VPM is the abbreviation for “Virtual passport management”. It enables Virginia Home’s public broadcast media members to access the organization’s managed access, privileges, and entitlements for users across all systems in their environment.
In general, a VPM Passport gives Virginia’s home of public media extended access to online media broadcast streams via Amazon, Hulu, and the PBS streaming app to binge-watch their favorite programs on-demand.
VPM passport allows Virginia home’s public broadcasting subscribers to access the organization’s services and resources in a safe and controlled manner where only authorized users are allowed to use certain services or not.
This way VPM makes sure that only community members or employees who are supposed to see sensitive data actually do so.
What does VPM Do?
Controls if members or an employee may be granted access to a service by analyzing the groups this member or employee belongs to when accessed from inside or outside of the VPM’s network perimeter (VPN). These are called real user groups (RUGs)
It also manages which console/applications can be used depending on users’ location or devices they are using.
This way, VPM makes sure that only community members or employees who are supposed to see program broadcasts or sensitive data actually do so.
VPM also improves the experience for users by providing them with more relevant content on their devices through smart matching of user location and user group access settings.
To provide personalization, VPM determines the home point of all users (IP address). This enables the right content delivery based on where each member is located at any given time.
How Does VPM Work?
A key component used in VPM Passports is an IP-to-User-Group mapping service which defines if a particular IP address belongs to specific user groups. All our servers run this service as a background task.
What is the difference between PBS passport and Masterpieces?
PBS’s Passport is a VPM passport that allows users to access all PBS services and resources. Masterpiece on the other hand, is a TV channel program broadcast by PBS.
VPM is not required to watch masterpieces; however, masterpieces may be removed or altered within VPM services, so they can only be accessed through VPM
There are different types of passports available at Virginia’s public media service :
1. PBS Passport
This is a VPM passport that allows users to access all public broadcasting services and resources such as watching or listening program broadcasts via Amazon, Hulu, and the PBS app.
2. Masterpiece
Masterpieces is a TV channel dedicated to broadcasting arts and culture-related shows such as documentaries, dramas, series and more. The service will require Virginia’s home of public media (VHOPM) memberships and subscriptions which can be purchased via third parties such as the Apple store or through email registration on VHOPM’s website.
However, membership is not required for those who only want to watch masterpieces without any other additional features available to monthly or annual members/subscribers.
How much does PBS Masterpiece cost on Amazon?
Though most VPM services are available for free, however, there are also premium services that you can access via streaming services and the PBS app at a small subscription cost.
3. PBS Kids
PBS kids can be viewed through a TV or any streaming devices such as Smart TVs, platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, and more. Virginia’s home of public media (VHOPM) memberships and subscriptions are required to use the service which may be purchased from third parties such as the Apple store or through email registration on VHOPM’s website.
However, membership is not required for those who only want to watch masterpieces without any other additional features available to monthly or annual members/subscribers.
PBS kids program broadcast provides all details and setups you need to use Amazon’s VPM services.
Are there any other ways to watch PBS Kids?
As mentioned above, you can use a TV or streaming devices such as Smart TVs, platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, and more which requires monthly memberships/subscriptions that may be purchased from third parties such as the Apple store or through email registration on VHOPM’s website. However, membership is not required for those who only want to watch masterpieces without any other additional features available to monthly or annual members/subscribers.
4. PBS KIDS Video App
This service is a video-on-demand app available through Amazon and Android stores for all existing PBS kids viewers in which membership/subscription is required for use.
Do I need a PBS Kids membership to watch on the app?
Overall, you don’t need monthly memberships/subscriptions in order to watch on the app. Membership is not required for those who only want to watch masterpieces without any other additional features available to monthly or annual members/subscribers.
However, it is important to note that all video-on-demand services may be removed from the service at any time and this can happen more often if using a free version of Amazon’s VPM passport than users who do not have Virginia’s home of public media (VHOPM) subscriptions or materials cannot access these videos which makes them invisible within VPM.
This means that even if you have a free version of PBS kids’ VPM access through your PBS passport, videos may be removed or altered within the service which makes them inaccessible to users who do not have Virginia’s home of public media (VHOPM) memberships/subscriptions.
Is there any way for me to download these shows?
As a general rule, all TV-shows are only available online meaning they cannot be downloaded privately. You can however purchase Masterpiece via the official account on the Apple store if you want to watch it without ads.
How much does the Subscription cost for watching Masterpiece?
Price varies depending on the payment term and subscription period. Price ranges between $5-$8 per month with 1-month, 6-month and 12-month subscriptions.
How much does PBS Kids cost?
PBS kids is offering 6 months membership/subscription package that costs $2.99 per.
You can also purchase the episode you want to watch for $2.99 each or $19.99 for a season pass per user account meaning that if you have more than one child, they will be able to watch PBS Kids on Amazon Fire TV stick as well as on any other devices such as iPhone and iPad using PBS kids’ VPM app at no extra cost.
PBS Kids is offering 3 months membership/subscription package that costs $5.99 per month meaning only $1 before it expires so you don’t need to worry about re-buying your access every month not like some episodes through Masterpiece which means that if your children use multiple devices (one of them probably with an active account), then this is the best children TV app around.
Besides, there is a free trial period of one month available for users who want to try before they buy and PBS Kids membership/subscription package can be cancelled at any time within the Amazon account settings without any fees or hidden charges.
5. PBS KIDS Video App (Android)
PBS kids video-on-demand services are accessible on Android phones using the official PBS kids’ VPM app that can be downloaded via Google Play Store which requires monthly memberships/subscriptions that may be purchased from third parties such as the Apple store or through email registration on VHOPM’s website. However, membership is not required for those who only want to masterpieces without any other additional features available to monthly or annual members/subscribers.
Is there a limit to the number of devices I can use?
As a whole, you can watch video on multiple devices with PBS kids’ VPM app and Amazon Fire TV stick without device limits. This means that every user account will be able to watch but only one episode at a time meaning you have to buy each episode if it’s not included in the season pass option.
Masterpiece can currently be watched on multiple devices but can only be downloaded onto one device at a time meaning if you download an episode to your iPad, then remove it to download the same episode again on another device, this means that there is no limit to the number of devices you can use for watching Masterpiece.
PBS kids VPM app supports unlimited downloads which means you can download each episode as many times as you want or watch them offline when traveling which makes PBS kids’ VPM app better than the Amazon Fire TV stick in terms of child safety precautions because children won’t be able to accidentally delete an episode once they’re finished watching it and will require both screens (TV screen and iOS/Android device) at all times giving parents peace of mind while children are distracted.
