New Website Of PBS Really Sucks

Posted: 2/20/2016 Updated: 3/6/2016

Update Of 3/6/2016

Today, I chose to watch the third episode of American Experience Prohibition. What is the PBS website confronting me with: “This video is only available in ArizonaPBS Passport. ArizonaPBS Passport is an additional member benefit that provides extended access to quality PBS streaming video.” It appears, there is no alternative option available.

NO THANKS! Incredible, and this is paid for with taxpayers money as well!

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Since about the beginning of this year (i.e. 2016), I noticed that pbs.org has a heavily redesigned website. One of the only things, I am interested in is full length videos with historical, scientific or nature as content.

This new design is awful in various respects:

1. When you select genre History (http://www.pbs.org/shows/?genre=history&layout=grid), you are presented with hundreds of icons, each representing single or multiple videos. Each icon pops up a text in your face when the cursor hovers about them and you cannot filter by full episode anymore. Instead, many of these icons would offer only short video clips.
2. When you search for particular videos, e.g. Unforgivable Blackness by Ken Burns, then the website shows you part 1 & 2 of full length videos to select, but when you then click on the play button following nonsensical message comes up “This video is unavailable in your area. Visit the PBS FAQ page for more information.” The PBS FAQ page does not provide any helpful information on this issue.

I have actually contacted PBS by e-mail to bring the second issue to their attention, but I am not sure the staff who answered my e-mail understood what this was about despite a brief exchange and follow up.