> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.outpost.pub/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# PBS Integration

> Connect PBS member accounts with your Outpost site to enable single sign-on and sync PBS Passport membership status.

The Public Broadcast System integration links PBS member accounts to your Outpost site. Members can sign in using their PBS account, and Outpost automatically syncs their PBS Passport membership status — granting or extending access to your premium content tier based on their PBS membership.

## What syncs

| PBS Data                                  | Outpost Data                            |
| ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| PBS account (name, email)                 | Member record                           |
| PBS Profile ID                            | Member metadata                         |
| PBS Viewer ID                             | Member metadata                         |
| PBS Passport UID                          | Member metadata                         |
| Passport membership status and expiration | Tier assignment and membership end date |

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

1. A visitor clicks the PBS login button on your site.
2. They are redirected to PBS to sign in with their PBS account.
3. If required, they complete the PBS VPPA (Video Privacy Protection Act) agreement.
4. Outpost creates or updates a member record using their PBS profile information.
5. If the member has an active PBS Passport membership, Outpost assigns them to the configured premium tier with the matching expiration date.
6. The member is signed into your Ghost site automatically.

## Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="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**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure MVault access">
    Provide your **MVault API token** so Outpost can look up Passport membership status for your members.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the Outpost API connection">
    Enter your **Outpost API URL** and **auth token** to enable video and show import features.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Map a tier">
    Select which Outpost tier PBS Passport members should be assigned to when they have an active membership.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect">
    Go to **Settings → Integrations → Cascade PBS** and enter all credentials. Click **Connect** to activate the integration.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Configuration options

| Setting                              | Description                                                             |
| ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Client ID / Client Secret**        | PBS OAuth credentials for the member login flow.                        |
| **Station ID**                       | Your PBS station identifier.                                            |
| **VPPA Application ID**              | Application ID for PBS VPPA compliance checks.                          |
| **MVault Token**                     | API token for querying PBS Passport membership data.                    |
| **Tier**                             | The Outpost tier to assign to members with active Passport memberships. |
| **Redirect URL / VPPA Redirect URL** | URLs PBS redirects members to after login and VPPA agreement.           |

## 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 integration settings, you can trigger imports of PBS video content and shows into your site. Enter a PBS video or show ID and Outpost will import the associated content, including episodes, specials, extras, and previews.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What is PBS Passport?">
    PBS Passport is a member benefit that provides extended on-demand access to PBS programming. The Cascade PBS integration checks whether your members have an active Passport membership and grants them access to your premium tier accordingly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>