Many PBS Stations Now Freely Streaming Online

Many PBS stations are now streaming a simulcast of their over-the-air programming online for free.

The service, available at PBS.org/livestream and the PBS Roku app, works without a login within each station’s market area. When visiting that URL, visitors see their local PBS stream if it’s available; otherwise, they are redirected to the site’s front page.

The dozens of stations now available include:

• Iowa PBS
• Lakeland PBS (north-central Minnesota)
• Milwaukee PBS
• NET Nebraska
• Pioneer PBS (southwestern Minnesota/eastern South Dakota)
• Prairie Public Broadcasting (North Dakota/northwestern Minnesota)
• South Dakota Public Broadcasting
• WQPT (Quad Cities)

The stations also feature their stream embedded on their own websites. A FAQ page on the PBS website says some programming on the streams may differ from the over-the-air broadcast.

Additionally, PBS Wisconsin streams three channels through its own website within state borders. That leaves only a handful of Upper Midwest PBS stations not yet freely available online.