |url=https://current.org/2015/12/pbs-passport-serves-up-on-demand-content-for-public-tvs-members/ |newspaper=Current |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921215304/https://current.org/2015/12/pbs-passport-serves-up-on-demand-content-for-public-tvs-members/ |archive-date=September 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 1, 2016, [[Amazon Prime Video]] and PBS Distribution entered into a multi-year agreement which saw several PBS Kids series on other streaming services move to Amazon Prime Video.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gettell |first=Oliver |date=July 1, 2016 |title='Daniel Tiger' and more PBS Kids shows leaving Netflix, Hulu |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/07/01/amazon-prime-pbs-kids-deal/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229225623/https://ew.com/article/2016/07/01/amazon-prime-pbs-kids-deal/ |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |access-date=April 14, 2020}}</ref>

PBS Distribution partnered with [[MultiChoice]] to launch [[PBS Kids|PBS KIDS]] on May 22, 2019, on [[DStv]] and [[GOtv]] subscription platforms across its [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] footprint.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 20, 2020 |title=More Children's Entertainment added to DStv and GOtv with the launch of PBS KIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa |url=https://namibiadailynews.info/more-childrens-entertainment-added-to-dstv-and-gotv-with-the-launch-of-pbs-kids-in-sub-saharan-africa/ |newspaper=[[Namibia Daily News]] |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925193220/https://namibiadailynews.info/more-childrens-entertainment-added-to-dstv-and-gotv-with-the-launch-of-pbs-kids-in-sub-saharan-africa/ |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-2021, the channel was added to Australia's [[Foxtel]] subscription platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2021 |title=Foxtel expands family offering with two new dedicated kids channels - DreamWorks and PBS KIDS |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/06/25/foxtel-expands-family-offering-with-two-new-dedicated-kids-channels-dreamworks-and-pbs-kids/ |website=TV Blackbox |access-date=June 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625163224/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/06/25/foxtel-expands-family-offering-with-two-new-dedicated-kids-channels-dreamworks-and-pbs-kids/ |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

At the summer 2019 [[Television Critics Association]] press tour day for PBS on July 29, 2019, it was announced that MVPD [[YouTube TV]] would begin to carry PBS programming and member stations in the fall of 2019. Member stations have the choice of having their traditional channel on the service with its full programming schedule received by Google over-the-air and uploaded to the service, a YouTube TV-only feed provided by the station with some programming substitutions due to lack of digital rights, or a PBS-provided feed with limited localization, though with no local programming or pledge drive programming.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=July 29, 2019 |title=PBS forges deal with YouTube TV for localized live streams |url=https://current.org/2019/07/pbs-forges-deal-with-youtube-tv-for-localized-live-streams/ |newspaper=Current |access-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730133745/https://current.org/2019/07/pbs-forges-deal-with-youtube-tv-for-localized-live-streams/ |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, PBS announced plans to move its headquarters to another building in the Crystal Gateway complex, while remaining in [[Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia|Crystal City, Virginia]], and did so in 2020, which included a top building sign visible off the [[U.S. Route 1 in Virginia|Richmond Highway]].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 9, 2020 |title=Sign Proposed for Top of New PBS Headquarters in Crystal City |url=https://www.arlnow.com/2020/09/09/sign-proposed-for-top-of-new-pbs-headquarters-in-crystal-city/ |publisher=ARLnow |access-date=10 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914044828/https://www.arlnow.com/2020/09/09/sign-proposed-for-top-of-new-pbs-headquarters-in-crystal-city/ |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |editor-last=Koma |editor-first=Alex |date=January 15, 2019 |title=PBS Agrees to Keep Headquarters in Crystal City, Plans to Relocate to New Building |url=https://www.arlnow.com/2019/01/15/pbs-agrees-to-keep-headquarters-in-crystal-city-plans-to-relocate-to-new-building/ |publisher=ARLnow |access-date=September 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620084011/https://www.arlnow.com/2019/01/15/pbs-agrees-to-keep-headquarters-in-crystal-city-plans-to-relocate-to-new-building/ |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=AED />

On August 4, 2020, the [[Amazon Prime Video]] platform added a "PBS Documentaries" package.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2020 |title=PBS to launch documentary streamer via Prime Video Channels in boost to Amazon |url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2020/07/29/pbs-to-launch-documentary-streamer-via-prime-video-channels-in-boost-to-amazon/ |website=Digital TV Europe |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910010904/https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2020/07/29/pbs-to-launch-documentary-streamer-via-prime-video-channels-in-boost-to-amazon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of that time it offered four separately-subscribable selections of PBS programming in the United States, "PBS Documentaries", "PBS Living" (also on Apple TV), "PBS Masterpiece" (also in Canada) and "PBS KIDS".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watching PBS videos on other streaming services. |url=https://help.pbs.org/support/solutions/articles/12000060278-watching-pbs-videos-on-other-streaming-services- |website=PBS Help |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910002940/https://help.pbs.org/support/solutions/articles/12000060278-watching-pbs-videos-on-other-streaming-services- |url-status=live }}</ref> In the UK, a "PBS America" documentaries package is available on Amazon Prime Video.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SVOD Channels |url=https://pbsdistribution.org/services/svod-channels/ |website=PBS Distribution |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910003815/https://pbsdistribution.org/services/svod-channels/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 3, 2020, PBS began to offer a livestream of their member stations for free via its website (as well as the websites from the member stations), on smart TVs, and on their mobile apps. However, only a small handful of stations currently do not have a livestream of their stations set up.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gurwin |first=Jason |date=September 3, 2020 |title=PBS Launches Free Live Local Streaming of PBS Stations |url=https://thestreamable.com/news/pbs-launches-live-local-streaming-of-pbs-stations |publisher=The Streamable |access-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022153209/https://thestreamable.com/news/pbs-launches-live-local-streaming-of-pbs-stations |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Jefferson Graham of ''[[USA Today]]'' called it, "Arguably the best bargain in streaming".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Jefferson |date=January 15, 2020 |title=Sure, PBS is now on YouTubeTV, but free streaming app a better deal |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/01/15/pbs-now-youtube-tv-but-not-sling-and-hulu-live-tv/4454284002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106005019/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/01/15/pbs-now-youtube-tv-but-not-sling-and-hulu-live-tv/4454284002/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

July 1, 2021 saw a PBS Julia Child channel be added to [[Pluto TV]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PBS Distribution |url=https://www.facebook.com/PBSDistribution.org/posts/940198203213362 |date=6 July 2021 |work=Facebook |access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref>

The channels "PBS Antiques Roadshow", "Julia Child", "Antiques Road Trip" and "PBS Nature" were added to a number of American FAST platforms in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=PBS and WNET Group Launch FAST Channels on Plex |url=https://www.adweek.com/lostremote/pbs-distribution-and-wnet-group-launch-fast-channels-on-plex/70799/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.adweek.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The channels "PBS Food" (in the United States) and "PBS History" (in the UK and Australia) launched on certain FAST platforms in late 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bouma |first=Luke |date=2023-11-20 |title=PBS is Launching a New Free Channel Called PBS Food On Amazon's Freevee, Plex, & The Roku Channel |url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/pbs-is-launching-a-new-free-channel-called-pbs-food-on-amazons-freevee-plex-the-roku-channel/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Cord Cutters News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bouma |first=Luke |date=2023-12-15 |title=Plex Adds Over 20 New Free Channels This Week |url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/plex-adds-over-20-new-free-channels-this-week/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Cord Cutters News |language=en-US}}</ref>