PBS Launches New Online Video Channel

PBS has just added a new on-demand streaming video channel to its website, which will aggregate thousands of full-length episodes from the network's top series, along with complete seasons of current shows and full back-catalogues of classic series.

While some PBS series had been previously available on line, prior to this launch they were scattered. "You couldn't go to any one place and find a uniform video offering," said Jason Seiken, PBS senior vp of Interactive. "It just wasn't that user friendly."

Shows currently available in this beta launch include American Masters, Antiques Road Show, Masterpiece Theater Nature and Nova. The new channel allows you to send your favorite videos to friends and post to social networks, and purchase your own copies directly from the site, which can be accessed at PBS.org/video

PBS plans to create programming packages for the site featuring compilations of episodes from various shows that touch upon a common theme, starting with this week's environment-centric package, which is being launched to coincide with Earth Day (Apr. 22). That collection includes snippets from Frontline, Nova and Nature, along with the classic Jean Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures.

For more information regarding the new channel, check out Mediaweek's coverage here.