Grounded Reason

  • Explore
    • How To Cut the Cord
    • Cable TV Alternatives
    • Watching Local Network Channels
    • How To Watch Any Channel
    • Find Internet Without Cable
    • Find The Best Streaming Device
    • Watching TV Shows and Movies
    • All Recent Articles
Home » TV » Streaming » How To Watch TV By Channel » How To Watch PBS Without Cable

How To Watch PBS Without Cable

Published 2020-12-16 By Dennis Restauro

PBS

You don’t need cable to watch PBS. In fact, 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.

Table of Contents
  • Stream Live PBS Free
    • Watch on The PBS App
    • PBS is Free on Locast
  • Watch PBS With an Antenna
  • Other Streaming Services with Live Local PBS
    • Watch PBS on YouTube TV

Stream Live PBS Free

There are two ways your can stream your live local PBS broadcast free.

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

To activate the PBS app on your streaming device, follow the steps below:

  1. Download the PBS App from your Channel Store and Open the app
  2. Select “Activate Now,” and you will receive an activation code.
  3. Navigate to this URL on your laptop or smart device: Activate PBS
  4. Sign in with your PBS account (you can create one FREE if you don’t have one)
  5. Once signed in, your device will refresh. If you have a local live stream of PBS, you will see a “Live TV Tab” in addition to thousands of On-demand episodes.

PBS is Free on Locast

locast local tv

Locast streams the local PBS network live in over 42% of households, and it is 100% free. You can even watch Locast using a streaming device. Locast supports Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV.

Locast is available in the following 31 TV markets:

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Boston, MA
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Chicago, IL
  • Dallas, TX
  • Denver, CO
  • Detroit, MI
  • Houston, TX
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Madison, WI
  • Miami, FL
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • New York, NY
  • Orlando, FL
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Portland, OR
  • Puerto Rico
  • Rapid City, SD
  • Sacramento, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Scranton, PA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Sioux City, IA
  • Sioux Falls, SD
  • Tampa Bay, FL
  • Washington, D.C
  • West Palm Beach, FL

You can read more in our review of Locast. You can try their service by downloading Locast to your favorite supported streaming device or on their website.

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

Below I’m going to cover the streaming services that 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.

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

Besides Locast, YouTube TV is currently the only live streaming service where you can watch your local PBS station live. YouTubeTV 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 is supported on Roku, Android, iOS (includes AirPlay to Apple TV), and Chromecasts/Chromecast-compatible TVs. Be sure to check out our review of YouTube TV for more information. You can sign up for their free trial.

How Much: $64.99 per month.

For information on watching other TV channels online check out: How To Stream Specific TV Channels

Need More Information?

If this article didn't answer your specific question, head over to our Home Page! It will guide you to affordable internet providers, streaming services to meet your needs, information on antennas, and many more tools and resources to help you save money on TV and Internet access.

For tips and tricks on cutting the cord and other tech topics be sure to join our Facebook Page.

Ways to Save on Internet and TV

Right now, you can try the streaming service Discovery+ at no cost for up to a year by switching to Fios Internet.

With over 60 live channels including HGTV, AMC, Paramount Channel and more for just $20 per month, Philo TV is one of the best TV provider deals you 'll find online. Try a Free Trial to Philo Now! No credit card required!

Disney+ is offering an amazing deal combining Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+ for just $13.99 per month! For more on the new Disney streaming service, check out our ultimate guide to Disney+

Join Millions of Cord Cutters

Disclosure: Grounded Reason is supported by a small commission for purchases made through some product links on this website. We do not accept compensation from companies attempting to sway our review of products.

Filed Under: How To Watch TV By Channel Last Updated 2020-12-16

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Service
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 Grounded Reason LLC, All rights reserved.