PBS America to go free-to-air in the UK

PBS America is going free-to-air in the UK at the end of the month and will launch on the Freesat platform on October 29.

The channel, Public Broadcasting Service’s first outside of the US, will be available for free on Freesat channel 160, Sky channel 534 and Virgin Media channel 276, having first launched as a pay TV network in the UK in 2011.

“Over the last four years we have built a high quality audience for well made American history, science and current affairs programmes,” said PBS America’s general manager, Richard Kingsbury.

“We’ve always had a lot of interest from free-to-air viewers who enjoy quality docs and so it’s wonderful to be able to reach them at last. I’m confident that the Freesat launch will further accelerate the growth of PBS America.”

Paul Gilshan, director of marketing and communications at Freesat, said: “With over 200 channels on offer to our viewers, we’re always pleased to bring a wide range of compelling programming to the UK free-to-air market and, with PBS America now joining Freesat, the line-up just got even better giving viewers the opportunity to watch award-winning factual programming, totally subscription-free.”