PBS: Watch TV & Documentaries

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1. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

   Good content unfortunately stopped streaming main channel. This app was superb and in many ways still is for streaming passport content and viewing PBS substations. Several weeks ago, the app stopped streaming the main PBS station in my area KERA) on all platforms (AppleTV, iPad, website, etc). Trying to get support or to inform PBS of the problem is a throwback to stone age support. I know the station is not off the air since I can view it on my antenna. Also did all the troubleshooting including deleting and reinstalling the app. Since the problem is on multiple platforms, it must be related to PBS streaming service itself.

2. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

   Led to believe that if I donated that I would have access. I donated so I could get access to Daniel tiger like it told me I had to do when looking at a specific episode. I no longer trust PBS bc this is misleading. You can not access Daniel tiger by donating. Bad form. And the dishonesty shows that they only care about the money.

3. ★★★★★subscription and paid restrictions

   “Donations”. This is a public network paid by our tax dollars yet we have to “donate” at least $5 a month to watch something like the American Revolution. Ridiculous…

4. ★★★★★crashes, freezes and errors

   Cannot sign in. The app suddenly logged me off 2 months ago, and I have not been able to sign in again. When I try to sign in, a blank white pop up box appears. There is no sign in field, no way to sign in. It used to be a great app, but it’s broken and useless now.

5. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

   Can’t open app. Need to open app!!!

6. ★★★★★crashes, freezes and errors

   Terrible. PBS is not working!

7. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

   App freezes constantly. This App freezes constantly. So bad I use YouTube to watch your programs. Fix it.

8. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

   Too bad the app does not work. My app only works half the time.

9. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

   Too one sided. Use to love pBS

10. ★★★★★subscription and paid restrictions

    I love PBS but becoming a member is way to difficult. I spent days trying to get PBS passport which is annoying because the stars only align every so often that my husband and I have a chance to watch something together. First you have to look up what the amount is to donate for your local stations because different stations charge different amounts. Then it takes awhile for them to process it before they give you an activation code (like days apparently). At first I donated not enough so I tried donating more. Never got the code. Asked for help a couple of times. So anyway probably great if you have the time. Just realize you don’t suddenly get access. It is a long and arduous process. They need to simplify this process. First when you look up PBS passport it should direct you to put in your zip code so you know the right amount that triggers PBS passport and you can decide between monthly and yearly with an option to add more money because you feel extra generous. Secondly there shouldn’t be processing time. PBS you need to streamline this ASAP many will want to make the switch from lining billionaires’ pockets to supporting public broadcasting.

11. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    No Buenos en BCS. Most shows not licensed in Mexico…can’t watch until back in the usa despite vpn.

12. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Flakes out randomly. It doesn’t work sometimes. Then it interrupts you and asks for feedback and then it crashes when you try to give feedback

13. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Won’t open. Cannot open the app at all. It just crashes immediately without opening.

14. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    You changed the format. I send you money but it seems harder to use passport and sign in

15. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Ugh. Why does pbs stream on one of my televisions but not all ??

16. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Passport. It is impossible to get into Passport to watch a show even though I am a monthly supporter.

17. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Outside US. Stream stopped abruptly after 1 and a half episodes. Not available to a subscriber away from home?

18. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Bad. I donated to watch Revolutionary War. Never recognized my account.

19. ★★★★★subscription and paid restrictions

    This main PBS App uses much lower Bitrate compared to WHYY PBS App. Full disclosure, I’m very picky about video quality, especially since we have a huge 4K TV. I just paid an annual subscription to Greater Boston PBS (GBH) but found out afterwards they don’t have their own app and I have to use this App to benefit from my subscription. This App looks pixelated during panning scenes due to pitiful bitrate. Case in point, the show Sisi Austrian Empress looks mediocre. Later, I found out that another PBS station WHYY has its own dedicated app but my annual subscription does not work there. So I decided to try a one month subscription. Amazing difference. The same show looks magnitudes better because they do not cap the bitrate. I highly recommend folks stay away from this app. Instead use dedicated PBS station apps like WHYY if you’re wanting to watch the grandeur of shows like Austrian Empress.

20. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Garbage app nowadays. This used to be fantastic, however, I can’t load anything from the app any longer. Waste of money

21. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Doesn’t work. Just reports a network error, which doesn’t exist.

22. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Inaccessible content. Although I sign in, when I try to access content, it sends me to a donation page and won’t give me access. Terribly designed app.

23. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    AR PBS. Doesn’t show what game you selected even though the tile is correct.

24. ★★★★★crashes, freezes and errors

    Crash. Updated the app because videos were crashing, and now the app won’t even start.

25. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Adds before shows. So sick of them!

26. ★★★★★subscription and paid restrictions

    HORRIBLE APP. Every time that I attempt to watch anything either on my tv or by air playing to my tv the experience is awful. The video constantly pauses, buffers, and stalls every thirty seconds and I can never watch anything!!! Making it impossible to watch anything! WASTE OF MY $60 WILL NEVER PAY FOR AGAIN

27. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Pbs killed Chromecast. Some fool at PBS killed the Chromecast function in the recent update.

28. ★★★★★search fails to find what is needed

    This review is for the PBS app for FireTV and AppleTV. Why these important apps have been ignored is a mystery. I had to set up an AppleTV and the sign in for Kanopy was delightfully simple and fast but secure. But PBS was just awful! Complex, asked for an email for which I had never made a password for. Plus numerous other UX issues. Also, both FTV and ATV PBS apps are clunky and do some dumb stuff. Like tonight I wanted to watch The American Revolution doc. Should be billboard at top. Nope. I had to do a search to find it. Ridiculous! PBS needs to get its behind in gear and act like the now totally independent it is. Starting with simply fixing the app!

29. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Terrible app. This app rarely works on my Apple TV. I’m constantly getting kicked off and the process of rebooting is ridiculous. Please work on fixing this.

30. ★★★★★negative experience without a specific reason· unspecific

    Disappointed with fees. Our government gives money to support PBS but fees are still charged to watch certain tv shows. If people want to donate money, that’s wonderful. Not everyone is in a position where they have extra income. I am disappointed that fees are mandatory but happy that there is a very small window of opportunity to watch a favorite episode. If you miss that window, you are out of luck. In my opinion, It’s a very closed environment of upscale people, not welcoming to others less financially blessed unless they pay a fee. I think PBS needs to stop requiring fees and welcome everyone to enjoy their broadcasts.