The free-to-air factual channel will be available later into the evening on Freeview from July following changes to Freeview capacity this week.
According to the latest edition of the PBS America newsletter, the broadcaster has “invested in some extra capacity.”
As a result, PBS America on channel 84 will be extended to run from 13:00 until midnight, instead of closing at 23:00.
The changes will start from the 1st July, according to PBS America. The Freeview TV Guide has, at the time of publication, not been updated to reflect these changes.
Earlier this month, PBS America had alluded to ongoing discussions with Freeview to extend its current restrictive broadcast hours.
PBS America+1
Meanwhile, the PBS America+1 channel will close at around 11:00 on Thursday morning (30th June).
It’s currently available in some parts of the UK on Freeview channel 87. The +1 channel is one of the channels affected by the closure of the seventh national Freeview multiplex to make way for 5G services. This has triggered a number of changes to how the remaining Freeview capacity is allocated.
PBS America currently broadcasts programmes from 08:00 until 02:00. During the remaining hours, it takes over teleshopping from TJC, which is already available on Freeview channel 22. Effectively, this means Freeview users miss out on five hours of morning programmes and two hours of night time programmes.
PBS America full-time
PBS America is available full-time on Sky 174, Freesat 155, Virgin Media 273. It’s also available on Samsung smart TVs through TV Plus channel 4246.
- Thanks to @AFZOK on Twitter who alerted us to the PBS America announcement.