What Types of Shows and Series Can You Watch on PBS.org?

PBS.org offers four broad content types: scripted drama and crime series, news and current-affairs coverage, documentary and educational programming, and locally produced shows and short films. The homepage mixes national programs with content from member stations — the sample page shows SCETV (South Carolina ETV) items alongside PBS News and national drama titles — so what appears on your visit depends partly on your local station. The site also carries a "Watch Now" option for full episodes, though the page evidence does not specify whether every title is free or requires sign-in.

Drama and Crime Series

The scripted lineup leans heavily on British and literary crime drama. Titles visible on the page include:

• Maigret — a contemporary adaptation of Georges Simenon's novels, starring Benjamin Wainwright as the detective.
• Bergerac — a crime drama about a broken man on leave after his wife's death.
• Grantchester — a vicar turned sleuth helps a grumpy cop in a Cambridgeshire village.
• The Gold — inspired by one of the largest robberies in British history (the Brink's-Mat gold), with Hugh Bonneville.
• Call the Midwife — an intimate look at midwifery.
• Susan Ryeland mysteries — Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan return for the final installment.
• Patience — a detective series set in York, with a new detective character, Frankie Monroe.
• A period drama centered on "a great English estate on the cusp of a vanishing way of life."

The page also flags "New Episode" and "New Season" labels, so you can spot currently airing series versus completed ones.

News and Current Affairs

PBS News is a distinct section, with recent stories such as SpaceX's Starship orbital launch, health care costs as a voter concern ahead of midterms, and rising diesel prices. The page describes this as "in-depth news analysis," which suggests a mix of reported segments and explanatory pieces rather than headline-only updates.

Documentaries and Educational Programs

This category is the most varied on the page:

• Finding Your Roots and a companion "The Pioneers" special — genealogy-focused documentary.
• PBS Presents segments such as "Ask a Paleontologist" and "Everything You Need to Know about Greek Mythology" — short explainer-style content on history and science.
• Curiosity Trek! — an episode on the 9/11 helicopter at the Celebrate Freedom Foundation.
• IMPACT South Carolina — specials including "The Silver Tsunami" and "A Touch of Sugar."
• Wild Wild South — nature programming, e.g., "Night in the Basin."

Local Productions and Short Films

Member-station content runs alongside national shows, often in short formats:

These are useful if you want place-based storytelling or regional cooking and music rather than national series.

How to Decide What to Watch

• Want a serialized crime drama? Start with Maigret, Grantchester, or The Gold, and check for "New Season" tags to avoid starting mid-run.
• Want to understand a news topic? Go to the PBS News section rather than the drama carousel.
• Want something short or educational? The PBS Presents explainers and Curiosity Trek! episodes run well under an hour.
• Want local flavor? Look for your member station's block — the sample page shows SCETV, but your station's shows will differ.

One practical caveat: the homepage promotes donations ("Keep Your Station Strong," "Donate to SCETV"), and the available page evidence does not state pricing or login requirements for streaming. Check the individual show page's "Watch Now" button to see what access it asks for before planning a binge.