PBS, Roku Launch Retro FAST Channel With ‘Mister Rogers Neighborhood,’ ‘Reading Rainbow,’ More
PBS, Roku Launch Retro FAST Channel With ‘Mister Rogers Neighborhood,’ ‘Reading Rainbow,’ More
The new streaming network joins other free PBS offerings like PBS Food, PBS Antiques Roadshow and more.
Get ready to step into the PBS time machine! A new exclusive report from The Wrap indicates that The Roku Channel is has launched a new free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel from PBS called the PBS Retro network. This channel features beloved favorites that fans will identify as PBS classics, and it provides audiences with a new way to enjoy the lean-back style of entertainment that FAST channels offer.
- The PBS Retro channel features titles like “Kratts’ Creatures,” “Zoboomafoo” and others from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.
- PBS operates various other free and subscription streaming channels.
- FAST platforms score high marks from viewers, and Disney is preparing to add free streaming channels to Disney+ in order to boost engagement.
The PBS Retro channel is live now, exclusively available to stream on The Roku Channel for the present. The free streaming network offers curated playlists of shows like “Kratts' Creatures,” “Mister Roger's Neighborhood,” “Reading Rainbow,” “Thomas & Friends” and “Zoboomafoo.”
The channel joins other free PBS streaming selections on The Roku Channel, such as the PBS Food, PBS Antiques Roadshow and Julia Child networks. In addition to free channels, PBS allows viewers to subscribe to services like PBS Kids and PBS Masterpiece to watch their favorite titles on-demand.
“The FAST marketplace has matured quickly with hundreds of channels for audiences to choose from,” PBS Distribution president Andrea Downing explained to The Wrap. “We partner with FAST channel platforms to focus on gaps in programming and create channels to meet the needs of viewers. As a result, we identified an interest in connecting audiences with the content they grew up watching – which led to the creation of the PBS Retro channel.”
Will FAST Channels Keep Spreading?
The popularity of free ad-supported TV is not going away any time soon. Viewers love FAST channels because it removes the burden of choice; audiences don’t have to click around until they find a new show or movie that suits them best, they can simply flip on a given channel with a theme that sounds interesting and see what’s playing.
Data released last fall shows that 78% of FAST viewers say free streaming platforms are well organized, and 76% say they seek out FAST platforms because of the good variety of TV shows available there. Downing says that PBS is still trying to determine which content from PBS is best-suited to the FAST format, and hints that more free streaming channels with PBS material could be on the way.
“We are still in the early days of experimentation, with the goal of understanding the potential FAST Channels have for increased revenue and awareness,” Downing said. “As viewers watch more content on digital platforms, PBS content must be available in new places to meet our mission: offering access to PBS content to as many Americans as possible. We are collaborating with our partners to ensure the success of these channels and will continue to consider additional opportunities.”
PBS is not alone in thinking about the best ways to deliver curated free streaming content to viewers. Disney is reportedly preparing to add 24/7 streaming channels to its flagship platform Disney+ in the near future, with selections themed after popular Disney-owned franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. These channels will be behind the Disney+ paywall, but they will give subscribers a way to watch always-on content without having to decide what to watch next for themselves.
As the cost of subscription streaming services continues to rise, viewers are increasingly turning to free, ad-supported options to round out their entertainment needs. The Roku Channel is a popular destination for viewers seeking free streaming content, and now they’ll find the new PBS Retro channel on the service as well.
Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers a broad mix of movies, TV shows, live linear channels, and original programming. Available to all viewers — not just Roku device owners — the service features licensed content from major studios alongside Roku Originals, which include exclusive series, movies, and specials previously produced for Quibi, as well as new original projects developed specifically for the platform.