PBS-X
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PBS-X (also known as PBS Schedule X) is 24-hour alternate network from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) that provides a mixed variety of programming selected from PBS's regular network service. It is sometimes multicast by some PBS member stations on their over-the-air DTV channels along with their regular programming. Shortly after initiation of this service, another 24-7 programming channel, PBS-XD, was added, originally for purposes of carriage on packaged satellite providers (as distinct from C-band viewers).
As of June 1, 2006, PBS-X can be received unscrambled via satellite on these coordinates:
- On SES Americom AMC-4 (at 101°W), on C-band transponder 16 (4020 MHz, horizontal polarity, in analog),
- and on the AMC-3 satellite (at 87°W), on:Ku-band transponders:
- 20 (12096 MHz, vertical polarity, using DigiCipher 2),
- 21 (12110 MHz, horizontal polarity, using DVB),
- and 24 (12180 MHz, vertical polarity, using DigiCipher 2), all unencrypted.
Note that access to the Ku-band DVB feeds requires AC3 (Dolby Digital) audio capability, as there is no MPEG2 audio provided on this transponder.
[edit] Scheduling
PBS-X and PBS-XD are freely and nationally available from AMC-3 at 87°W using free-to-air satellite dishes as small as three feet. PBS-XD is also offered by U.S. direct-broadcast satellite providers to subscribers who lack a local PBS feed.
The schedule for PBS-XD, by design, is different from that of existing local PBS broadcasts in order to avoid competition with individual member stations. So, most primetime programming, with the notable exceptions of news broadcasts and occasional live presentations, appears on PBS-XD one day later than on PBS or PBS-X.
PBS-X provides two free national feeds in each format, one scheduled for the Eastern U.S., the other, PBS-XP, on a three-hour delay to fit timezone differences for the West Coast.
