PBS: Watch Live TV Shows

Stream Live TV, News & Documentaries. Watch Full Seasons with PBS Passport.

PBS: Watch Live TV Shows

App stats

By: PBS
Version: 5.17.5 (Last updated: 2024-11-13)
Creation date: 2015-06-09
Permissions
Identity: find accounts on the device
Contacts: find accounts on the device
Location: approximate location (network-based), precise location (GPS and network-based)
Microphone: record audio
Wi-Fi connection information: view Wi-Fi connections
Other:
  • read TV channel/program information
  • write TV channel/program information
  • view network connections
  • full network access
  • draw over other apps
  • prevent device from sleeping

Other platforms

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App summary

Get the PBS app and stream heartwarming shows like All Creatures Great & Small and Call the Midwife, plus new documentary series like Ken Burns’ American Buffalo. The PBS app features the latest news, live TV from your local PBS station, award-winning documentaries, and iconic series. Download the PBS app and stream thousands of full-length episodes anytime, anywhere!

Streaming and watching TV is made easy with the PBS app. Watch series you love and discover brand new shows, live or on demand, with PBS’s streaming app available on your mobile phone, tablet, or Smart TV.

Unlike conventional streaming apps, PBS lets you access local TV live! Stream local content with the PBS app livestream and discover your favorite local PBS station shows.

Stay up to date with the latest news; watching shows like Frontline, PBS News Hour, and Washington Week with The Atlantic. Catch up on your favorite British dramas with Masterpiece classics including complete seasons of Sherlock, Wolf Hall, Grantchester, and Sanditon. Learn about history and science with new episodes of Finding Your Roots, Antiques Roadshow, Nature, and NOVA. Discover exciting musical performances watching Great Performances and Austin City Limits. You never have to miss a show with brand new videos and episodes added daily to the PBS app.


WHAT DO YOU GET WITH THE FREE PBS APP?

STREAM LOCAL & LIVE TV

- Connect to your local PBS station and watch your local station livestream
- Tune in to the latest from your local community on the PBS app
- Stream your local station TV channel live anytime

WATCH TV SHOWS ON DEMAND
- Watch TV shows on demand with the PBS app
- TV shows of all genres - from drama and romance to murder and mystery
- Watch a new series and your all-time favorites
- Save episodes of your favorite TV shows to a custom watchlist

STREAM A VARIETY OF CONTENT
- Stream specially curated playlists, short films, interviews, extras, and more
- Binge TV shows of all genres on the PBS app
- Watch films, documentaries and TV shows

WATCH TV SERIES ACROSS MULTIPLE GENRES
- Enjoy the best of streaming and entertainment with PBS
- Drama: All Creatures Great and Small, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Broadchurch, Poldark, Vienna Blood, Endeavour, World on Fire, Call the Midwife, Jamestown, and more.
- Foreign Language Dramas: Professor T, Seaside Hotel, The Paris Murders, Luna and Sophie, and Sisi: Austrian Empress
- News & Public Affairs: Programs from PBS News Hour, Frontline, Amanpour and Company, Firing Line, and Washington Week with The Atlantic.
- Award-Winning Films & Documentaries: Discover new perspectives with Ken Burns, Independent Lens, POV,, and the PBS Short Film Festival.
- History: Antiques Roadshow, American Experience, American Masters, Finding Your Roots, and more.
- Arts & Performances: Great Performances, Austin City Limits, Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting, and Variety Studio: Actors on Actors.
- Science & Nature: Explore astonishing new worlds from NOVA, Nature, Deep Look, Expedition, and more.

WATCH MORE WITH PBS PASSPORT
Passport is an added benefit of station membership. By donating to your local PBS station you can:
- Stream an expanded library of acclaimed PBS programming
- Extended and exclusive access to 1,500+ episodes of your favorite shows
- Watch past and current seasons of popular shows like All Creatures Great and Small, Endeavour, and Sanditon
- Binge watch new TV series and your favorite PBS programs, like Finding Your Roots
- Stream early releases and special collections, like Ken Burns films and Antiques Roadshow

WHAT’S NEW ON PBS
Gods of Tennis
Hotel Portofino S3
D.I. Ray S2
NOVA: Sea Change
MASTERPIECE: Sherlock
Finding Your Roots

LEARN MORE
- PBS App: https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/
- PBS Passport: https://pbs.org/getpassport
- PBS Support: https://help.pbs.org/
PBS offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new worlds through trusted, educational television and digital content

User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Google Play Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Great content with no ads (mostly)
  • Wide array of educational and entertainment programming
  • High sound and picture quality for streaming
Cons
  • App crashes frequently and is unstable
  • Poor user interface and navigation issues
  • Playback issues such as buffering and video unavailability
  • Missing essential features like 'next episode' button and way to remove expired videos
Most mentioned
  • Crashes and instability of the app
  • Problems with video playback and buffering
  • Frustrations regarding the user interface and navigation
User reviews
With the latest PBS app version 5.17.5 update when I cast a show to my television the phone screen will turn off and on repeatedly until I stop casting. I have an LG V40 phone with Android 10. Otherwise the PBS app works fine. It's just hard to do anything with the phone while it's blinking off and on so much. Please isolate this problem and fix it in the next update. Thank you!
by Dennis K, 2024-11-16

I've always loved PBS. And, having this app is a dream come true. especially with no ads, just amazing content. The app works great. the only suggestion is that I would like for this to be more binge friendly and add a "play next episode" button after an episode is done. Also, when selecting an episode to play, the play button is too small. When I first opened it, I almost missed it.
by Jennifer Casimiro, 2024-11-05

The PBS app along with PBS passport has opened up a wide array of programs that don't feel like I'm watching junk. The sound quality is one of the best for streaming whether on phone or Roku tv. Very pleased with the program selection and the quality of picture and sound. Wished other streaming apps worked as well as this one!
by Charlotte S, 2024-10-02
View all user reviews

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