A new adventure is afoot with a fresh adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days, coming to PBS on Sunday, January 2. While it debuted on the BBC on December 26, the international co-production will be available to American audiences via Masterpiece beginning January 2 and running for eight consecutive weeks. Based on Jules Verne’s novel of the same name, the plot centers around Phileas Fogg (David Tennant) making a wager with a snobbish private club that, via the latest in 19th-century transportation, he can travel the world in merely 80 days. He is joined by his valet Passepartout (Ibrahim Koma) and journalist Abigail Fix (Leonie Benesch). The series has already been picked up for a second season. Read on for more on how to watch Around the World in 80 Days without cable.
- When Does It Premiere: Around the World in 80 Days premeires on Sunday, January 2, at 8:00 p.m.
- Where Does it Air: Around the World in 80 Days airs on PBS.
- Best Way to Watch: Stream via the PBS app or with YouTube Live TV (free trial).
Stream Live PBS Free
You don’t need cable to watch PBS. The live local broadcast of PBS streams free in most U.S. TV markets. You can also watch numerous PBS shows like Sanditon, Antiques Roadshow, and The PBS News Hour on-demand through the sources covered below. You can also read more in-depth information on each option in our How to Watch PBS Without Cable article.
Watch on The PBS App
While it isn’t well advertised, PBS streams the feed of the live local PBS channel of over 125 PBS member stations, so it is likely a live local PBS station streams through the PBS app in your area. Not only can you watch PBS live, but the app also offers over 4000 PBS shows on-demand.
You download the PBS app on the following devices:
- iOS
- Apple TV
- Android
- Android TV
- Roku
- Amazon Fire TV
- Samsung Smart TV (Tizen)
- Chromecast
Watch PBS With an Antenna
Generally, if you live in a city or the suburbs, you can watch PBS over the air using something as simple as this $25 Flat TV antenna. The free return policy makes it no risk. If it doesn’t get the channels you want, you can return it for your money back.
You can see if PBS is available over the air using this FCC page. If the flat antenna doesn’t perform to your expectations, then check out the following instructional guides for more details on over the air TV.
- Learn How to Choose a TV Antenna
- Learn How to Use One Antenna for Multiple TVs
- Learn How to Ground a TV Antenna
- Learn how to Improve Antenna TV Reception
- Record from your Antenna with an Over the Air DVR
Other Streaming Services with Live Local PBS
The following streaming services offer a live broadcast of PBS. Broadcast stations like PBS, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC are separated into 210 TV markets in the US. Each streaming service has to negotiate a deal with the station owners in each market to carry the channel, so you have to double-check your local availability.
To watch PBS, use the link in each section to subscribe to a service that offers PBS in your area, download the services streaming app to a streaming device like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, etc. and watch PBS through that services channel guide.
Watch PBS on YouTube TV
YouTube TV is currently the only live streaming service where you can watch your local PBS station live. YouTube TV offers the live PBS broadcast of over 100 PBS member stations across the U.S. You can see the channels available in your area by entering your zip code on YouTube TV’s channel finder.
YouTube TV supports Roku, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more. Be sure to check out our review of YouTube TV for more information. You can sign up for their free trial.
How Much: $72.99 per month.
