PBS Digital Studios is a
non-profit organization through which
PBS distributes original educational web video content. Based in
Arlington, Virginia, it comprises both original series and partnerships with existing
YouTube channels. Most of the series are about science, popular culture, art, food, news, and music.
The PBS Digital Studios network has received more than 500 million views and has over 7 million subscribers. Popular series found on their channels include Crash Course, Blank on Blank, It’s Okay To Be Smart, and the multiple
Webby Award–winning PBS Idea Channel.[3] Each month, the shows average more than 5 million streams.[4]
Its first scripted series, Frankenstein, MD, launched on August 19, 2014, and ran until October 31, 2014.[5][6]
In 2015, PBS Digital Studios partnered with the
Green brothers' series
Crash Course, commissioning three courses in astronomy, U.S. government, and philosophy.[7] Crash Course Astronomy launched January 15, 2015, Crash Course U.S. Government & Politics launched January 23, 2015, and Crash Course Philosophy launched February 8, 2016.
In addition to commissioning series, PBS Digital Studios have partnered with existing YouTube channels. They partnered with BrainCraft in June, 2014[8] and Physics Girl in August, 2015.[9]
In 2017, the network cancelled a slew of its shows, including popular channels like PBS Game/Show & the PBS Idea Channel.[10]
Current series
Be Smart
Brave Spaces
Citizen Better
CrashCourse
Dead and Buried
Deep Look
Far Out
Fate & Fabled
Indie Alaska
Monstrum
Only in El Paso
Otherwords
Outside the Lyrics
PBS Eons
PBS Origins
PBS Space Time
PBS Terra
Reactions
Serving Up Science
Sharks Unknown
Sovereign Innovations
Two Cents
Untold Earth
Weathered
Why am I like this?
Women of the Earth
Past series
As of December 2020,[update] PBS Digital Studios lists the following as "past" series:
Evan Desimone of NewMediaRockstars wrote, "Brilliant...takes you somewhere you didn’t expect."[11] Sam Gutelle of Tubefilter called Idea Channel show, "Nothing short of superb."[12]