PBS on Dish Network is a local channel, which means the channel number depends entirely on where you live. Most subscribers find PBS somewhere between channels 2 and 60. The most common numbers nationwide are channel 8 (Atlanta, Houston, Nashville, Phoenix) and channel 13 (New York City, Dallas, Fort Worth).
PBS is included in every core Dish Network package at no extra cost. You don’t need to upgrade your plan to get it.
Here’s the full breakdown.
PBS Channel Numbers on Dish Network by City (2026)
Use the table below to find your local PBS channel. If your city isn’t listed, scroll down to the troubleshooting section.
| City / State | PBS Channel on Dish |
|---|---|
| Nashville, TN / Jacksonville, FL / Phoenix, AZ / Houston, TX / Atlanta, GA / Colorado Springs, CO | 8 |
| New York City, NY / Dallas, TX / El Paso, TX / Fort Worth, TX | 13 |
| Chicago, IL / Boston, MA | 11 |
| New Orleans, LA / Philadelphia, PA / Denver, CO | 12 |
| Las Vegas, NV / Memphis, TN (alt.) | 10 |
| Fresno, CA / Memphis, TN / Austin, TX | 18 |
| Los Angeles, CA / New York City, NY (alt.) | 58 |
| Chicago, IL (alt.) / Washington, DC / Detroit, MI | 56 |
| El Paso, TX (alt.) / Nashville, TN (alt.) | 22 |
| Yuma, AZ / Bakersfield, CA | 60 |
| Sacramento, CA | 6 |
| San Diego, CA (KPBS) | 15 |
| San Francisco, CA | 9 or 54 |
| Washington, DC (alt.) | 32 or 53 |
| Jacksonville, FL (alt.) | 7 |
| Miami, FL | 2 or 17 |
| Orlando, FL | 24 |
| Tampa, FL | 3 |
| Atlanta, GA (alt.) | 30 |
| New York City, NY (alt.) | 21 |
| Philadelphia, PA (alt.) | 23 or 39 |
| San Antonio, TX | 4 |
Don’t see your city? Your local PBS affiliate may be listed under a station name like WNET, KQED, WGBH, WETA, or WPBT rather than “PBS.” Try searching by those call letters in the Dish guide. You can also use our local channels availability checker to quickly verify what’s in your area.
Why PBS Has a Different Channel Number in Every City
PBS doesn’t operate one national channel the way ESPN or CNN does. It’s a network of over 300 independent member stations across the country — each one licensed to a local broadcaster in your market.
When Dish Network carries PBS, it carries your local PBS affiliate, not a single centralized feed. That affiliate was assigned its own channel position in your regional market long before satellite TV existed. Dish mirrors those local assignments, which is why channel 8 in Atlanta is different from channel 8 in Phoenix — even though both happen to land on the same number.
This is the same reason PBS has a different channel on Spectrum. If you’ve ever looked up what channel PBS is on Spectrum, you’ll notice the same city-by-city variation applies there too.
Some major cities carry more than one PBS signal. New York City, for example, carries WNET on channel 13, WLIW on channel 21, and WNJB on channel 58. San Francisco runs on channels 9 and 54. These aren’t duplicates — they’re separate member stations with partially different programming.
PBS Subchannels on Dish Network
PBS runs several digital subchannels alongside the main feed. Availability on Dish varies by market.
PBS Kids is the most widely carried subchannel. It runs commercial-free children’s programming 24 hours a day — shows like Curious George, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and Wild Kratts. In Washington, DC, PBS Kids is available on Dish channels 53 and 56. Check your local guide for availability in other cities.
PBS World and PBS Create are available in select markets. World focuses on documentaries and news. Create carries cooking, travel, and how-to programming. Not all Dish markets carry these subchannels, so availability depends on what your local affiliate uplinks.
If you’re trying to track down kids’ educational content on Dish or other platforms, the kids streaming content finder can help you locate specific shows across services.
Is PBS Included in All Dish Network Packages? (2026 Pricing)
Yes. PBS is a local broadcast channel, and local channels are included in every standard Dish Network plan. You don’t need a premium tier to access it.
Here are the current Dish Network package prices as of 2026:
| Package | Monthly Price | Channels | On-Demand Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| America’s Top 120 | $89.99/mo. | 190+ | 28,000 |
| America’s Top 120 Plus | $99.99/mo. | 190+ (expanded) | 30,000+ |
| America’s Top 200 | $109.99/mo. | 240+ | 35,000 |
| America’s Top 250 | $119.99/mo. | 290+ | 36,000 |
All plans come with a 2-year price guarantee, the Hopper 3 DVR, and free professional installation. PBS — along with other local networks — is included across all tiers.
For the complete picture of what’s in each plan, the full Dish Network channels list breaks down every channel by package. If you’re weighing Dish against other providers, the streaming service comparison tool can help you line up costs and channel counts side by side.
Can’t Find PBS on the Listed Channel? Try These Steps
Channel positions occasionally shift. A local outage, a rebrand, or a station moving to a new number can all knock PBS off the channel you expect. Here’s what to do.
1. Refresh your Dish receiver. Hold the power button on your Dish receiver for 10 seconds until it reboots. After it restarts, check the guide again. This clears cached guide data.
2. Search by station name. Press the Guide button, then search for your local PBS affiliate by its call letters — WNET, KQED, WGBH, WETA, WPBT, or similar. This works even when the channel has moved.
3. Check dish.com for your local lineup. Go to dish.com/local-channels and enter your ZIP code. This shows the exact channels Dish carries in your specific area. Channel numbers can differ even within the same state.
4. Watch PBS for free online. If PBS still isn’t showing, you can stream most PBS content for free through the PBS app (iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV) or at PBS.org. Full episodes of Frontline, NOVA, Masterpiece, and PBS NewsHour are available at no cost.
Thinking about reducing your Dish bill or cutting the cord entirely? The cord-cutting savings calculator shows exactly how much you’d save by replacing Dish with streaming alternatives.
Similar Channels to PBS on Dish Network
If you enjoy PBS-style programming, a few other channels on Dish carry similar content:
Smithsonian Channel (available in America’s Top 200 and above) — documentaries on history, science, and culture.
National Geographic — nature, science, and exploration programming.
History Channel — American history and documentary series.
C-SPAN and C-SPAN 2 — public affairs, congressional coverage, and book discussions. Included in most Dish plans.
For viewers who are also on Spectrum, it’s worth knowing what channel CBS is on Dish Network and what channel ABC is on Dish Network — both are local channels that follow the same market-by-market numbering pattern as PBS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PBS free on Dish Network? Yes. PBS is a free over-the-air broadcast network. Dish includes it as part of your local channel package at no additional charge on any plan.
Why is PBS not showing on my Dish? The most common reasons are a local outage, a channel position change, or an issue with your receiver’s guide data. Reboot your receiver first, then search for your local PBS affiliate by its call letters. If that doesn’t work, stream PBS free at PBS.org.
What channel is PBS Kids on Dish? PBS Kids channel availability on Dish varies by market. In Washington, DC, it appears on channels 53 and 56. In Hawaii, it was on channel 10 until a recent lineup change. Check your local Dish guide under children’s programming or use the on-screen search.
Can I watch PBS without Dish? Yes. The free PBS app works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, and Android. Most shows are available on demand without a login. For live streaming of your local PBS station, you may need to create a free PBS account.
Does PBS still have funding after the CPB closure? The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provided federal funding to public media, closed on January 5, 2026. PBS has stated it will continue operating and producing programming through member station support, viewer donations, and grants. Programming schedules remain intact as of this writing.
What channel is PBS on DirecTV? PBS on DirecTV also varies by location. See the dedicated guide on what channel PBS is on DirecTV for the full breakdown.
PBS channel positions on Dish Network are subject to change. If you notice your local channel has moved, use dish.com’s local channel lookup tool with your ZIP code to get the current number.