PBS is expanding its presence in the linear, free streaming channel business. The public broadcaster has sealed a deal with Amazon to stream its PBS Kids channel, as well as 150 local PBS stations, as part of the Prime Video FAST channel offerings.

A new public TV era is dawning, with a milestone PBS-Amazon deal bringing 150 local stations, PBS Kids and two new FAST channels to Prime Video.

Public television program distributor PBS has inked a distribution deal with Amazon that will allow users of the streaming platform Prime Video to watch their local PBS member station and PBS Kids. The deal involves around 150 PBS member stations that are already making their main broadcast feed available through the PBS website and apps,

Amazon and PBS have entered a partnership that will bring content from the public media operation to Prime Video.

CULVER CITY, Calif. —In a notable expansion of the way viewers can watch local PBS stations, the network and Amazon said more than 150 public TV stations and the PBS Kids channel will launch ad-free over the coming months as a Prime Video FAST offering.

Amazon's FAST service seemed redundant after Amazon launched the Prime Video ad tier in January. With the subscription tier making money from subscription fees and ads shown on Prime Video with ads, it made little sense for Amazon to continue with Freevee, which only has the latter revenue stream.

Amazon is preparing to shutter the doors on Freevee, its free, ad-supported streaming service housed within Prime Video