Where to Watch

Watch PBS SoCal channels and your favorites PBS & PBS KIDS programs across the following platforms.

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Core to the PBS SoCal mission is ensuring that our quality content is available for free—to all who want and need it. Here are the areas we serve:

As of July 19, 2025, PBS SoCal is expanding its reach in Santa Barbara County and the surrounding regions with two local broadcast stations. Learn more

OVER-THE-AIR TV

In addition to delivering the full PBS schedule, we offer several channels with a variety of program options:

PBS SoCal (50.1)
Primary HD channel with the full line up of PBS shows.

PBS SoCal Encore (50.2)
Re-airings of PBS programs, plus alternative local and regional programming.

PBS SoCal WORLD (50.4)
The best of public television's nonfiction, news and documentary programming.

PBS SoCal Kids (50.5)
24/7 channel dedicated to educational PBS KIDS programs all day, every day.

PBS SoCal Plus (28.1)
Award-winning cultural and educational local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world.

NHK WORLD-JAPAN (28.3)
The international service of Japan's public broadcaster NHK. Itprovides the latest information on Japan and Asia through television, radio and online to a global audience.

PBS SoCal Create (28.2)
Access to lifestyle-oriented programming 24-hours a day with plenty of great cooking, crafts and travel content with shows like Rick Steves, America's Test Kitchen, and This Old House.

CABLE AND SATELLITE CHANNEL GUIDE

To find these PBS SoCal channels in your area, check out our channel guide.

PBS VIDEO APP

Stream PBS SoCal live and your favorite PBS programs on-demand whenever, wherever on the Free PBS App. Click here to download the app on your favorite streaming device.

DIRECTV stream

DIRECTV Stream customers can stream dedicated live channels for PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal KIDS. For on-demand programming, click here.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV subscribers can now stream PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal KIDS’s dedicated live channels, as well as on-demand programming, on YouTube TV. To access the full line-up available in Southern California, you can visit the YouTube TV live guide or the local schedule here.

Hulu + Live TV

Live TV subscribers can watch live sports, breaking news, awards shows, primetime dramas, daytime soaps, local teams and weather forecasts, the latest Hulu Originals, and thousands of shows and movies in the Hulu streaming library. National news, sports, and entertainment. Click here to learn more…

HAVING TROUBLE?

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
If you're unable to tune into PBS SoCal using an over-the-air antenna, check the channel signal strength available in your area using the FCC’s website. In order to watch any channel, the channel’s signal strength should be 75% or greater.

To check the signal strength of a PBS SoCal channel, tune into that channel and check your TV’s signal strength meter. Adjust your antenna as needed. In some cases, you may need to move your antenna to a different location.

If you watch PBS SoCal using an antenna and notice a change in your signal, you may need to attempt to resolve the issue by following these few steps.