What color is PBS?
PBS's signature color is purple, used across its logo and branding to create a distinctive, recognizable identity. The shade is standardized in PBS branding guidelines as PBS Purple, a rich, saturated hue chosen to convey creativity and public value.
The color in PBS branding
Since its branding updates, PBS has anchored its visual identity to a single, consistently applied purple. This color appears in the PBS logo, on-screen graphics, signage, and promotional materials, helping audiences instantly recognize the network. White text is commonly used on the purple background to ensure strong contrast and legibility.
Usage across media
Across television, digital platforms, and print collateral, purple serves as the core anchor of PBS’s color system. In digital experiences, the purple palette is paired with clean white space and high-contrast typography for readability. For special campaigns, PBS may introduce complementary accents or gradients, but the core purple remains the baseline to preserve brand cohesion.
Brand guidelines and variations
Brand guidelines typically designate PBS Purple as the primary color, with white used for text on purple backgrounds. While the logo may appear in monochrome or inverted formats for certain contexts, the purple identity consistently grounds PBS’s visual presence across media.
Key aspects of PBS color usage:
- Signature color: purple (PBS Purple)
- Primary text on purple: white for legibility
- Logo: often white letters on a purple background; variations exist for different media
- Complementary palette: neutrals and occasional accent colors to support campaigns
These elements collectively reinforce PBS’s cohesive brand identity across platforms and programming.
Summary
PBS’s color is purple—the brand’s signature hue—used consistently in its logo, graphics, and materials, with white text for contrast. This deliberate color choice underpins PBS’s recognizable, accessible identity as a public broadcaster.
How do I watch PBS on my TV?
You can watch PBS on your TV by using the free PBS app on a compatible smart TV or streaming device like a Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV. Alternatively, you can use a streaming service that includes PBS, watch through a web browser on a connected computer, or tune in with an antenna to a local broadcast. For many streaming devices, you'll need to visit pbs.org/activate on another device to enter a code and activate the app.
On a streaming device or smart TV
This video shows how to install the PBS app on an Android TV: 59sMarylandPublicTVYouTube · Apr 18, 2024
- Download the app: Go to your device's app store (like the Google Play Store for Android TV) and search for the "PBS" app. Download and install the free app.
- Activate the app: Open the app on your TV and select "activate now".
- Enter the code: On a separate device (computer or smartphone), go to pbs.org/activate and enter the code displayed on your TV screen.
- Sign in: Choose to sign in with your existing PBS account, or create a free account using Google, Facebook, or Apple.
Other ways to watch on your TV
- Streaming services: Some services, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or DIRECTV STREAM, offer PBS channels.
- Chromecast: Cast content directly from the PBS app on your phone or tablet to your TV.
- Connect a computer: Use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to your TV and stream PBS through a web browser.
- Antenna: Watch your local PBS station for free by using an over-the-air antenna to tune into the broadcast signal.
What is the color of PBS?
Black
Lead(II) sulfide
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | PbS |
| Molar mass | 239.30 g/mol |
| Appearance | Black |
| Density | 7.60 g/cm3 |
What are the colors of the PBS logo?
Color. Our primary palette consists of PBS Blue, secondary blues, and White, as well as primary and secondary accents that complement our logo. Primary accents (Teal, Yellow, and Coral) are to be used minimally to emphasize important content.
Is PBS News left or right?
PBS is generally considered to have a slight left-leaning bias, according to media bias ratings, though many sources and its own policies emphasize its goal of being a reliable, fact-based news source. For example, Ad Fontes Media rates PBS NewsHour as being 10 points to the left of the ideological center while also labeling it as reliable and fact-based. Some critics, however, argue that the network's news coverage leans too far left.
- Media ratings: According to Ad Fontes Media, PBS NewsHour is rated as having a slight left-leaning bias, placing it in a category of "reliable" and "analysis/fact" reporting.
- Criticism: Some critics, including some Republican lawmakers, argue that PBS has a left-leaning bias and that its funding should be cut because it is not balanced.
- PBS's position: PBS maintains that it has a firewall between its news coverage decisions and its funding sources to protect its editorial independence. The organization accepts financial support but states it does not allow that support to influence editorial content.
