Lost in the debate over the federal defunding of PBS and NPR is a truth that penny-pinching families have known for years: Its streaming service, Passport, is among the best deals in the business.
At $5 a month or $60 a year, Passport offers dramas, documentaries and educational programming you won’t find on other platforms — at a fraction of the cost of the biggest names in the business. Netflix’s ad-free plan is an eye-popping $17.99 monthly or $215.88 a year, while Disney Plus is $15.99 each month or $191.88 annually — and, of course, those prices climb almost as quickly as the corner-station gas.
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Even better, Passport steers clear of the R-rated and mature fare that dominates Netflix and Disney Plus, all the more since Disney’s merger with Hulu.
I discovered Passport several years ago while searching for a streaming version of Ken Burns’ “Civil War” masterpiece — only to learn it was otherwise available only on expensive DVDs or old VHS tapes I had no interest in buying.
Passport, though, did carry “Civil War” — along with dozens of other Burns titles that piqued my interest, including “The Roosevelts,” “Lewis & Clark,” “The Vietnam War,” “The National Parks,” “Baseball” and even one called “Country Music.”
I signed up for Passport … and soon became hooked.
It includes the library of popular PBS programs, which means it features hundreds of episodes of shows like “Nova,” “American Experience,” “Frontline,” “Antiques Roadshow,” “Rick Steves Europe” and “Great Performances.” It carries dramas such as “Grantchester” and “All Creatures Great and Small.”
It also includes the library of one of the greatest series on the planet, “Nature,” with hundreds of episodes from its 43 seasons — all highlighting the wonder of God’s creation, even if He’s never mentioned. If you want to watch a show on hummingbirds, it’s but a click away. Same with ones on elephants and tigers and even snow monkeys.
Concerns?
Of course, Passport is not without its concerns. Christian families no doubt will run into worldview concerns from time to time, with nature programming promoting an evolutionary framework — although usually only briefly — and cultural programming that sometimes tilts left. (“American Experience” released a program on the Stonewall riots, the 1969 uprising that served as a turning point in the LGBT debate.) Then again, every mainstream streaming platform — especially Netflix and Disney Plus — includes programming that clashes with a Christian worldview, and typically at a much steeper price.
But for families who are fans of history, nature and PG-style dramas, Passport is a gold mine. It also allows you to watch a live stream of your local PBS station, an added benefit for those who have cut the cord and are unable to get it through the antenna.
One more thing: Passport does not include PBS’ popular children’s shows. To access that full library, families will need to subscribe to PBS Kids.
What else?
Also worth watching this month for families:
Despicable Me/Despicable Me 2 (Netflix) — A notorious supervillain named Gru is transformed into a good guy when he adopts three adorable children (“Despicable Me”) and then when he meets his future wife (“Despicable Me 2″). It’s a hilarious animated franchise with a marvelous redemptive arc. Rated PG.
The King of Kings (Home Video) — A young Charles Dickens tells his son a captivating bedtime story about the greatest king of all time: Jesus. This animated film was a box office hit and is one of 2025’s best family movies. Rated PG.
The Prince of Egypt (Netflix) — An adopted prince returns to the place he once called home to deliver a message to its leader: Let God’s people go. “The Prince of Egypt” was a Bible-based animated blockbuster in 1998 thanks to its inspiring message and soaring music.
The Bad Guys 2 (Home Video) — Reformed ex-criminal animals are pulled into a fresh adventure that tests whether they’ve truly left their heist-filled pasts behind. Rated PG for action/mild violence, rude humor and language (one single use of a–).
EDITOR’S NOTE — Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and entertainment for two decades. He is the husband to a wonderful wife, Julie, and the father of four school-aged children.
