PBS Video Portal

clipped from www.oregonlive.com

New site allows you to watch thousands of PBS shows online

by The Oregonian

Wednesday April 22, 2009, 11:17 AM

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PBS has launched a video Web site containing a nearly comprehensive catalog of full-length PBS programming for viewers to watch free on their computers.

The site offers 132 programs, including many of the best-known and highest-profile PBS series, including "Frontline," "American Experience," "The News Hour," "Nova" and "Masterpiece Theatre."

The site also includes content from local PBS stations, including OPB-produced programs such as "History Detectives," and features the national premiere of a new OPB series, "Time Team America."

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An image from the "American Experience" series "We Shall Remain," which is offered online at PBS's new video portal.

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"Having the ability to reach a national audience through PBS.org expands our mission in a way we could not do otherwise," Oregon Public Broadcasting's president and CEO, Steve Bass, said in a statement. "For OPB-produced national series like 'Time Team America' and 'History Detectives,' the player lets us meet the audience wherever they live.

"It gives us one more way to enrich their experience."

The premiere episode of "Time Team America" debuted Wednesday on the site, well ahead of its national broadcast premiere in July.

Co-produced by OPB and Videotext Communications, "Time Team America" takes viewers to the nation's most intriguing archaeological dig sites with a team of archaeological experts. For three days, they race against the clock, uncovering the past as they unearth the site's buried secrets.

The video site ultimately will include more than just series, with feature-length films and documentaries, and live events and performances. New content is expected to be added every week.

The site marked its Earth Day launch Wednesday by showcasing a series of environmentally focused programs. These included full episodes of "Nova," "Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures" and "Green Builders," plus OPB's Oregon Field Guide special, "Silent Invasion."

The site will highlight specific programming but also will provide a tool for viewers to search the video offerings. The site will also give local PBS stations access to programming for their own Web sites (including www.opb.org).

"This launch illustrates our commitment to deliver PBS' signature programming to the widest possible market," said Jason Seiken, PBS senior vice president of Interactive. "Our goal is to ensure that audiences have online access to the remarkable depth and breadth of PBS programming -- in a format that puts the user in control."