Local PBS Stations to Stream Free via Amazon Prime Video

As we enter the mid-2020s and streaming rapidly becomes the default way viewers consume television, PBS has announced a deal with Amazon to make all PBS local station channels, 150+ stations in all, available for free. Over the next few months, Prime members will see their local PBS stations launch individual livestream "FAST Channels," with one big difference: No ads. (Call them Free Educational Entertainment TV channels: FEET.) 

Those who do not subscribe to Prime will also have free access to PBS programming under the “Watch for Free” section within Prime Video, which was previously FreeVee's home base. These channels will be available via the Prime Video app and Fire TV.

At the 2024 Winter Television Critics Association, I asked PBS CEO Paula Kerger about the difference between the PBS app, PBS Passport, and the PBS subscription channels on Amazon, as it seemed a little "Robbing Peter to pay Paul," as it were, since those who pay for PBS Passport are supporting their local station, while those who subscribe to the PBS channels on Amazon are giving their money direct to the parent company.

Her answer fascinated me, partly because the monetary aspect wasn't the point.* Keger's real mission was making sure PBS was available in as many ways as possible for those who wanted to access it: "We have tried to be very attuned to making sure that our content is where they are." 

(*Kerger did add that the money that comes directly to PBS from Amazon is basically a replacement for the income PBS used to get from home media sales and defrays costs that local stations would otherwise have to pay, so everyone benefits.) 

This new deal fits that mission of putting PBS where people are. Amazon Prime boasts more subscribers than any other service, save Netflix (where PBS also has an ongoing deal to stream shows). If you subscribe to Prime to shop, play video games, or listen to music, you automatically have Prime Video and, therefore, will have access to these free PBS channels. By putting these ad-free channels where FreeVee was, even those who don't subscribe to Prime (or recently canceled it due to other factors) can still stream their local stations free. It's putting PBS where people can watch, regardless of their financial situation.

However, that's not all PBS is doing with Amazon, though one would think that's a pretty big deal by itself. (And one would be right, hence why this will take a few months to roll out.) First and most importantly, the current subscription add-on, PBS Kids, will no longer be behind a subscriber paywall and will stream ad-free. That's huge since anyone who has had to sit through hours of Paw Patrol knows how godawful most programming aimed at small children is. Putting PBS programming for children on an ad-free live stream will greatly benefit parents.

Also, PBS will roll out two new subject-specific channels to the overall lineup, which also includes PBS Masterpiece and PBS Living. The new streaming add-ons will be called "PBS Drama" and "PBS Documentaries." These two new streaming channels will also be free, not behind a subscriber paywall, but they will have ads in the traditional FAST setup. (As of now, PBS Masterpiece and PBS Living look to be continuing the ad-free subscriber route.)

None of this will affect the PBS app, which remains a free way to access local PBS content, or PBS Passport, which at $6 a month (or $120 a year) remains one of the best deals in streaming. Not only do PBS Passport subscribers get access to a deep vault of PBS series and films, but they also get early access to shows like Miss Scarlet, access to entire seasons on premiere day for nearly every Masterpiece series, and the good vibes that come from donating to their local public television station. (Mug and tote bag are optional.)

Local stations will begin rolling out on streaming for free without ads by the end of 2024. Keep an eye on your local station news to find out when the PBS stations near you expect to launch.