What Channel Is PBS On?

The PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) TV network has been around longer than many of us have been alive. Know anyone who hasn’t heard of Sesame Street, Antiques Roadshow, or Austin City Limits? Probably not. PBS is also more widely available than most of its commercial counterparts—let’s get into where you can find your local station.

Jump to:

• What channel is PBS on near me?
• Get PBS with cable or satellite
• Get PBS with an antenna
• Get PBS with a live TV streaming service
• Get PBS with PBS.org or PBS app
• What’s on PBS?

What channel is PBS on near me?

With almost 350 independent PBS affiliates (or member stations) in the U.S., it’s likely there’s one in your area. Below, we’ve gathered the cable, satellite, and antenna TV options available for 50 major cities. For more options, enter your zip code into our provider finder tool below.

PBS stations in major US cities

Data effective as of post date.

Get PBS with cable or satellite

Local PBS channels are available via cable and satellite TV services, from both big-name providers and smaller regional companies. Here are four of the top cable and satellite providers we recommend and their cheapest plans:

• Xfinity—Choice ($20.00/mo.)
• Spectrum—Select ($59.99/mo.)
• DISH—America’s Top 120 ($92.99/mo.)
• DIRECTV—ENTERTAINMENT ($64.99/mo.)

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Get PBS with an antenna

To receive any local broadcast channel, including PBS, a digital over-the-air antenna can get you plenty of free TV with no subscription fees beyond the one-time purchase price of the unit.

Here are two of the best antennas we’ve reviewed at CableTV.com:

• Mohu Blade (50-mile range)—approximately $20
• Mohu Leaf (60-mile range)—approximately $60

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Read more about over-the-air TV options in our Best Antennas for Cord-Cutters guide.

Get PBS with a live TV streaming service

Internet-delivered live TV streaming services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are generally less pricey than cable or satellite TV subscriptions, and they don’t come with annual contracts. But, you’re unlikely to receive every local channel on a live TV streaming service, and you need a solid internet connection of at least 25Mbps to stream smoothly.

Here are our top (and only) live TV streaming services that carry PBS channels, either live or on-demand:

• YouTube TV: $72.99/mo.
• Hulu + Live TV: $76.99–$89.99/mo.
• DIRECTV STREAM: $69.99–$159.99/mo.

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Is live TV streaming for you? Check out our Best Live TV Streaming Services guide.

Get PBS with PBS.org or PBS app

PBS and its member stations rely mostly on donations to stay afloat, but you can watch some content for free through PBS.org or its PBS streaming app that’s available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and most smart TVs.

For access to more PBS content, you can donate to your local PBS station to gain a PBS Passport membership for a minimum of $5 a month (or $60 a year).

What’s on PBS?

PBS’ array of educational, informational, kids, and entertainment programming is vast—so vast that your local member station can’t carry all of it. PBS stations operate independently, so they pick and choose which shows populate their respective schedules. Below is a partial list of PBS programming.

PBS shows

What’s PBS?

Launched in 1969 as a nonprofit alternative to commercial networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC, PBS broadcasts nearly 350 independently owned member stations in the U.S. PBS is best known for shows like Frontline, Masterpiece Theatre, and the long-running children’s favorite Sesame Street.

What channel is PBS on FAQ