PBS

PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is America's most trusted television network, and its Roku app brings the full PBS experience to your streaming device — completely free and with no ads. PBS produces some of the highest-quality documentary, news, science, history, and arts programming available anywhere, and all of it is available for free on Roku. If you have kids, PBS KIDS content is also available through the app.

Why PBS Stands Apart from Other Free Streaming Apps

PBS is fundamentally different from every other free streaming app on Roku. While services like Tubi and Pluto TV are funded by advertising and focused on entertainment, PBS is a non-commercial public broadcaster funded by viewer donations and government grants. This means:

No ads: PBS content on Roku is completely ad-free. You won't see a single commercial while watching Frontline, Nova, or Masterpiece. This is extremely rare for free streaming.

Quality over quantity: PBS doesn't try to have 50,000 titles. Instead, it focuses on producing and curating the highest-quality content in its categories — documentaries, news, science, history, and arts. The result is a smaller but consistently excellent library.

Non-commercial mission: PBS exists to serve the public interest, not to maximize ad revenue. This shapes everything about the content — it's more thoughtful, more in-depth, and less sensationalized than commercial TV.

Best Shows and Series on PBS

Frontline: PBS's flagship investigative journalism series has been running since 1983 and is widely considered the gold standard of American documentary journalism. Every episode is a deep, carefully researched investigation into major issues — government corruption, corporate malfeasance, public health crises, and more. The entire archive is available free on the PBS Roku app.

Nova: America's most-watched science documentary series covers everything from space exploration to climate science to archaeology. Nova episodes are rigorous, accurate, and accessible — perfect for curious adults and older kids.

American Experience: The definitive documentary series about American history. Covers everything from the Civil War to the Space Race to major political events. Ken Burns produced many of the most celebrated episodes.

Ken Burns Documentaries: Ken Burns is the most acclaimed documentary filmmaker in American history. His multi-part series on the Civil War, Jazz, Baseball, Vietnam, and many other subjects are available on PBS. These are essential viewing for anyone interested in American history and culture.

PBS NewsHour: The gold standard of American TV news — in-depth, balanced, and commercial-free. Full episodes are available on the PBS Roku app.

Masterpiece: Home to Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Victoria, and many other acclaimed British dramas. Masterpiece has been bringing the best of British television to American audiences since 1971.

PBS for Families and Kids

PBS has been producing children's educational content for over 50 years — starting with Sesame Street in 1969. The PBS Roku app includes a substantial kids section with content from:

Sesame Street: The iconic educational series that has taught generations of children letters, numbers, and social skills. Classic episodes and new seasons are available.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: The beloved animated series based on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood that teaches emotional intelligence and social skills to preschoolers.

Wild Kratts: An animated series that teaches kids about animals and nature in an entertaining way.

Curious George: The classic children's series about the curious monkey and his adventures.

For a dedicated kids streaming experience, the separate PBS KIDS app (also free on Roku) is even better — it has a kid-friendly interface designed for young children to navigate independently.

Frequently Asked Questions