How To Access Free Streaming Of Frontline Documentaries Through Pbs

FRONTLINE provides investigative journalism documentaries that are available to stream at no cost through PBS platforms. The documentary series covers critical issues including business, health, social issues, politics, and war. Viewers can access FRONTLINE content without subscription fees through the PBS app and PBS.org website.

Free Streaming Platforms and Availability

FRONTLINE documentaries are available to stream for free on multiple platforms. The primary access points include the official PBS website (pbs.org) and the free PBS App. The PBS App is compatible with a wide range of devices including iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio devices.

The PBS App allows users to stream over 4,000 PBS and local shows on-demand. Content includes iconic series such as MASTERPIECE, NOVA, NATURE, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, Ken Burns, and Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. Additionally, livestream shows from KBTC (and presumably other local PBS stations) are available through the app.

To access content through the PBS App, users should: 1. Download the PBS App on their preferred device 2. Navigate to the "My Station" section 3. Select their local PBS station (such as KBTC or PBS SoCal) 4. Begin streaming available content

Documentary Content Available

FRONTLINE produces investigative documentaries covering a wide range of topics. Recent and notable documentaries mentioned in the source material include:

• Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover (October 11, 2023): This documentary traces Elon Musk's relationship with Twitter, following his journey from provocative user to platform owner, and examines his early decisions regarding free speech policies.

• The Astros Edge: Triumph and Scandal in Major League Baseball (October 4, 2023): An inside story of the Houston Astros cheating scandal, the resulting fallout, and its implications for baseball today.

• Law & Disorder: Questionable Police Shootings in Hurricane Katrina's Wake (October 18, 2023): An investigation into allegations that the New Orleans Police Department inappropriately used lethal force against citizens after Hurricane Katrina and attempted to cover up their actions.

• Exodus: The Journey Continues - Inside the Global Refugee Crisis (August 30, 2023): A sequel to the 2016 documentary "Exodus," this film shares stories of refugees and migrants fleeing poverty and violence while facing heightened nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment.

• The Medicated Child (August 23, 2023): An investigation into the prescription of powerful antipsychotic medications to young children, examining serious side effects and unknown long-term impacts.

• The Credit Card Game (August 16, 2009): An examination of the credit card industry's impact on the national economy during a period of rising public anger and new Washington regulations.

• Aging in the U.S. (September 5, 2023): A documentary that includes the story of Mark Jones in Florida, illustrating how sentencing laws can result in life imprisonment for individuals who did not physically harm anyone.

• How I Survived California's Deadliest Wildfire (October 15, 2023): A short documentary about a survivor's experience in the deadliest and most destructive fire in California's history.

FRONTLINE also produces FRONTLINE Short Docs, a series launched in fall 2023 featuring small documentaries that tell bold stories with zero misinformation.

Device Compatibility and Technical Requirements

The PBS App supports streaming across multiple device categories:

Mobile Devices: - iPhone - Android smartphones

Streaming Devices: - Apple TV - Android TV - Amazon Fire TV - Roku - Samsung Smart TV - Vizio Smart TV

Tablets: - iPad - Android tablets - Amazon Fire Tablet

All content is available without subscription fees. Closed captions are available for videos, as indicated for at least one documentary with a runtime of 1 hour 52 minutes 19 seconds.

Content Organization and Access

FRONTLINE content is organized by air dates and categories. The platform provides information about upcoming airdates for specific episodes. For example, episodes have been scheduled to air on PBS SoCal on Tuesdays at 10:00 PM PST and Wednesdays at 3:00 AM PST.

Users can browse documentaries by: - Full documentaries - Short documentaries - Articles - Podcasts

The platform also includes search functionality to help viewers find specific content.

Funding and Support Structure

FRONTLINE operates as a non-profit journalism organization. Funding is provided through: - Support of PBS viewers - Corporation for Public Broadcasting - Major support from Ford Foundation - Additional funding from Abrams Foundation, Park Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, and the FRONTLINE Trust - Major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation - Additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen

FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. The organization maintains complete editorial independence through viewer support. The website notes that donations up to $100,000 are matched, doubling the impact of contributions.

Newsletter and Updates

Viewers can subscribe to the FRONTLINE Newsletter to receive updates about new documentaries, investigative reports, and other content. The newsletter provides information about upcoming releases and featured stories.

Recent Investigative Focus Areas

Based on the available documentaries, FRONTLINE's investigative journalism covers several key themes:

Business and Economic Issues: - Credit card industry practices - Corporate scandals (such as the Houston Astros cheating scandal) - Technology industry leadership and platform ownership

Social Justice and Legal Issues: - Police misconduct and accountability - Sentencing laws and prison reform - Refugee and migration crises

Health and Medicine: - Mental health treatment in children - Pharmaceutical interventions - Healthcare policy

Political and Environmental Issues: - Free speech and social media regulation - Disaster response and recovery - Political investigations

Access Requirements

No purchase or payment is required to stream FRONTLINE documentaries. The service is supported by public broadcasting funding and viewer donations. Users need only: 1. Internet access 2. A compatible device 3. The PBS App (for mobile/streaming devices) or web browser (for PBS.org)

No subscription, credit card, or registration is required for basic streaming access. However, users who wish to support the organization through donations have the option to do so.

Content Updates and Schedule

FRONTLINE maintains an active production schedule with new documentaries released regularly. The source material indicates releases occurring throughout 2023, with content spanning from August through October 2023. The platform also features "FRONTLINE Short Docs" as a new series format.

The organization is planning to launch additional series in fall 2023, indicating ongoing content development and expansion of their investigative journalism offerings.

Summary

FRONTLINE provides free, no-cost access to investigative documentaries through PBS platforms. The service requires no subscription fees and is supported by public broadcasting funding and donations. Content is available across multiple devices and covers diverse topics including business, social justice, health, and politics. The PBS App and PBS.org serve as the primary access points for streaming content without any purchase requirements.

Sources

1. KBTC Watch on Demand - PBS App
2. Frontline TV
3. PBS - Frontline
4. PBS WGBH - Frontline
5. PBS SoCal - Frontline