The PBS integration is available by invitation, for public media stations with a PBS Passport agreement. Contact Outpost to request access.
What syncs
Sync direction is one-way: PBS to Outpost. When a PBS member’s Passport status changes, Outpost updates their tier access accordingly.
How it works
- A visitor clicks the PBS login button on your site.
- They are redirected to PBS to sign in with their PBS account.
- If required, they complete the PBS VPPA (Video Privacy Protection Act) agreement.
- Outpost creates or updates a member record using their PBS profile information.
- If the member has an active PBS Passport membership, Outpost assigns them to the configured premium tier with the matching expiration date.
- The member is signed into your Ghost site automatically, and returns to the page they started from if your theme passes that page’s address along with the PBS sign-in link. Otherwise they land on your site’s home page.
Setup
1
Request access
Contact Outpost to request the PBS integration for your site. Outpost enables it for you, then it appears on your Integrations page.
2
Obtain PBS OAuth credentials
You will need a Client Id and Client Secret from PBS for the OAuth login flow, plus your Station Id and VPPA Application Id.
3
Configure MVault access
Provide your MVault Token so Outpost can look up Passport membership status for your members.
4
Set the Outpost API connection
Enter your Outpost API URL and Outpost API Auth Token to enable video and show import features.
5
Map a tier
Select which Outpost tier PBS Passport members should be assigned to when they have an active membership, in Passport Ghost Tier.
6
Connect
Go to Integrations and Core Connections → Integrations and select PBS Integration. Enter your credentials in the Credentials panel, then click Connect to activate the integration.
Configuration options
Passport membership sync
Outpost periodically checks PBS MVault for updated memberships. When a member’s Passport status changes (for example, if they renew or their membership expires), Outpost updates their tier assignment and membership end date automatically. If a member’s Passport expiration date extends beyond their current Outpost membership end date, Outpost updates the end date to match.Video and show imports
From the PBS API Actions panel in the integration settings, you can trigger imports of PBS video content and shows into your site. Enter the ID in Show or Video ID, choose an action from the Action dropdown, and select Run. Outpost imports the associated content, including episodes, specials, extras, and previews.FAQ
What is PBS Passport?
What is PBS Passport?
PBS Passport is a member benefit that provides extended on-demand access to PBS programming. The PBS integration checks whether your members have an active Passport membership and grants them access to your premium tier accordingly.
What is the VPPA agreement?
What is the VPPA agreement?
The Video Privacy Protection Act requires member consent before sharing video viewing data. When a member signs in via PBS for the first time, they may be redirected to accept the VPPA agreement before continuing.
Do members need a PBS account to access my site?
Do members need a PBS account to access my site?
No. The PBS login is an additional sign-in option. Members can still sign up and access your site through Outpost’s standard sign-up and login flows.
What happens when a Passport membership expires?
What happens when a Passport membership expires?
Outpost sets the membership end date based on the Passport expiration. When that date passes, the member’s complimentary tier access ends according to your normal Outpost expiration rules.
How often does Outpost check for Passport membership updates?
How often does Outpost check for Passport membership updates?
Outpost checks PBS MVault for updated memberships on an hourly schedule and syncs any changes to member records automatically.
Where does a member land after signing in with PBS?
Where does a member land after signing in with PBS?
Back on the page they started from, as long as your theme passes that page’s address along with the PBS sign-in link. If it doesn’t, or the address points off your site, the member lands on your site’s home page instead.