PBS has a variety of genres like local, arts and music, culture, drama, food, and history – all without needing an account. The downside? You can't directly download PBS videos from its official site for offline watching.
No worries! This article shows you 3 verified methods to download PBS video. If you want to enjoy PBS offline, just follow our guide. Let's get started on making PBS videos available whenever you want them.
If you're also curious about other streaming services, continue to read how to download Udemy courses for offline viewing, and download Gaia videos on computers.
How to Download PBS Video for Offline Viewing?
In this part, we'll show you different ways to download PBS videos. You can use an offline PBS downloader, an online PBS downloader, or a browser extension. Read on to find out the step-by-step instructions for downloading PBS videos using these methods.
[Method 1] Use a Professional PBS Downloader - KeepStreams
KeepStreams is an all-in-one downloader that effortlessly downloads videos from over 3,000 websites, including sites like PBS, Channel 4, DPLA, etc. With stable and consistent support for more than 40 major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and others, its success rate remains an outstanding 98.97%.
What's more, KeepStreams can automatically transfer the PBS downloads into compatible MP4/MKV format, so that you can watch them offline on any device you like. A new user can enjoy the free trial to download 3 full high-quality videos, before making any purchase.
If you're a computer novice, you don't need to worry about the usage of KeepStreams. Thanks to the intuitive and user-friendly UI, KeepStreams is the best tool for you when you totally have no clue about how to download video from PBS.
So how to download video from PBS with KeepStreams? In fact, you only need to follow these simple steps below:
- Download and install KeepStreams on your computer.
- Launch KeepStreams and enter pbs.org into the top search bar, in order to get access to it with the built-in browser.
- Sign into your PBS account and browse for your desired PBS video.
- Play the video, and a download window will appear, allowing you to customize the download settings.
- Click on the Download Now button to download the PBS videos immediately or add the video to the download queue for later.
Now, you've successfully downloaded PBS videos on your Windows PC or Mac. You can feel free to enjoy when offline anytime you want.
[Method 2] Use an Online PBS Downloader - Youtube4KDownloader
When I search for "how to download a PBS video" on Google, it always pops up many online video downloaders, and many of them are free, such as Youtube4KDownloader.
This tool supports downloading videos from over 1,000 websites, but most of them are video-sharing sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. The usage of such an online video downloader is simple, but you need to pay attention to the pop-up ads during the download process.
I follow these simple steps to download PBS videos with Youtube4KDownloader:
- Visit pbs.org and sign in to your account.
- Browse PBS for your desired video and copy its URL from the address bar.
- Open a new tab and go to youtube4kdownloader.com. Paste the copied video URL into the Enter video link here... box.
- Wait for Youtube4KDownloader to analyze the video. If it shows the "Couldn't fetch download links at the moment, please try again" warning, click on the Download button to retry.
- Check the output format, and choose from Video, Sound Only, or Video without Sound.
- Then, click on the Download button. This will redirect you to a new page. In this page, click on the three-dot button in the lower right corner of the player and select Download.
[Method 3] Use a Browser Extension - Video DownloadHelper
If you prefer a more convenient method than the program or online tool, Video DownloadHelper can be your next choice. This browser extension is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, enabling convenient video downloads directly from your browser.
However, the download success rate will be relatively lower if you choose a browser extension. Based on our test of 5 videos from PBS, Video DownloadHelper could only detect 4 of them, and successfully downloaded 2 720p videos from PBS finally. The success rate is only 40%.
The convenience is undoubted though. So if you want to try to rip videos from PBS in this way, follow the steps using Chrome as an example to download PBS videos with Video DownloadHelper:
- Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for Video DownloadHelper.
- Add Video DownloadHelper to Chrome and pin it in the Extensions.
- Download and install the Video DownloadHelper Companion App.
- Go to pbs.org and locate the video you wish to download.
- Play the video to allow Video DownloadHelper to detect the files.
- Choose from the available options and click on the right arrow next to your selection.
- Select your desired download options to start downloading, with additional settings available for customization. If you haven't installed the Video DownloadHelper Companion App in the previous steps, you'll be prompted to install it at this stage.
Conclusion
This article offers 3 easy solutions to download PBS video on your computer or download PBS video online. Whether you choose KeepStreams for its high success rate, Youtube4KDownloader for online simplicity, or Video DownloadHelper as an easy browser extension, the steps are clear.
With these methods, PBS videos become accessible offline, providing flexibility and convenience for your viewing preferences. Follow the steps, and start downloading your favorite PBS videos effortlessly. Happy watching!
And since you're here, you may also be interested in other video downloaders, such as the Movavi review.
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