Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about NMPBS? We’ve got answers! Explore our FAQ page for helpful information and quick solutions. If what you are looking for isn't listed, please visit our Contact page to leave a message or call us for further assistance.
If you’re looking for 24/7 answers to your questions, visit PBS Help.
What's the best way to help your local PBS Station?
CollapseUltimately, donating directly to your local station is the most impactful. Becoming a sustaining member ensures we continue providing for our community.
You can also support your local station by watching/streaming regularly, staying caught up with us on our socials, attending an upcoming event or spreading the word about the importance of public media. If NMPBS is not your local station, find one that is nearest to you!
How can I contribute to NMPBS?
ExpandYou can donate to NMPBS online, by phone, or by mail.
- To contribute online, visit www.nmpbs.org and click the “Donate” button.
- To contribute by phone, call our Member Services team at 505-277-2922.
- To contribute by mail, send contributions to NMPBS Membership, 1200 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Check or money orders should be made payable to NMPBS.
We accept checks, credit or debit cards, direct banking withdrawal, and cash. You may also be able to set up automatic bill pay or payroll deduction by providing NMPBS’s information to your bank or employer.
How can I update my contact information?
ExpandContact us with your old and new details through our contact form or call 505-277-2922. You can also set up online records access by visiting our self-service website. Online records access is separate from your Passport account, so you will need to create a separate login.
How can I update my payment information and/or contribution amount?
ExpandTo update your giving amount only, you can email memberservices@nmpbs.org with your new preferred amount. To update payment information securely, contact Member Services at 505-277-2922. You can also update online with an online records access account by visiting our self-service membership web portal. Online records access is separate from your Passport account, so you will need to create a separate login.
What is your mailing address for donations?
ExpandContributions can be mailed to NMPBS Membership, 1200 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. You can use your own envelope or any return envelope that you have received from NMPBS.
How can I learn more about philanthropic giving?
ExpandDonations of $1000 or more are part of our major donor Leadership Circle. For more information about the Leadership Circle, visit our major giving webpage or contact us through the form on that page.
How can I renew my membership?
ExpandYou can renew an existing membership with any of the methods above. Our computer system will use the contact information that you provide to connect your current contribution with any existing membership record and renew the membership. If your name or address has changed since your last contribution, please let us know.
How do I cancel my membership?
ExpandContact us through our contact form or call 505-277-2922 to cancel your membership. You can also set up online records access by visiting our self-service website. Online records access is separate from your Passport account, so you will need to create a separate login.
Can I give membership as a gift?
ExpandYou can set up a gift membership online, by phone, or by mail. We will need the donor’s information to process your contribution (name, address, card/check/etc.) and the recipient’s information to receive membership information (name, address, email). If giving online, fill out the contribution form with the donor’s information and include the recipient’s information in the “Questions/Comments?” box, along with a phrase such as “This is a gift membership for….”
What are your hours?
ExpandOur Member Service line is available 8 AM – 5 PM, except holidays. Our Member Services voicemail is available after hours and weekends. Please leave us a message with your name, number, and a brief description of your inquiry so that we can get back to you as soon as possible.
Can I donate a vehicle?
ExpandNMPBS can accept donations of cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, boats, and more. To learn more, visit our CARS giving webpage or call our vehicle team at 877-97-NMPBS
Can I donate real estate?
ExpandNMPBS can receive donations in the form of land, residential, and commercial real estate assets. Visit our real estate donation webpage for more information.
Can I donate stock?
ExpandYou can make a donation of appreciated securities that may provide an immediate tax deduction and savings on capital gains taxes. Visit our webpage on alternate giving for more information.
How can my employer match my gift?
ExpandMany employers match gifts to NMPBS from current and retired employees. For additional information about employer gift matching, visit our matching gifts webpage.
How can I include NMPBS in my estate plan?
ExpandFor information about planned giving, visit our estate planning information page.
New Mexico PBS is proud to announce that we have partnered with Giving Docs to offer viewers a free online estate planning tool. Through this tool you can write your will and other important documents from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Giving Docs even makes it easy to support NMPBS and other causes that you care about. To learn more and create your account, visit our Giving Docs webpage.
How can I give from an IRA/QCD? What is NMPBS’s tax ID number?
ExpandYou or your financial institution will need this information:
New Mexico PBS operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization under the University of New Mexico Foundation, so contributions can be made to the UNM Foundation and designated for New Mexico PBS; any checks should be made payable to New Mexico PBS. The Tax ID number is 85-0275408, and the best mailing address to use is New Mexico PBS, Attn: Theresa Spencer, 1200 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. If you need more information, contact us on our contact form.
Please make sure that checks issued by a financial institution include the donor’s name(s).
What is a Sustainer membership?
ExpandSustaining pledges are ongoing monthly payments that will continue until you contact NMPBS to cancel or change. Sustaining pledges can be set up via credit, debit, or EFT (automatic banking withdrawal). We also offer Annual Sustaining giving, in which you are automatically charged once per year. Annual Sustainers receive a reminder of the upcoming payment 5-10 days before the charge.
Can Sustainers or renewing members still get pledge drive thank-you gifts?
ExpandSustaining and renewing members are welcome to request a thank-you gift each year. You can watch our on-air fundraising drives or check our online donation page for a list of current gifts.
Contact us or call 505-277-2922 when you’ve decided on a gift or for more information about available choices.
How do I get the Ventana program guide by mail?
ExpandDonors giving $40 or more per year are eligible to receive the monthly Ventana by mail.
The monthly Ventana is also available digitally on our website.
I’m a current member. Why didn’t my Ventana arrive this month?
Expand- If your address has changed, please make sure that we have your updated information.
- Our mailing list is compiled early in the month due to printing deadlines. If you recently started a new membership or renewed after expiring, you may have missed this month’s mailing list cutoff. Please contact us for a copy of the current issue.
- If you previously opted out of Ventana or other paper mail, that setting may still be in place. Please contact us to update your record.
- Unfortunately, a few copies of Ventana do get lost in the mail. Please contact us for a replacement.
The monthly Ventana is also available digitally on our website.
When will I get my thank-you gift?
ExpandThank-you gifts usually arrive within 6-8 weeks of your contribution. You will also receive tracking information via email when your gift is shipped. Thank-you gifts are shipped from a warehouse offsite and cannot be collected from the NMPBS offices except by special arrangement.
What is NMPBS Passport? How do I access it after donating?
ExpandNMPBS Passport is a donation based member benefit. NMPBS Passport allows you to access thousands of hours of extended content with the blue “NMPBS Passport” icon. All NMPBS Passport shows are available to stream on the PBS app. Donate today to receive instant access to NMPBS Passport.
After making your donation you will receive further instructions on how to activate NMPBS Passport from your confirmation email.
Log into your smart TV or favorite device after you've activated and start watching your favorite shows.
The PBS app is currently available on a variety of devices:
- Roku
- Apple iPhone and iPad
- Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K
- Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire Stick
- Android mobile and tablet
- Android TV
- Google TV streaming devices and TVs
- Google Chromecast
- Samsung Smart TV (2017 models and later)
- VIZIO SmartCast TV
- Comcast Connected TV Devices, which include: Comcast X1 Box, Comcast Flex Box and Xfinity Xumo Stream Box
- NEW! LG Smart TV (2022 models and newer)
How can I stream with NMPBS Passport?
ExpandDonors contributing $60 or more per year are eligible for extend streaming access with NMPBS Passport. For more details about how to stream, visit our How to Watch Us page. If you are a donor and haven’t received your Passport access information via email, visit the Passport Lookup tool.
Where do I obtain my activation code for my NMPBS Passport membership?
ExpandBefore you can use your new NMPBS Passport membership benefit, you must first activate your benefit.
After making your donation, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a link to activate and set up NMPBS Passport.
You can Create an Account or Sign In to manage your new membership benefit. Use your account to log in and access your new NMPBS Passport benefits on a device of choice.
Not sure if you've already activated your account? Use the Member Lookup to access your PBS Passport membership information. If you still need assistance, reach out by using our contact form.
What is the MemberCard?
ExpandMembers giving $72/year or more are eligible for NMPBS MemberCard discounts. All benefits are accessed digitally. Members receive an access code via email for the MemberCard mobile app. If you haven’t received your code, check your email for a message with the subject, “Unlock your NMPBS membership benefits.” For more information, visit our Membercard webpage.
Will I get a tax receipt?
ExpandNMPBS sends tax receipts in February for the previous year. You can also access your tax receipt with an online records access account by visiting our self-service web portal. Online records access is separate from your Passport account, so you will need to create a separate login. Contact Member Services for additional help.
Can I stop paper mailings?
ExpandYou can choose to receive NMPBS correspondence including the Ventana viewer guide, Member Insider newsletter, and annual renewal notices via email instead of paper mail. Contact Member Services at memberservices@nmpbs.org or 505-277-2922 to change your preferences.
What is the PBS app? How is it different from broadcast television?
ExpandThe PBS app is a free app that you can download to your smart tv, phone or tablet to watch PBS programming. Most current and past PBS shows are available approximately 2 weeks after broadcast.
Our programs are available for broadcast across your favorite providers on various channels and some streaming partners:
Comcast Cable:
- KNME-SD 5.1 is on Channel 5
- KNME-HD 5.1 is on Channel 220
- FNX 5.3 is on Channel 393
- NMPBS 24/7 Kids Channel on 5.2 is on Channel 396
- WORLD 5.4 is on Channel 204
- CREATE SD 5.5 is on Channel 397
To access 5.4 or 5.5 on Comcast you'll need an HD digital converter box from Comcast. Call Comcast customer service at 505-344-0690 or 1-866-928-9135.
DirecTV:
- KNME-SD 5.1 is on Channel 5
- KNMD 5.4 and Create-TV 5.5 are not currently available on DirecTV.
DirecTV Stream:
NMPBS content is now live streaming on DIRECTV STREAM. A dedicated live channel for NMPBS is already available to all local DIRECTV STREAM customers, supplemented with additional PBS on-demand programming that will continue to expand PBS’s digital footprint and offer viewers additional ways to stream PBS content.
Dish:
- KNME-HD 5.1 is on Channel 5
- KNMD-HD 5.4 is on Channel 9
- Create-TV 5.5 is not currently available on Dish.
Hulu + Live TV:
Visit the Hulu + Live TV website for more information.
Over the Air:
To receive New Mexico PBS channels over the air, you'll need a UHF-VHF digital antenna and a digital tuner. Rescan your digital tuner or converter box. If you are having difficulty receiving New Mexico PBS' over the air signal: Unplug your television or converter box, then re-plug. Rescan for channels with the menu button on your remote.
Sparklight (Formerly Cable One) (Rio Rancho):
- KNME-SD 5.1 is on Channel 5
- KNMD-SD 5.4 is on Channel 9
- KNME-HD 5.1 is on Channel 1005
YouTube TV:
NMPBS content is now available on YouTube TV, a Live TV and on demand subscription service that provides viewers another way to enjoy the great PBS content they love on even more platforms. YouTube TV subscribers will also have access to a rich library of on-demand content from PBS (NMPBS Channel 5.1) and PBS KIDS (NMPBS Channel 5.2) through YouTube TV’s VOD service.
Watch Online:
Visit the PBS website to watch your favorite local and national programs online; anywhere, any time.
What devices are supported for the PBS app?
ExpandThe PBS app is currently available on a variety of devices:
- Roku
- Apple iPhone and iPad
- Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K
- Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire Stick
- Android mobile and tablet
- Android TV
- Google TV streaming devices and TVs
- Google Chromecast
- Samsung Smart TV (2017 models and later)
- VIZIO SmartCast TV
- Comcast Connected TV Devices, which include: Comcast X1 Box, Comcast Flex Box and Xfinity Xumo Stream Box
- NEW! LG Smart TV (2022 models and newer)
The How to Watch Us page also has helpful tips and guidance for getting it set up on your device.
What happened to my favorite show?
ExpandSimilar to other streaming platforms, rights for shows can change throughout time. Some shows can also be available only for streaming or only for broadcast. Contact us and we can help find your favorite show and if it is currently available. If it is not available, we can also suggest shows that are similar on broadcast or on the PBS app.
I'm having trouble receiving your channels over the air. What should I do?
ExpandCheck our website for any posted messaging for issues that we are aware of on our end. Please send us a message through our contact form for further assistance.
Does NMPBS offer sponsored ads or post on their website or social media?
ExpandNo, we do not.
I think something on your website is broken. Who do I contact to fix it?
ExpandLeave a message, either on the contact page or on the teal “Feedback” tab on the right side of your screen, detailing what is not functioning. Thank you for helping our website stay accessible!
I tried to submit a message on the contact page, but it won't let me progress and submit. What should I do?
ExpandMake sure to complete the math question included at the bottom of your contact message. This is to help stop spam. If it still doesn’t work, contact us at (505) 277-2121.
