Frustrated with PBS Passport

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

I have supported PBS forever. So I thought I should take advantage of Passport. I don't have a smart TV so I bought Chromecast - for both upstairs and downstairs tvs. This works great with other apps - YouTube, Netlix, Amazon Prime, etc. But it is off and on with Passport.

So I emailed my local station WETA and was told - oh Passport doesn't work well with Chromecast (although their ads for Passport say it does) - so sorry.

WTH

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@Isobel Archer So sorry this happened to you.

I fell out of love with PBS several years for reasons too complicated to explain here. But I'll say I don't think they care much about anything but making a buck.

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

@Sooner wrote:
@Isobel Archer So sorry this happened to you.

I fell out of love with PBS several years for reasons too complicated to explain here. But I'll say I don't think they care much about anything but making a buck.

Yes I admit it is also frustrating to see how much they must spend on fundraising. I get at least two or three solicitations a month asking for more.

Cookie2025 · ‎03-10-2010

I love WETA2 but there are issues. I have 3 TV's but only ONE TV will carry channel 265 (Comcast).

I had a routine where I would watch East Enders Saturday morning. I even set my alarm to go off at 8:45 am so I would not miss it.

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

@Sooner wrote:
@Isobel Archer So sorry this happened to you.

I fell out of love with PBS several years for reasons too complicated to explain here. But I'll say I don't think they care much about anything but making a buck.

totally agree

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

@Isobel Archer wrote:
I have supported PBS forever. So I thought I should take advantage of Passport. I don't have a smart TV so I bought Chromecast - for both upstairs and downstairs tvs. This works great with other apps - YouTube, Netlix, Amazon Prime, etc. But it is off and on with Passport.

So I emailed my local station WETA and was told - oh Passport doesn't work well with Chromecast (although their ads for Passport say it does) - so sorry.

WTH

this could help prime day is coming up and you could score a deal on a firestick, have 2 and love them

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

@jackthebear wrote:
@Isobel Archer wrote:
I have supported PBS forever. So I thought I should take advantage of Passport. I don't have a smart TV so I bought Chromecast - for both upstairs and downstairs tvs. This works great with other apps - YouTube, Netlix, Amazon Prime, etc. But it is off and on with Passport.

So I emailed my local station WETA and was told - oh Passport doesn't work well with Chromecast (although their ads for Passport say it does) - so sorry.

WTH
this could help prime day is coming up and you could score a deal on a firestick, have 2 and love them

OK - do they work wih Passport - or will I have similar problems. Because Chromecast works just fine with other apps - no problems at all.

KaySD · ‎08-16-2016

@Isobel Archer wrote:
I have supported PBS forever. So I thought I should take advantage of Passport. I don't have a smart TV so I bought Chromecast - for both upstairs and downstairs tvs. This works great with other apps - YouTube, Netlix, Amazon Prime, etc. But it is off and on with Passport.

So I emailed my local station WETA and was told - oh Passport doesn't work well with Chromecast (although their ads for Passport say it does) - so sorry.

WTH

@Isobel Archer

My experience is totally different. Anyone I call at my local station is generous with their time and help. It's a big city, so that isn't because they don't have a zillion subscribers.

I rely on my computer for Passport and never have problems. I have an apple tv that I attached to my television, so if i can see on my computer, I can it send over to the television, no app needed. Which is good, because I don't get any tv reception off the air or by cable at all.

PBS funding has been under serious threat this year. They're doing their best.

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

@KaySD wrote:
@Isobel Archer wrote:
I have supported PBS forever. So I thought I should take advantage of Passport. I don't have a smart TV so I bought Chromecast - for both upstairs and downstairs tvs. This works great with other apps - YouTube, Netlix, Amazon Prime, etc. But it is off and on with Passport.

So I emailed my local station WETA and was told - oh Passport doesn't work well with Chromecast (although their ads for Passport say it does) - so sorry.

WTH
@Isobel Archer
My experience is totally different. Anyone I call at my local station is generous with their time and help. It's a big city, so that isn't because they don't have a zillion subscribers.

I rely on my computer for Passport and never have problems. I have an apple tv that I attached to my television, so if i can see on my computer, I can it send over to the television, no app needed. Which is good, because I don't get any tv reception off the air or by cable at all.

PBS funding has been under serious threat this year. They're doing their best.

Here is the email exchange:

My email to them:

Most passport programs work on TV using Chromecast, but several don't. For example Line of Separation works fine on my phone, but won't cast to the TV - get error message "something went wrong." Trying to watch some of the Ken Burns shows required trying multiple times before it would work also. I don't have this problem with any other apps that cast to the TV. What am I doing wrong? Can you help? Thanks.

Resonse:

Unfortunately, Chromecast doesn't work well with our PBS app. Sorry

tobes · ‎08-02-2010

@Isobel Archer I enjoy most of the PBS mystery series and don't pay much attention to the feel good, tell you how to live segments. like the travel and food segments. I confess I really don't know what a smart is or does that makes my life better, but I must find out because the family room TV has seen better days. My cable supplier provides an app to watch all its TV offerings on the computer so I usually use my 17 inch computer to watch TV safe and sound in my bed at night.