PBS has been a mainstay in American households for over 40 years and a popular option through providers like DISH Network. Finding the channel through the company’s receiver can be tricky, however, as the station’s location varies throughout the United States. PBS on DISH Network may be on channel 8 in Duluth, but you’ll need to go a bit higher on the dial if you live in Los Angeles.
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PBS Channel Guide
| PBS | Channel Number |
|---|---|
| Bangor, Maine | 12 |
| Charleston, West Virginia | 25, 60 |
| Greenwood, Mississippi | 33 |
| Jacksonville, Florida | 7, 8 |
| Los Angeles, California | 23, 50, 58 |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | 2, 10, 17, 22 |
| Nashville, Tennessee | 8, 22 |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | 20, 23 |
PBS on DISH Network
What channel PBS is on DISH Network depends on where you live in the United States. There is no standard station number like you’ll find with HGTV, and some areas have multiple channels for the Public Broadcasting Service.
In larger cities like Los Angeles, PBS on DISH is on channels 23, 50, or 58. The network’s coverage varies throughout the United States, but it’s a channel anyone can access through DISH Network. It’s not available in the standard package, however.
To access PBS on DISH Network, you need to pick a package and add the Locals Pack. This package comes with multiple local channels from your area, including PBS affiliates. Not every affiliate is available in every market. You can use the DISH Network channel tool to ensure PBS is available in your region.
PBS Programming
PBS is a channel millions of Americans grew up with, although the content has changed dramatically over the years. Popular early shows like The Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, and Reading Rainbow were retired long ago. You’ll have a hard time finding Doctor Who and Monty Python these days, but there’s a variety of educational shows to keep you entertained and informed.
Programming in the morning consists of a mix of children’s content. You could catch Arthur in SoCal on a Sunday morning, or Curious George in the southeast. The blocks have gotten shorter in recent years and give way to news and educational content later in the day. PBS NewsHour and Firing Line are a few popular options, but there is also original content.
Masterpiece is one of the oldest shows on PBS, along with Nova, Austin City Limits, and This Old House. All of those shows have aired since the 70s. Antiques Roadshow is another popular title often airing throughout the week. Other recognizable names include Downton Abbey, Washington Week, and Secrets of the Dead.
©History-Computer.com
PBS Sister Stations
PBS has experimented with sister stations over the years. One of the more popular options is PBS Kids, a network geared towards children. It launched in 1999 before taking a break and sprang back to life in 2015. Unfortunately, you may have a hard time accessing that station through DISH Network at this time.
PBS Kids is available through most major cable providers and DirecTV. It was unavailable in our area, and we couldn’t find it listed in more than a dozen regions we checked. It’s not uncommon to see channels with a heavy dose of content from PBS Kids listed as PBS 2 in some regions. There are also a handful of independent networks disturbed through PBS.
Create is a lifestyle channel from American Public Television, WNET, and WGBH. Most of the content is centers around food and travel, although there are also shows for creatives. It airs through affiliates in regions including Fresno, Anchorage, and Miami. World is a station from WGBH that airs documentaries along with news from BBC, NHK Newsline, DW News, and other networks from around the globe.
The First Nations Experience, known as FNX, is another channel tied to PBS. The San Bernardino Community College District owns this non-profit network. It’s the first and currently the only broadcast network geared toward Native Americans. FXN is available on DISH in certain areas like Sioux City, where it’s on channel 19.
