YouTube TV has landed another network partner: PBS. The public broadcaster’s member stations will be able to stream live and on-demand to YouTube TV subscribers beginning later this year, PBS and YouTube announced today.
This is the first digital TV provider partnership for PBS, and the broadcaster is intent upon providing local live streams to “as many Americans as possible” with the move. The partnership will also include PBS KIDS, providing educational and entertainment content for children via the platform. All content will be available through YouTube TV video-on-demand, and recordable via its DVR service without limits on how much content users can store.
YouTube has had its own share of criticism for the kind of content kids may be able to access from its platform, and it’s said to be considering a number of options for addressing misuse of the platform when it comes to children-focused videos. YouTube TV is distinct from its primary streaming video business, however, and is much more like a traditional over-the-top cable or satellite subscription, with a number of broadcast networks and premium channels signed on to provide U.S. viewers access for $49.99 per month.