Public television program distributor PBS has inked a distribution deal with Amazon that will allow users of the streaming platform Prime Video to watch their local PBS member station and PBS Kids.
The deal involves around 150 PBS member stations that are already making their main broadcast feed available through the PBS website and apps, as well as some other platforms. In addition to those feeds, Prime Video will also offer access to PBS Kids and two free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, PBS Drama and PBS Documentaries.
The PBS and PBS Kids streams will be offered without commercials, aside from usual sponsorship messages that are aired by the broadcasters themselves. PBS Drama and PBS Documentaries will contain advertisements, and will be available on Prime Video starting November 26; the two FAST channels will be exclusive to Amazon for a limited time.
PBS Distribution will also launch pop-up channels, including one for the children’s book series “Reading Rainbow,” marking the first time PBS has done so on a major streaming service.
All PBS feeds will be available to stream through the Prime Video app for free, even if users aren’t a Prime member or otherwise subscribe to Prime. The two PBS feeds and two PBS FAST channels, along with pop-up channels, will be accessible through a dedicated “Watch for Free” section within the app, the companies said.
“PBS member stations will be able to tap into a leading streaming service to offer quality local programming viewers know and love for free,” Ira Rubenstein, the Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at PBS, said in a statement. “It’s part of the PBS commitment to make trusted content available to all households across as many platforms as possible. We thank Amazon for giving PBS Member Stations a new and exciting way to grow their digital footprint while engaging with audiences old and new.”
PBS said its decision to launch the broadcast streams and FAST channels comes at a time when more Americans are using free, ad-supported services for their entertainment and informational needs. The company cited a recent study from Horowitz Research that found 66 percent of American streamers are using FAST platforms in any given month. (The research included YouTube, the Google-owned video platform that is among the most-dominant in the world, but operates differently from FAST services like Tubi, the Roku Chanenl and Pluto TV, which were also named.)
“We’re delighted to bring PBS’s trusted, high-quality programming to our FAST channels,” said Ryan Pirozzi, Amazon’s Head of Prime Video Marketplace. “We have put together one of the most exciting FAST offerings today for Prime Video customers, driven by a highly personalized experience, and a leading selection of channels featuring fan favorite series, movies, news, sports, and more. We know our customers will be excited to discover that their beloved PBS member stations and two new PBS FAST Channels are now part of our growing offering.”
