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PBS logoHow to watch PBS without cable

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What PBS is

PBS is not a network company in the usual sense: about 330 independent nonprofit member stations air its programs. Many states run statewide networks of transmitters.

Ways to get PBS

  1. An antenna receives PBS free.
  2. The free PBS app and pbs.org stream many member stations live.
  3. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV include PBS in most markets.
  4. IPTV USA MAX carries PBS as the local station of each market, grouped by city, on up to four screens. Free for 24 hours.

Official: pbs.org. Streaming plans and prices change; check them there.

PBS prime time this week

Eastern and Pacific network clocks; Central and Mountain stations air prime time an hour earlier.

Friday, Oct 16

  1. Washington Week with The Atlantic · S2026 E42
  2. Firing Line with Margaret Hoover · S2026 E41

Saturday, Oct 17

  1. Austin City Limits · S52 E7

Sunday, Oct 18

  1. Maigret · S2 E1

Tuesday, Oct 20

  1. Frontline · S2026 E13

Wednesday, Oct 21

  1. Nature · S45 E2
  2. NOVA · S53 E14
  3. Secrets of the Dead · S23 E6

Listings from TVmaze, checked 2026-10-15. Sports overruns and specials can move shows.

PBS station in each market

#MarketStationChannel
1New YorkWNET13
2Los AngelesKVCR-DT24
3ChicagoWTTW11
4Dallas–Fort WorthKERA-TV13
5PhiladelphiaWHYY-TV12
6HoustonKUHT8
7AtlantaWGTV8
8Washington, D.C.WETA-TV26
9San Francisco–Oakland–San JoseKQED9
10BostonWGBH-TV2
11Tampa–St. PetersburgWEDU3
12PhoenixKAET8
13Seattle–TacomaKCTS-TV9
14DetroitWTVS56
15Orlando–Daytona Beach–MelbourneWUCF-TV24
16Minneapolis–St. Paulnot listed—
17DenverKRMA-TV6
18Miami–Fort LauderdaleWPBT2
19Cleveland–AkronWVIZ25
20Sacramento–Stockton–ModestoKVIE6
21CharlotteWUNE-TV17
22Raleigh–DurhamWUNC-TV4
23Portland, ORKOAC-TV7
24St. LouisKETC9
25NashvilleWNPT8
26IndianapolisWFYI20
27PittsburghWQED13
28Salt Lake CityKUED7
29BaltimoreWMPT22
30San DiegoKPBS15
31San AntonioKLRN9
32Kansas CityKCPT19
33Hartford–New HavenWEDH24
34Austin, TXKLRU18
35Columbus, OHWOSU-TV34
36Greenville–Spartanburg–Asheville–AndersonWUNW27
37CincinnatiWPTO14
38MilwaukeeWMVS10
39West Palm Beach–Fort PierceWXEL-TV42
40Las VegasKLVX10
41JacksonvilleWJCT7
42Harrisburg–Lancaster–Lebanon–YorkWITF-TV33
43Grand Rapids–Kalamazoo–Battle CreekWGVU-TV35
44Norfolk–Portsmouth–Newport NewsWUND-TV2
45BirminghamWBIQ10
46Greensboro–High Point–Winston–SalemWUNL-TV26
47Oklahoma CityKETA-TV13
48Albuquerque–Santa FeKNME-TV?
49LouisvilleWKPC-TV15
50New OrleansWYES-TV12
51MemphisWKNO10
52Providence–New BedfordWPVD-TV36
53Fort Myers–NaplesWGCU30
54Fresno–VisaliaKVPT18
55BuffaloWNED-TV17
56Richmond–PetersburgWCVE-TV?
57Mobile–PensacolaWEIQ42
58Little Rock–Pine Bluffnot listed—
59Wilkes Barre–Scranton–HazletonWVIA-TV44
60KnoxvilleWKOP-TV15
61TulsaKOED-TV11
62Albany–Schenectady–TroyWMHT17
63LexingtonWKLE46
64DaytonWPTD16
65TucsonKUAT-TV6
66SpokaneKSPS-TV7
67Des Moines–AmesKDIN-TV11
68Green Bay–AppletonWPNE-TV38
69HonoluluKHET11
70Roanoke–LynchburgWBRA-TV15
71Wichita–HutchinsonKPTS8
72Flint–Saginaw–Bay CityWCMU-TV14
73OmahaKYNE-TV26
74Springfield, MOKOZK21
75Huntsville–Decaturnot listed—
76Columbia, SCWRJA-TV27
77MadisonWHA-TV21
78Portland–AuburnWCBB10
79Rochester, NYWXXI-TV21
80Harlingen–Weslaco–Brownsville–McAllennot listed—
81ToledoWBGU-TV27
82Charleston–HuntingtonWKAS25
83Waco–Temple–BryanKAMU-TV12
84SavannahWXGA-TV8
85Charleston, SCWITV7
86ChattanoogaWNGH-TV18
87Colorado Springs–PuebloKTSC8
88SyracuseWCNY-TV24
89El PasoKCOS13
90Paducah–Cape Girardeau–HarrisburgWSIU-TV8
91Shreveport–TexarkanaKETG9
92Champaign–Urbana–Springfield–DecaturWILL-TV12
93Burlington–PlattsburghWVTB20
94Cedar Rapids–Waterloo–Iowa City–Dubuquenot listed—
95Baton RougeWLPB-TV27
96Fort Smith–Fayetteville–Springdale–RogersKOET3
97Myrtle Beach–FlorenceWHMC23
98BoiseKAID4
99Jackson, MSWMPN-TV29
100South Bend–ElkhartWNIT34

From Wikipedia’s station lists for each market, checked 2026-10-15. “Not listed” means no full-power station carries PBS there; it may still air on a low-power station.

PBS questions

How can I watch PBS without cable?

An antenna receives PBS free. The free PBS app and pbs.org stream many member stations live. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV include PBS in most markets.

What channel is PBS on?

It depends on your TV market. We list the PBS station in 95 of the 100 largest markets on this page; for example New York: WNET 13; Los Angeles: KVCR-DT 24; Chicago: WTTW 11; Dallas–Fort Worth: KERA-TV 13; Philadelphia: WHYY-TV 12.

Is PBS free?

Yes, over the air. Any TV with a digital tuner and an antenna receives your local PBS station without a subscription, if you are within its signal range.

Sources we checked

Live US Support (24/7)