PBS is available on DirecTV, but there is no single universal channel number. The channel number depends entirely on where you live. In New York, PBS is on channel 13. In Chicago, it’s channel 11. In Los Angeles, you might be on 28 or 58. Same network, different numbers — and that’s by design.

Here’s the complete 2026 guide.

Quick Answer: PBS Channel Numbers for Major Cities on DirecTV

If you’re in one of these cities, find your number below and tune in now.

City	PBS Station	DirecTV Channel
New York, NY	WNET	13
Los Angeles, CA	KCET	28
Chicago, IL	WTTW	11
Houston, TX	KUHT	8
Philadelphia, PA	WPPT	35
Phoenix, AZ	KAET	8
San Antonio, TX	KLRN	9
Dallas, TX	KERA-TV	13
San Diego, CA	KPBS	15
San Francisco, CA	KQED	9
Seattle, WA	KCTS-TV	9
Denver, CO	KRMA-TV	6
Atlanta, GA	WABE-TV	30
Boston, MA	WGBH-TV	2
Washington, DC	WETA-TV	26
Miami, FL	WPBT	2
Tampa, FL	WEDU	3

Don’t see your city? The full state-by-state list is below.

Why PBS Has a Different Channel Number Depending on Where You Live

PBS is not a traditional TV network with a single broadcast hub. It’s a nonprofit organization that partners with more than 330 local member stations across the country. Each station operates independently, holds its own broadcast license, and gets assigned its own channel number in each TV market.

DirecTV carries these local PBS affiliates as part of their local channel lineup. Since every affiliate has its own channel identity, DirecTV assigns each one a different number depending on the market you’re in. It works the same way with other major broadcast networks — if you’ve ever looked up what channel ABC is on DirecTV, you’ll notice the same location-based variation applies there too.

How Local PBS Affiliates Work

Your DirecTV receiver knows your location from your account address. It uses that to determine which local channels are available in your area and what channel numbers they correspond to. So when a neighbor in a different city searches for PBS, they get a completely different number — even though they’re watching the same national programming.

How to Find Your Exact Channel Number

The most reliable way to confirm your local PBS channel: use the DirecTV channel guide on your remote. Press the GUIDE button, then search for “PBS” in the channel search. Your specific affiliate will appear by call sign — for example, WGBH in Boston or KQED in San Francisco — with the correct number for your address.

You can also visit directv.com/guide and enter your ZIP code to pull up your local lineup.

PBS Channel Numbers on DirecTV — Full List by State (2026)

Below is the complete list, organized alphabetically by state.

Alabama

City	Station	Channel
Birmingham	WBIQ	10
Demopolis	WIIQ	41
Dozier	WDIQ	2
Florence	WFIQ	36
Huntsville	WHIQ	25
Louisville	WGIQ	43
Mobile	WEIQ	42
Montgomery	WAIQ	26
Mount Cheaha	WCIQ	7

Alaska

City	Station	Channel
Anchorage	KAKM	7
Bethel	KYUK-LD	15
Juneau	KTOO-DT	3
Fairbanks	KUAC-TV	9

Arizona

City	Station	Channel
Phoenix	KAET	8
Tucson	KUAT-TV	6

Arkansas

City	Station	Channel
Arkadelphia	KETG	9
El Dorado	KETZ	12
Fayetteville	KAFT	13
Jonesboro	KTEJ	19
Little Rock	KETS	2
Mountain View	KEMV	6

California

City	Station	Channel
Eureka	KEET	13
Fresno	KVPT	18
Los Angeles	KCET	28
Los Angeles	KLCS	58
Huntington Beach (LA area)	KOCE-TV	50
San Bernardino (LA area)	KVCR-DT	24
Redding / Chico	KIXE-TV	9
Sacramento	KVIE	6
San Diego	KPBS	15
San Francisco	KQED	9
Cotati (Santa Rosa)	KRCB	22
San Jose	KQEH	54
Watsonville (Salinas-Monterey)	KQET	25

Colorado

City	Station	Channel
Denver	KRMA-TV	6
Broomfield (Denver area)	KBDI-TV	12
Durango	KRMU	20
Grand Junction	KRMJ	18
Pueblo / Colorado Springs	KTSC	8
Steamboat Springs	KRMZ	24

Connecticut

City	Station	Channel
Hartford	WEDH	24
New Haven	WEDY	65
Norwich	WEDN	53
Stamford	WEDW	49

Delaware

City	Station	Channel
Wilmington (Philadelphia area)	WHYY-TV	12
Seaford	WDPB	64

Washington, D.C.

City	Station	Channel
Washington	WETA-TV	26
Washington (ATSC 3.0)	WHUT-TV	32

Florida

City	Station	Channel
Fort Myers / Naples	WGCU	30
Gainesville	WUFT	5
Jacksonville	WJCT	7
Miami	WLRN-TV	17
Miami	WPBT	2
Orlando	WUCF-TV	24
Panama City	WFSG	56
Pensacola	WSRE	23
Boynton Beach	WXEL-TV	42
Tallahassee	WFSU-TV	11
Tampa	WEDU	3

Georgia

City	Station	Channel
Atlanta	WABE-TV	30
Athens (Atlanta area)	WGTV	8
Chatsworth	WNGH-TV	18
Cochran (Macon area)	WMUM-TV	29
Columbus	WJSP-TV	28
Dawson	WACS-TV	25
Pelham (Albany area)	WABW-TV	14
Savannah	WVAN-TV	9
Waycross	WXGA-TV	8
Wrens (Augusta area)	WCES-TV	20

Hawaii

City	Station	Channel
Honolulu	KHET	11
Wailuku	KMEB	10

Idaho

City	Station	Channel
Boise	KAID	4
Coeur d’Alene	KCDT	26
Moscow	KUID	12
Pocatello	KISU	10
Twin Falls	KIPT	13

Illinois

City	Station	Channel
Chicago	WTTW	11
Bloomington	WTIU	30
Charleston	WEIU-TV	51
Jacksonville	WSEC	14
Macomb	WMEC	22
Moline (Quad Cities)	WQPT	24
Olney	WUSI-TV	16
Peoria	WTVP	47
Quincy	WQEC	27
Carbondale	WSIU-TV	8
Urbana	WILL-TV	12

Indiana

City	Station	Channel
Evansville	WNIN	9
Fort Wayne	WFWA	39
Gary	WYIN	56
Indianapolis	WFYI	20
Muncie	WIPB	49
South Bend	WNIT	34
Vincennes	WVUT	22

Iowa

City	Station	Channel
Council Bluffs (Omaha area)	KBIN-TV	32
Davenport (Quad Cities)	KQIN	36
Des Moines	KDIN-TV	11
Fort Dodge	KTIN	21
Iowa City	KIIN	12
Mason City	KYIN	24
Red Oak	KHIN	36
Sioux City	KSIN-TV	27
Waterloo	KRIN	32

Kansas

City	Station	Channel
Colby	KWKS	19
Dodge City	KDCK	21
Hays	KOOD	9
Lakin	KSWK	3
Topeka	KTWU	11
Wichita	KPTS	8

Kentucky

City	Station	Channel
Ashland	WKAS	25
Bowling Green	WKYU-TV	24
Bowling Green	WKGB-TV	53
Covington (Cincinnati area)	WCVN-TV	54
Elizabethtown	WKZT-TV	23
Hazard	WKHA	35
Lexington	WKLE	46
Louisville	WKPC-TV	15
Louisville	WKMJ-TV	68
Madisonville	WKMA-TV	35
Morehead	WKMR	38
Murray	WKMU	21
Owensboro	WKOH	31
Owenton	WKON	52
Paducah	WKPD	29
Pikeville	WKPI-TV	22
Somerset	WKSO-TV	29

Louisiana

City	Station	Channel
Alexandria	KLPA-TV	25
Baton Rouge	WLPB-TV	27
Lafayette	KLPB-TV	24
Lake Charles	KLTL-TV	18
Monroe	KLTM-TV	13
New Orleans	WYES-TV	12
Shreveport	KLTS-TV	24

Maine

City	Station	Channel
Augusta	WCBB	10
Biddeford (Portland area)	WMEA-TV	26
Calais	WMED-TV	13
Orono (Bangor area)	WMEB-TV	12
Presque Isle	WMEM-TV	10

Maryland

City	Station	Channel
Annapolis	WMPT	22
Baltimore	WMPB	67
Frederick	WFPT	62
Hagerstown	WWPB	31
Oakland	WGPT	36
Salisbury	WCPB	28

Massachusetts

City	Station	Channel
Boston	WGBH-TV	2
Boston	WGBX-TV	44
Springfield	WGBY-TV	57

Michigan

City	Station	Channel
Alpena	WCML	6
Bad Axe (Flint-Saginaw area)	WDCQ-TV	19
Cadillac	WCMV	27
Detroit	WTVS	56
East Lansing	WKAR-TV	23
Grand Rapids	WGVU-TV	35
Kalamazoo	WGVK	52
Manistee	WCMW	21
Marquette	WNMU	13
Mount Pleasant	WCMU-TV	14

Minnesota

City	Station	Channel
Appleton	KWCM-TV	10
Austin (Rochester area)	KSMQ-TV	15
Bemidji	KAWE	9
Brainerd	KAWB	22
Crookston (Grand Forks area)	KCGE-DT	16
Duluth	WDSE	8
Hibbing	WRPT	31
Saint Paul (Minneapolis area)	KTCA-TV	2
Worthington	KSMN	20

Mississippi

City	Station	Channel
Biloxi	WMAH-TV	19
Booneville	WMAE-TV	12
Bude	WMAU-TV	17
Greenwood	WMAO-TV	23
Jackson	WMPN-TV	29
Meridian	WMAW-TV	14
Mississippi State	WMAB-TV	2
Oxford	WMAV-TV	18

Missouri

City	Station	Channel
Columbia (Sedalia)	KMOS-TV	6
Joplin	KOZJ	26
Kansas City	KCPT	19
Springfield	KOZK	21
St. Louis	KETC	9

Montana

City	Station	Channel
Billings	KBGS-TV	16
Bozeman	KUSM	9
Great Falls	KUGF-TV	21
Helena	KUHM-TV	10
Kalispell	KUKL-TV	46
Missoula	KUFM-TV	11

Nebraska

City	Station	Channel
Alliance	KTNE-TV	13
Bassett	KMNE-TV	7
Hastings	KHNE-TV	29
Lexington	KLNE-TV	3
Lincoln	KUON-TV	12
Merriman	KRNE-TV	12
Norfolk	KXNE-TV	19
North Platte	KPNE-TV	9
Omaha	KYNE-TV	26

Nevada

City	Station	Channel
Las Vegas	KLVX	10
Reno	KNPB	5

New Hampshire

City	Station	Channel
Durham	WENH-TV	11
Keene	WEKW-TV	11
Littleton	WLED-TV	11

New Jersey

City	Station	Channel
Camden	WNJS	23
Montclair	WNJN	50
New Brunswick	WNJB	58
Newark (NYC area)	WNET	13
Trenton	WNJT	52

New Mexico

City	Station	Channel
Albuquerque	KNME-TV	5
Las Cruces	KRWG-TV	22
Portales	KENW	3
Santa Fe	KNMD-TV	5

New York

City	Station	Channel
Binghamton	WSKG-TV	46
Buffalo	WNED-TV	17
Corning (Elmira area)	WSKA	30
Garden City (Long Island)	WLIW	21
New York City	WNET	13
Norwood	WNPI-DT	18
Plattsburgh	WCFE-TV	57
Rochester	WXXI-TV	21
Schenectady (Albany area)	WMHT	17
Syracuse	WCNY-TV	24
Watertown	WPBS-TV	16

North Carolina

City	Station	Channel
Asheville	WUNF-TV	33
Canton	WUNW	27
Chapel Hill (Raleigh-Durham area)	WUNC-TV	4
Charlotte	WTVI	42
Concord (Charlotte area)	WUNG-TV	58
Edenton	WUND-TV	2
Greenville	WUNK-TV	25
Jacksonville	WUNM-TV	19
Linville	WUNE-TV	17
Lumberton	WUNU	31
Roanoke Rapids	WUNP-TV	36
Wilmington	WUNJ-TV	39
Winston-Salem	WUNL-TV	26

North Dakota

City	Station	Channel
Bismarck	KBME-TV	3
Devils Lake	KMDE	25
Dickinson	KDSE	9
Ellendale	KJRE	19
Fargo	KFME	13
Grand Forks	KGFE	2
Minot	KSRE	6
Williston	KWSE	4

Ohio

City	Station	Channel
Akron	WEAO	49
Athens	WOUB-TV	20
Bowling Green	WBGU-TV	27
Cambridge	WOUC-TV	44
Cincinnati	WCET	48
Cleveland	WVIZ	25
Columbus	WOSU	34
Dayton	WPTD	16
Oxford	WPTO	14
Toledo	WGTE-TV	30
Youngstown	WNEO	45

Oklahoma

City	Station	Channel
Cheyenne	KWET	12
Eufaula	KOET	3
Oklahoma City	KETA-TV	13
Tulsa	KOED-TV	11

Oregon

City	Station	Channel
Bend	KOAB-TV	3
Corvallis	KOAC-TV	7
Eugene	KEPB-TV	28
Klamath Falls	KFTS	22
La Grande	KTVR	13
Medford	KSYS	8
Portland	KOPB-TV	10

Pennsylvania

City	Station	Channel
Allentown	WLVT-TV	39
Clearfield (Altoona-Johnstown area)	WPSU-TV	3
Erie	WQLN	54
Harrisburg	WITF-TV	33
Philadelphia	WPPT	35
Pittsburgh	WQED	13
Scranton	WVIA-TV	44

Rhode Island

City	Station	Channel
Providence	WSBE-TV	36

South Carolina

City	Station	Channel
Allendale (Augusta, GA area)	WEBA-TV	14
Beaufort	WJWJ-TV	16
Charleston	WITV	7
Columbia	WRLK-TV	35
Conway	WHMC-TV	23
Florence	WJPM-TV	33
Greenville	WNTV	29
Greenwood	WNEH	38
Rock Hill (Charlotte, NC area)	WNSC-TV	30
Spartanburg	WRET-TV	49
Sumter	WRJA-TV	27

South Dakota

City	Station	Channel
Aberdeen	KDSD-TV	16
Brookings	KESD-TV	8
Eagle Butte	KPSD-TV	13
Lowry	KQSD-TV	11
Martin	KZSD-TV	8
Pierre	KTSD-TV	10
Rapid City	KBHE-TV	9
Sioux Falls	KCSD-TV	23
Vermillion	KUSD-TV	2

Tennessee

City	Station	Channel
Chattanooga	WTCI	45
Cookeville	WCTE	22
Knoxville	WKOP-TV	15
Lexington	WLJT-DT	11
Memphis	WKNO	10
Nashville	WNPT	8
Sneedville (Tri-Cities area)	WETP-TV	2

Texas

City	Station	Channel
Amarillo	KACV-TV	2
Austin	KLRU	18
College Station / Waco	KAMU-TV	12
Corpus Christi	KEDT	16
Dallas / Fort Worth	KERA-TV	13
El Paso	KCOS	13
Houston	KUHT	8
Lubbock	KTTZ-TV	5
Midland-Odessa	KPBT-TV	36
Rio Grande Valley	KCWT-CD	21.4
San Antonio	KLRN	9

Utah

City	Station	Channel
Richfield	KUES	19
Salt Lake City	KUED	7
St. George	KUEW	18

Vermont

City	Station	Channel
Burlington	WETK	33
Rutland	WVER	28
St. Johnsbury	WVTB	20
Windsor	WVTA	41

Virginia

City	Station	Channel
Charlottesville	WHTJ	41
New Market	WVPY	51.2
Norfolk	WHRO-TV	15
Richmond	WCVE-TV	23
Richmond	WCVW	57
Roanoke	WBRA-TV	15
Staunton / Harrisonburg	WVPT	51.1

Washington

City	Station	Channel
Centralia	KCKA	15
Pullman	KWSU-TV	10
Richland	KTNW	31
Seattle	KCTS-TV	9
Spokane	KSPS-TV	7
Tacoma	KBTC-TV	28
Yakima	KYVE	47

West Virginia

City	Station	Channel
Grandview (Bluefield-Beckley area)	WSWP-TV	9
Huntington	WVPB-TV	33
Morgantown	WNPB-TV	24

Wisconsin

City	Station	Channel
Green Bay / Appleton	WPNE-TV	38
La Crosse	WHLA-TV	31
Madison	WHA-TV	21
Menomonie (Eau Claire area)	WHWC-TV	28
Milwaukee	WMVS	10
Milwaukee	WMVT	36
Park Falls	WLEF-TV	36
Wausau	WHRM-TV	20

Wyoming

City	Station	Channel
Casper	KPTW	6
Lander / Riverton	KCWC-DT	4
Laramie / Cheyenne	KWYP-DT	8

Is PBS Available on All DirecTV Plans?

Yes. PBS is included in every DirecTV package, from the entry-level Entertainment plan up to Premier. It’s part of the local channel lineup, which every plan includes. The same is true for other broadcast networks — for example, CBS is included in all DirecTV plans in the same way, as are Fox and NBC.

DirecTV Package Breakdown (2026)

Plan	Channels	Starting Price
Entertainment	75+	$69.99/mo
Choice	105+	$84.99/mo
Ultimate	140+	$114.99/mo
Premier	150+	$159.99/mo

All four plans include local channels. You do not need an upgraded package to access PBS.

DirecTV Satellite vs. DirecTV Stream

DirecTV currently operates two distinct products. The traditional satellite service requires a dish and a receiver. DirecTV Stream is the internet-based version — no satellite, no dish, just an app on your TV or streaming device.

Both carry local PBS affiliates, but availability can differ by market. If you’re on DirecTV Stream and don’t see your local PBS station, it may not yet be available in your area through the streaming product. In that case, the next section covers alternative options.

If you’re also subscribed to another provider and want to compare, the PBS channel number on Spectrum and PBS on DISH Network follow the same location-based logic.

PBS Kids and Other PBS Channels on DirecTV

PBS Kids is a separate channel from the main PBS station. On DirecTV, PBS Kids is available on channel 286 in most markets. It airs children’s programming 24 hours a day and does not require a separate subscription — it’s included with your existing DirecTV plan.

PBS WORLD and PBS Create

Some DirecTV subscribers can also access PBS WORLD (documentary and international news programming) and PBS Create (cooking, travel, and arts content) as digital sub-channels. These appear with decimal designations in certain markets — for example, channel 3.4 in Tampa or 2.3 in some Twin Cities markets. Availability varies by location. Check your local guide to confirm whether these sub-channels are available at your address.

PBS Not Showing on DirecTV? Try These Steps

Check Your Local Affiliate First

In some rural markets, PBS may not be part of the local channel package due to geographic broadcast limits. Visit directv.com/tvpromise to check whether local channels are available at your address before assuming something is wrong with your setup.

Common Reasons PBS May Not Appear

Your PBS channel might be missing for a few reasons. The channel could have changed numbers after a lineup update — this happens periodically. A temporary broadcast issue at the local affiliate station can also cause the channel to drop out for a few hours. In rare cases, DirecTV and a local station can have a contract dispute that temporarily pulls the channel.

If you had PBS last week and don’t see it now, run a channel scan. On your DirecTV remote, press MENU → Settings → Satellite → Repeat Satellite Setup. This refreshes your channel list and often brings missing local channels back immediately.

Use the PBS App as a Backup

If your local PBS channel isn’t available through DirecTV, or you want on-demand access, the PBS app is free. It carries full episodes of Frontline, Nova, Antiques Roadshow, Masterpiece, PBS NewsHour, and Nature. Available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android, iOS, and most smart TVs. No login is required for most content. A PBS Passport membership — offered through your local station, typically $5/month or $60/year — unlocks extended on-demand libraries going back years.

If you want even more free streaming options beyond the PBS app, the complete Tubi channel list and the Pluto TV channel guide both include documentary and news content at no cost.

Frequently Asked Questions About PBS on DirecTV

What is PBS? PBS — the Public Broadcasting Service — is a nonprofit American broadcast network founded in 1970. It operates through more than 330 member stations and is funded by a combination of government support through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), viewer donations, and foundation grants. It carries no paid advertising.

Is PBS free on DirecTV? Yes. PBS is a free-to-air broadcast channel. It’s included in all DirecTV plans at no additional charge beyond your existing subscription.

Does DirecTV carry PBS in all areas? DirecTV carries PBS in most markets across the United States. In some rural areas where no local PBS affiliate broadcasts over the air, the channel may not be available. Check your address at directv.com/tvpromise to confirm.

Why does my PBS channel look different from my friend’s? You’re each watching different local PBS affiliates. WGBH in Boston and KQED in San Francisco are both PBS member stations, but they operate independently and produce some local content on their own. National PBS programming — Frontline, NewsHour, Nova, Masterpiece — airs on both. Local pledge drives, local arts content, and scheduling can vary significantly between affiliates.

What channel is PBS Kids on DirecTV? PBS Kids is on channel 286 on DirecTV in most markets.

What channel is Nickelodeon on DirecTV? If you’re looking for kids’ channels beyond PBS Kids, Nickelodeon is on DirecTV channel 299 in most markets.

What channel is Disney on DirecTV? Disney Channel is on DirecTV channel 290 in most areas.