25 votes

Stream PBS and PBS KIDS free on Prime Video

18 comments

  1. Sodliddesu
    Link
    I'm glad to hear the content will be more available but two main things hit me, one is that Prime Video is terrible and two is that PBSkids.org is already a better service to use and more...

    I'm glad to hear the content will be more available but two main things hit me, one is that Prime Video is terrible and two is that PBSkids.org is already a better service to use and more intuitive than Prime Video... So I guess they're both basically that Prime sucks but worded differently.

    19 votes
  2. [12]
    DeaconBlue
    Link
    PBS already has a very nice streaming app and a very intuitive API if you want to roll your own player. There is no reason to get Amazon involved with this any more than it already is.

    PBS already has a very nice streaming app and a very intuitive API if you want to roll your own player. There is no reason to get Amazon involved with this any more than it already is.

    19 votes
    1. [8]
      cfabbro
      Link Parent
      Prime Video's web UI sucks, but their SmartTV apps are actually pretty decent, as are their apps for Firestick/Chromecast/Roku/AppleTV/etc... does PBS actually have apps for all those platforms?...

      Prime Video's web UI sucks, but their SmartTV apps are actually pretty decent, as are their apps for Firestick/Chromecast/Roku/AppleTV/etc... does PBS actually have apps for all those platforms? Genuine question. Because if not, then I can still see the benefit in making PBS available through Prime Video since it will potentially be more accessible for more people.

      7 votes
      1. [5]
        Gazook89
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        They have an app for iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Android, FireTV, Android TV, chrome cast, Samsung and Vizio TVs. I’ve used the Roku and Apple TV apps, and while I’m not an avid tv watcher I’ve had no...

        They have an app for iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Android, FireTV, Android TV, chrome cast, Samsung and Vizio TVs.

        I’ve used the Roku and Apple TV apps, and while I’m not an avid tv watcher I’ve had no problems at all with the app. We were already donors when we found out that just $5/month donation qualifies for TPT Passport. I’ve got something like 450 hours of Ken burns to get through. Plus a bunch of other good stuff.

        Side note, if you want to feel like you’ve done nothing with your life, watch the Leonardo davinci Ken burns doc.

        https://www.pbs.org/more/

        Edit: better get it now, because I’m reading another article that says trumps fcc is looking to cut the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS and NPR)

        6 votes
        1. [2]
          arch
          Link Parent
          I would hope that it could serve as a wakeup call to some that PBS is being attacked by this administration. Near as I can tell PBS is the most trusted actual news source in America, and probably...

          Edit: better get it now, because I’m reading another article that says trumps fcc is looking to cut the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS and NPR)

          I would hope that it could serve as a wakeup call to some that PBS is being attacked by this administration. Near as I can tell PBS is the most trusted actual news source in America, and probably the closest thing we have to a legitimate centrist news organization in 2024. The fact that they want to defund and silence legitimate news should be seen as universally alarming.

          3 votes
          1. CannibalisticApple
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            Bad as it is, it's not too alarming to me and is pretty expected. Honestly, there's been a push to defund PBS since well before the current administration. It's sort of an eternal battle, hence...

            Bad as it is, it's not too alarming to me and is pretty expected. Honestly, there's been a push to defund PBS since well before the current administration. It's sort of an eternal battle, hence why they rely so heavily on donations. Source: my mom worked at our local NPR branch for ~20 years before retiring, and I got to hear a lot of the drama. At bare minimum, I know that our state's governor before 2013 was secretly pretty nasty and hostile while publicly supporting them.

            5 votes
        2. [2]
          cfabbro
          Link Parent
          Ah, that's good to hear. Thanks. It's a bit weird they are partnering with Amazon if their own app is already that widely available.

          They have an app for iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Android, FireTV, Android TV, chrome cast, Samsung and Vizio TVs.

          Ah, that's good to hear. Thanks. It's a bit weird they are partnering with Amazon if their own app is already that widely available.

          1 vote
          1. moocow1452
            Link Parent
            If it's on Amazon's listings and Amazon gets to say they have PBS, it may be worth it on its own.

            If it's on Amazon's listings and Amazon gets to say they have PBS, it may be worth it on its own.

            1 vote
      2. babypuncher
        Link Parent
        Their Android TV app is consistently the slowest app on my Shield TV. I have no idea what it's doing when it just sits there loading for 30 seconds. The Apple TV app is fine I guess.

        Their Android TV app is consistently the slowest app on my Shield TV. I have no idea what it's doing when it just sits there loading for 30 seconds. The Apple TV app is fine I guess.

        3 votes
      3. DeaconBlue
        Link Parent
        No clue, I don't actually interact with any of those devices and my television is old as dirt.

        No clue, I don't actually interact with any of those devices and my television is old as dirt.

        1 vote
    2. arch
      Link Parent
      Honestly, I hope this involves some sort of funding for PBS on behalf of Amazon. PBS is a wonderful service and deserves as much funding as possible.

      Honestly, I hope this involves some sort of funding for PBS on behalf of Amazon. PBS is a wonderful service and deserves as much funding as possible.

      4 votes
    3. [2]
      hamstergeddon
      Link Parent
      I'll add that the PBS Kids app is pretty good as well (on Roku, at least, haven't tried others). Usually has ~10 episodes of each show available, plus a live option for watching whatever's on. And...

      I'll add that the PBS Kids app is pretty good as well (on Roku, at least, haven't tried others). Usually has ~10 episodes of each show available, plus a live option for watching whatever's on. And while I'm singing its praises, if anyone reading this is a parent, check out "Odd Squad". It's hilarious for kids and adults, while also being very engaging and educational.

      2 votes
      1. Gazook89
        Link Parent
        Odd squad was surprisingly funny. My kid thinks it’s too scary right now but there was a brief period where she was still entranced by tv that she didn’t care (before she realized she can ask for...

        Odd squad was surprisingly funny. My kid thinks it’s too scary right now but there was a brief period where she was still entranced by tv that she didn’t care (before she realized she can ask for something different). I don’t want to give the impression it’s scary…it’s not….i just have a sensitive kid I think.

        2 votes
  3. [5]
    kingofsnake
    Link
    Does it dish out ads to your kids?

    Does it dish out ads to your kids?

    1 vote
    1. [3]
      moocow1452
      Link Parent
      From the byline. That probably would have been a better title.

      PBS and Amazon announced that more than 150 local PBS stations and the PBS KIDS Channel will stream ad-free as a Prime Video FAST offering.

      From the byline. That probably would have been a better title.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        babypuncher
        Link Parent
        wouldn't ad-free FAST just be FT?

        wouldn't ad-free FAST just be FT?

        1 vote
        1. moocow1452
          Link Parent
          Free Internet Television, as opposed to over the air, so FIT?

          Free Internet Television, as opposed to over the air, so FIT?

    2. Sodliddesu
      Link Parent
      To be fair, PBS OTA channels have their fair share of McCormick ads... I'm sorry, sponsorships... Like Beaches Jamaica and Target.

      To be fair, PBS OTA channels have their fair share of McCormick ads... I'm sorry, sponsorships... Like Beaches Jamaica and Target.

      3 votes