FAQs
Welcome to PBS Broadcast Archives!
What makes PBS Broadcast Archives super cool is that we archive everything. If you ever wondered what PBS' schedule was like on your birthday, how many times your favorite PBS episode has aired, or if you just wanted to watch some nostalgic commercials... this is the place for you!
What was the first show on PBS? ›
PBS was founded in 1969 but commenced broadcasting in 1970 — The French Chef being its first broadcast. The French Chef was a television cooking show created by Julia Child, and produced and broadcast by WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts.
How can I watch past PBS Shows? ›
Stream Shows on PBS.org
You can watch hundreds of episodes of your favorite PBS programs at our official website, PBS.org.
Where can I find TV archives? ›
The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is one of the most extensive and complete archives of television news anywhere in the world. We have been recording, preserving, and providing access to television news broadcasts of the U.S. national networks since August 5, 1968.
What was PBS originally called? ›
Following the creation of the Public Broadcasting Act (1967), the government-funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was established, and in 1969 it founded the Public Broadcasting Service as a successor to NET. The PBS broadcast network debuted in 1970.
What is the oldest PBS station? ›
On May 25, 1953, KUHT made television history when it signed on the air for its premier broadcast. As America's first public television station, KUHT has served as a model and example for other educational television stations and systems throughout the country.
When did PBS end? ›
PBS networks
Launched as a 24/7 network in 1999 that was dissolved in 2005 and subsequently revived in 2017.
What is the oldest known TV show? ›
It turns out to be an important component in the development of all-electronic television. Television's first drama,The Queen's Messenger, is broadcast from Schenectady, New York station WGY on September 11, 1928.
What show was televised starting in 1957? ›
New NBC Western series debuting in the 1957-1958 season included Wagon Train, The Restless Gun, and The Californians (though one NBC executive insisted The Californians is not a Western but a drama set in California in the 1850s).
How can I watch old PBS masterpiece Shows? ›
Stream MASTERPIECE Favorites with PBS Passport
With PBS Passport, an added member benefit, you get extended access to a digital, on-demand library of more than 1,500 episodes of PBS favorites. Browse below for MASTERPIECE shows currently available, with more being added regularly.
The show has been syndicated on Gold and Drama in the UK, on PBS member stations in the United States and on 7TWO and 9Gem in Australia.
Where can I find archived radio broadcasts? ›
The American Radio Archives (ARA) is one of the largest collections of archival material documenting the history of radio broadcasting in the United States.
How to find old news broadcasts online? ›
The American Archive of Public Broadcasting offers access to streaming audio and video collections of public television and radio stations from across the country. Dates of coverage run from the 1940s to present, and the archive is searchable by date, keyword, topic, geographic location, and more.
