Reviews of Thirteen Explore

By: WNET

List of user reviews and ratings for Thirteen Explore

Total ratings

3.19 (Rating count: 184)

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Review summary

Users appreciate the quality PBS programming available through the Thirteen Explore app, especially shows like Sanditon and PBS Passport exclusives. However, many reviews highlight persistent issues with Chromecast functionality causing crashes, intrusive ads on Android before every episode, and difficulties with login and subscription management. Stability and navigation problems negatively impact user experience, leading to frustrations about accessing and watching desired content despite liking the show selection.

Pros

The app is capable of playing video on the phone itself without issues for some users.
The show selection, especially titles like Sanditon, is highly regarded and considered worth the membership.
The app provides access to PBS Passport exclusive content, which users value.
Some users find that reinstalling the app can resolve certain issues, indicating potential network or app-specific glitches.
The content quality is frequently praised, with users enjoying the programming offered.

Cons

Chromecast support is broken or crashes consistently on multiple devices; casting attempts often cause the app to crash or fail.
The app shows ads before every episode on Android, which is not the case on iPhone, negatively impacting user experience.
Login and subscription management features are problematic—some users cannot log in or find canceling subscriptions difficult.
The app is often reported as difficult or frustrating to navigate, with dead ends preventing users from watching content.
Frequent video playback errors such as "video cannot be displayed" prevent users from viewing content properly.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 1.80

All time rating average: 3.19

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55% (11)

Date	Author	Comment
2024-03-27	Mi*****	I see that it's a known issue with Chromecast, identified in November. It's march. No fix yet?? I'm trying to cast to Chromecast , and crashes every time.
I see that it's a known issue with Chromecast, identified in November. It's march. No fix yet?? I'm trying to cast to Chromecast , and crashes every time.
2023-11-05	Ma*****	This app crashes every time I attempt to cast to Chromecast. Pixel 6, nothing custom at all. The app seems capable of playing video on the phone, but I am only interested in casting. The single piece of support I found was an email address, which I emailed and have not heard back in over a week. When the app crashes there are no message or logs to attempt any debugging myself. I signed up for a PBS passport account, but cancelling seems to be my only option. Useless.
This app crashes every time I attempt to cast to Chromecast. Pixel 6, nothing custom at all. The app seems capable of playing video on the phone, but I am only interested in casting. The single piece of support I found was an email address, which I emailed and have not heard back in over a week. When the app crashes there are no message or logs to attempt any debugging myself. I signed up for a PBS passport account, but cancelling seems to be my only option. Useless.
2023-10-16	pe*****	Broken with Chromecast, read on their website it supports Chromecast before purchase, just get a blue Chromecast logo on TV, and black screen on phone when I try it.
Broken with Chromecast, read on their website it supports Chromecast before purchase, just get a blue Chromecast logo on TV, and black screen on phone when I try it.
2023-08-16	La*****	Reinstalled the app and now it works like a charm! Could have been a Wi-Fi issue? All's well that ends well.
Reinstalled the app and now it works like a charm! Could have been a Wi-Fi issue? All's well that ends well.
2023-06-03	Ca*****	Shows play well, and Sanditon alone is worth the membership. But on the android version of the app, you have to watch an ad before every episode. On the iphone, I can watch the exact same shows with no ads. So, on the iPhone I can just quickly rewatch a scene I love and look at scenes from multiple episodes in a row. But on the android, you can't since you need to watch an ad every time you open an episode. Quite annoying.
Shows play well, and Sanditon alone is worth the membership. But on the android version of the app, you have to watch an ad before every episode. On the iphone, I can watch the exact same shows with no ads. So, on the iPhone I can just quickly rewatch a scene I love and look at scenes from multiple episodes in a row. But on the android, you can't since you need to watch an ad every time you open an episode. Quite annoying.
2023-03-14	Jo*****	Not very good. I wish to cancel the subscription/ donation membership. Whenever I wanted to watch a series I mostly get " video cannot be displayed. What's the point if I can't watch the programs. :-(
Not very good. I wish to cancel the subscription/ donation membership. Whenever I wanted to watch a series I mostly get " video cannot be displayed. What's the point if I can't watch the programs. :-(
2023-01-29	El*****	I'm trying to watch programs on Passport. Who wd have thought that a PBS offering wd b so impossibly difficult to access? It's a fight each and every time! You guys really MUST DO BETTER than this.
I'm trying to watch programs on Passport. Who wd have thought that a PBS offering wd b so impossibly difficult to access? It's a fight each and every time! You guys really MUST DO BETTER than this.
2023-01-07	Ji*****	Bad rap if you want to watch antique roadshow you shouldn't have to become a member you offered it up for free
Bad rap if you want to watch antique roadshow you shouldn't have to become a member you offered it up for free
2022-05-01	Re*****	Will not let me log in, have uninstalled, updated, contacted help support- nothing.
Will not let me log in, have uninstalled, updated, contacted help support- nothing.
2022-04-26	Na*****	Used to be great on Roku. Now it will not launch. Brief blip of channel icon on screen, then crashes, and back to Roku home screen. Tons of reports on Roku forums, going back months. Consensus is that the developer needs to update the app to work with latest versions of Roku. This app is my only access to Passport, which I pay monthly for. Ready to cancel it at this point.
Used to be great on Roku. Now it will not launch. Brief blip of channel icon on screen, then crashes, and back to Roku home screen. Tons of reports on Roku forums, going back months. Consensus is that the developer needs to update the app to work with latest versions of Roku. This app is my only access to Passport, which I pay monthly for. Ready to cancel it at this point.