DIRECTV COMPLETES ITS NATIONAL ROLLOUT OF LOCAL PBS STATIONS

DIRECTV Also Working with PBS and Maryland Public Television to Amplify Documentaries about Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman

DIRECTV STREAM, an industry leader in live local news, entertainment, and regional sports, has completed its national rollout of local PBS member stations in three months – nearly nine months ahead of its original schedule.

DIRECTV STREAM started launching local PBS stations in mid-November, and since that time, has added nearly 250 local PBS stations in 198 Nielsen DMAs that reach 99 percent of all U.S. TV homes. PBS on DIRECTV STREAM provides each of the PBS member stations’ full broadcast channels streamed live, as well as the PBS video-on-demand library at no additional cost to complement its live broadcasts.

With this robust station lineup now intact from coast-to-coast, DIRECTV today announced that it is also one of the premiere sponsors for two important upcoming PBS documentaries – BECOMING FREDERICK DOUGLASS and HARRIET TUBMAN: VISIONS OF FREEDOM – that shed new light on the lives of a pair of towering figures in the struggle to end slavery. Created by award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson, these two films are produced by Maryland Public Television (MPT) in association with Firelight Films and further PBS’s and DIRECTV’s shared focus on delivering trusted, informational media content, available to viewers anytime and anywhere.

As part of this collaboration, screenings of each film will take place in locations across the United States later this summer – sponsored by DIRECTV – prior to the premieres of the films nationwide on PBS member stations this fall. As an additional component of the DIRECTV sponsorship, MPT will make educational materials available online to students in grades K-12.

“The rapid adoption of PBS on DIRECTV STREAM ensures that we’re delivering some of the best programming to customers across the nation,” said Rob Thun, Chief Content Officer, DIRECTV. “Additionally, we’re honored to work hand-in-hand with PBS to amplify diverse voices and creators to help keep our nation’s history alive.”

“PBS’ partnership with DIRECTV STREAM allows our award-winning, educational content to reach more viewers across the country,” said Ira Rubenstein, PBS Chief Digital & Marketing Officer. “PBS and its member stations offer more diverse and localized programming than any other broadcast network, and we are pleased to continue to share this content across a wide array of digital platforms.”

The availability of PBS across both DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM continues to expand the digital presence of PBS and boasts award-winning content from locally produced shows and PBS award-winning staples like MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, PBS NEWSHOUR and more. National service PBS KIDS recently joined both the DIRECTV STREAM and DIRECTV lineups, helping to prepare young children for success in school and life.

Unlike other major national broadcast networks, PBS boasts multiple local station affiliates in several cities, and DIRECTV STREAM has launched at least three different PBS stations into nine Nielsen DMAs and two local PBS stations into another 33 media markets. DIRECTV STREAM customers living in cities including New York (3), Los Angeles (3), Chicago (2), Philadelphia (3), San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (2), Washington (3), Boston (2), Atlanta (2), Seattle-Tacoma (2), Minneapolis-St. Paul (3), Miami-Fort Lauderdale (2), Denver (2), Cleveland (2), Charlotte (3), Indianapolis (2), Nashville (2), Columbus OH (2), Cincinnati (3), and Greenville-Spartanburg SC-Asheville NC (2), among many others, will receive multiple local PBS affiliates. [Complete list below].

With the addition of these PBS affiliates, DIRECTV STREAM offers more than 1,000 local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS stations, as well as 30+ regional sports networks from AT&T SportsNet, Bally Sports, NBC Sports, Spectrum SportsNet and top independents Altitude Sports, MSG Networks, MASN, NESN and YES Network. The unique combination enables users to watch their favorite entertainment, information and local sports teams all in one destination.

DIRECTV STREAM customers can access the service via their own compatible devices or an exclusive DIRECTV STREAM device featuring a voice-activated remote, preloaded apps like HBO Max, Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and Pandora, and access to thousands of others. DIRECTV STREAM combines the best of live TV and On-Demand with more than 65,000 shows and movies available for streaming via phone, tablet or TV, anytime and anywhere. DIRECTV STREAM works over a high-speed internet connection, and it only takes a few minutes for customers to set up the device and begin streaming their content.