WETA-TV

Last updated

WETA-TV
WETA logo (2022).svg
Channels
BrandingWETA PBS
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerGreater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association
WETA (FM)
History
First air date
October 2, 1961(62 years ago) (1961-10-02) [1]
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 26 (UHF, 1961–2009)
  • Digital: 27 (UHF, 1998–2019)
  • NET (1961–1970)
Call sign meaning
Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 65670
ERP 1,000 kW
HAAT 257 m (843 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 38°57′1″N77°4′46″W / 38.95028°N 77.07944°W / 38.95028; -77.07944
Links
Public license information
Website www.weta.org/tv

WETA-TV (channel 26) is the primary PBS member television station in Washington, D.C. Owned by the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, it is a sister station to NPR member WETA (90.9 FM). The two outlets share studios in nearby Arlington, Virginia; [3] WETA-TV's transmitter is located in the Tenleytown neighborhood in Northwest Washington.

Contents

Among the programs produced by WETA-TV that are distributed nationally by PBS are the PBS NewsHour , Washington Week , [4] and several cultural and documentary programs, such as the Ken Burns documentaries [5] and A Capitol Fourth .

History

WETA logo used from 1997 until 2022 Weta no background.png
WETA logo used from 1997 until 2022

In 1952, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated 242 channels for non-commercial use across the United States; channel 26 was allocated for use in Washington, D.C. [6] In 1953, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association (GWETA) was formed to file for a channel 26 construction permit, joining the D.C. Board of Education. [7] The Board of Education would drop its bid in 1954. [8] GWETA credits Elizabeth Campbell with having founded the organization. [9] In the early days, before it was granted a license for its own channel, GWETA produced educational programming for WMAL-TV and WTTG. [10] [11]

An application was finally filed on May 3, 1961, and approved on June 12, for a construction permit for the channel. [12] GWETA was eventually granted a license by the FCC to activate channel 26; WETA-TV first signed on the air on October 2, 1961, with the first televised class being aired on October 16. [13] WETA originally operated out of Yorktown High School in Arlington; [13] the station later relocated its operations to the campus of Howard University in 1964. [12] Rapid growth led a station that had been described as having "a rough time meeting the monthly bills" in 1963 [14] to even pursue thoughts of a second channel in 1965. [15] In 1967, WETA began producing Washington Week in Review (now simply titled Washington Week ), a political discussion program that became the station's first program to be syndicated nationally to other non-commercial educational stations and is now the network's longest-running public affairs program. [16]

Around 1970, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association changed its name to the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association to reflect the oversight of the new WETA (FM). In 1971, the station begin producing shows for the newly-formed National Public Affairs Broadcast Center (later National Public Affairs Center for Television), a group led by PBS for its news programming. [17] [18] In 1972, the producing organization National Public Affairs Center for Television merged into WETA. [19] [20] In 1992, WETA broadcast the first publicized over-the-air high-definition television signal in the United States. [21] In 1995, WETA acquired CapAccess, an interactive computer network. From that acquisition, WETA helped connect public schools, public libraries and local government agencies to the Internet. [22]

In 1996, WETA launched its first national educational project, LD Online, a website that seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD. It was joined in 2001 by Reading Rockets, a multimedia project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. In 2003, Reading Rockets spun off Colorín Colorado, a free web-based service that provides information, activities, and advice for educators, and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners (ELLs). [23] To support the parents and educators of older students who struggle with reading, WETA launched Adlit.org in 2007. AdLit.org is a multimedia educational initiative offering research (articles, instructional strategies, school-based outreach events, professional development webcasts, and book recommendation) to develop teens' literacy skills, prevent school dropouts, and prepare students for the demands of college. [24] Seeing a need to educate the public about brain injuries, in 2008 WETA, in partnership with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, launched BrainLine.org. The site features videos, webcasts, recent research, personal stories, and articles on preventing, treating, and living with traumatic brain injuries. [25]

In 1997, WETA tested its new full-power digital transmitter by broadcasting the first-ever high definition telecast of a live Major League Baseball game to the National Press Club; the digital facility was activated for full-time broadcasting in November 1998. [26]

With the national closure of the PBS Kids network in 2005, WETA did not become a PBS Kids Sprout partner. [27] By April 2006, the station had added World programming to a subchannel prior to its January 2007 launch as a nationwide network. [28] In 2007, WETA started broadcasting a children's channel branded under the name WETA Kids. By February 2009, WETA only aired a daily three-hour children's morning block on its primary channel, clearing the afternoon for general audience programs like Charlie Rose, travel shows, repeats of the previous night's prime time shows, movies, documentaries, and miniseries. [27]

WETA decided to drop Create due to the network moving to being fee-based on July 1, 2012, and perceived lack of programming flexibility. WETA How-To lifestyle programming replaced Create in January 2012. How-To was replaced by WETA UK on July 4, 2012, after an analysis of audience and local viewers' demand for British programs. [29]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WETA-TV [30] [31]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
26.1 720p 16:9 WETA-HDMain WETA-TV programming / PBS
26.2WETA UKWETA UK
26.3 480i KIDS PBS Kids
26.4WORLD World
26.5720pMETROWETA Metro

Channel 26.2, "WETA UK", is a subchannel programmed in-house with a schedule of shows produced in the United Kingdom. Channel 26.5, "WETA Metro", is also produced in-house and focuses on timeshifted rebroadcasts of news programming and reruns that interest a local audience.

Analog-to-digital conversion

WETA-TV shut down its analog signal, on UHF channel 26, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal continued to broadcasts on its pre-transition UHF channel 27, [32] using virtual channel 26.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC News (international TV channel)</span> English-language pay television channel

BBC News is an international English-language pay television channel owned by BBC Global News Ltd.— a subsidiary of BBC Studios—and operated by the BBC News division of the BBC. The network carries news bulletins, documentaries, and other factual programmes; its programming is based out of studios in London, Washington, D.C., and Singapore. As of April 2023, the channel largely operates as an international feed of the BBC News channel in the UK, sharing the majority of its schedule.

WTTW is a PBS member television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Owned by not-for-profit broadcaster Window to the World Communications, Inc., it is sister to commercial classical music radio station WFMT. The two stations share studios in the Renée Crown Public Media Center, located at 5400 North Saint Louis Avenue in the city's North Park neighborhood; its transmitter facility is atop the Willis Tower on South Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop. WTTW also owns and operates The Chicago Production Center, a video production and editing facility that is operated alongside the two stations.

WNET, branded on-air as "Thirteen", is a primary PBS member television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey, United States, serving the New York City area. Owned by The WNET Group, it is a sister station to the area's secondary PBS member, Garden City, New York–licensed WLIW, and two class A stations: WMBQ-CD, and WNDT-CD. The WNET Group also operates New Jersey's PBS state network NJ PBS, and the website NJ Spotlight through an outsourcing agreement.

<i>PBS NewsHour</i> Public television newscast in the United States

PBS NewsHour is an American evening television news program broadcast on over 350 PBS member stations. It airs seven nights a week, and is known for its in-depth coverage of issues and current events. Since January 2, 2023, the one-hour weekday editions have been anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett. The 30-minute weekend editions, branded as PBS News Weekend, have been anchored by John Yang since December 31, 2022.

<i>Washington Week</i> American public affairs television program

Washington Week with The Atlantic is an American public affairs television program, which has aired on PBS and its predecessor, National Educational Television, since 1967. Unlike other panel discussion shows which encourage informal debates as a means of presentation, Washington Week consistently follows a path of civility and moderation. Its format is that of a roundtable featuring the show's moderator and two to four Washington-based journalists. The program is produced by WETA-TV in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHUT-TV</span> PBS member station in Washington, D.C.

WHUT-TV is the secondary PBS member television station in Washington, D.C. The station is owned by Howard University, a historically black college, and is sister to commercial urban contemporary radio station WHUR-FM (96.3). WHUT-TV's studios are located on the Howard University campus, and its transmitter is located in the Tenleytown neighborhood in the northwest quadrant of Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDCW</span> CW TV station in Washington, D.C.

WDCW, branded on-air as DCW 50, is a television station in Washington, D.C., serving as the local outlet for the The CW. It is owned and operated by network majority owner Nexstar Media Group alongside Hagerstown, Maryland–licensed independent station WDVM-TV ; the two stations share studios on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington's Glover Park neighborhood. Through a channel sharing agreement with Univision station WFDC-DT, WDCW transmits using WFDC's spectrum from a tower in the Tenleytown area of Washington's Northwest quadrant.

WNVT is a non-commercial educational television station licensed to Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, United States, serving the Richmond metropolitan area. The station's transmitter is located in the Richmond suburb of Bon Air in Chesterfield County. WNVT is operated in a pair with Culpeper-licensed WNVC, which serves the Charlottesville area from a transmitter atop Carters Mountain. The two stations are owned by Richmond-based VPM Media Corporation, and broadcast programming from World Channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCET (TV)</span> PBS member station in Cincinnati

WCET is a PBS member television station in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The station is owned by the Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation, a subsidiary of Public Media Connect. WCET was the first licensed public television station in the United States. Its studios are located in the Crosley Telecommunications Center on Central Parkway in Cincinnati, and its transmitter is located on Chickasaw Street in the CUF section of Cincinnati. Master control operations are based at the studios of sister PBS member station WPTD in Dayton.

WBGU-TV, virtual channel 27, is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station licensed to Bowling Green, Ohio, United States.

Arkansas PBS is a state network of PBS member television stations serving the U.S. state of Arkansas. It is operated by the Arkansas Educational Television Commission, a statutory non-cabinet agency of the Arkansas government operated through the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which holds the licenses for all of the public television stations based in the state. The commission is managed by an independent board of university and education officials, and gubernatorial appointees representing each of Arkansas's four congressional districts. Along with offering television programs supplied by PBS and various independent distributors, the network produces public affairs, cultural and documentary programming as well as sports events sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA).

Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television stations serving the U.S. state of Louisiana. The stations are operated by the Louisiana Educational Television Authority, an agency created by the executive department of the Louisiana state government which holds the licenses for six of the seven PBS member stations licensed in the state. Louisiana Public Broadcasting's studio facilities and offices are located on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHRO-TV</span> PBS member station in Hampton–Norfolk, Virginia

WHRO-TV is a PBS member television station licensed to both Hampton and Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Owned by the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association (HRETA), a consortium of 21 Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore school systems, it is sister to three public radio stations: WFOS, WHRV, and WHRO-FM (90.3). The stations share studios at the Public Telecommunications Center for Hampton Roads next to the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, while WHRO-TV's transmitter is located in Suffolk, Virginia.

Nebraska Public Media, formerly Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), is a state network of public radio and television stations in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is operated by the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission (NETC). The television stations are all members of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), while the radio stations are members of National Public Radio (NPR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGBH Educational Foundation</span> Public broadcasting organization in Boston

The WGBH Educational Foundation is an American public broadcasting group based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1951, it holds the licenses to all of the PBS member stations in Massachusetts, and operates its flagship station WGBH-TV, sister station WGBX-TV, and a group of NPR member stations in the state. It also owns WGBY-TV in Springfield, which is operated by New England Public Media under a program service agreement.

WKMJ-TV is a PBS member television station in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It is the flagship station for KET2, the second television service of Kentucky Educational Television (KET), which is owned by the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Campbell (television)</span>

Margaret Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell was an American public television executive. Trained as a teacher, she also served as a college administrator and led the first elected school board for the Arlington Public Schools as it attempted to navigate Massive Resistance, then helped found WETA-TV, the first public television station in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Channel</span> American digital multicast public television network (launched 2005)

World Channel, also branded as World, is an American digital multicast public television network owned and operated by the WGBH Educational Foundation. It is distributed by American Public Television and the National Educational Telecommunications Association and features programming covering topics such as science, nature, news, and public affairs. Programming is supplied by the entities, as well as other partners such as WNET and WGBH. It is primarily carried on the digital subchannels of PBS member stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon C. Collins</span>

Leon C. Collins is a media executive, media educator, producer/director, script writer, and photographic artist. Collins is recognized as one of the first prominent African-American public television management pioneers in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PBS</span> American public television network

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a North American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educational programs to public television stations in the United States, distributing shows such as Frontline, Nova, PBS NewsHour, Masterpiece, Sesame Street, and This Old House.

References

  1. ↑ "WETA's First Broadcast". Washington, DC: Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WETA-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ "Television Studios". Washington, DC: Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Ongoing Productions". Washington, DC: Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ken Burns". Washington, DC: Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Second D. C. Group Proposes Filing for Reserved Ch. 26" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 23, 1953. p. 76. Retrieved January 25, 2021– via World Radio History.
  7. ↑ "Educational TV Group Is Organized". Washington Post. March 21, 1953. p. 13.
  8. ↑ Rogers, Jeanne (February 18, 1954). "Lack Of Federal Assistance Cited; Field Is Cleared For Co-op Video". Washington Post. p. 25.
  9. ↑ "Our Founder". Washington, DC: Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Education TV Group Plans 13 Programs". Washington Post. December 10, 1954. p. 29.
  11. ↑ Knoll, Erwin (September 23, 1958). "Thousands View First TV School Science Lesson". Washington Post. p. B1.
  12. 1 2 FCC History Cards for WETA-TV
  13. 1 2 Bowie, Carole (October 17, 1961). "Classroom TV Makes Debut; Result: Comme Ci, Comme Ca". Washington Post. p. B1.
  14. ↑ "Educational TV: what it is, where it's going". Changing Times. Vol. 16, no. 2. February 1963. pp. 38–46.
  15. ↑ "D.C. ETV wants second channel" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 4, 1965. p. 41. Retrieved January 25, 2021– via World Radio History.
  16. ↑ Saxon, Wolfgang (July 20, 2005). "Paul Duke, a Moderator on Public TV, Dies at 78". New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Public broadcasting gets it together" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine . August 30, 1971. p. 46. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ "NPACT hires former NBC newsman" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine . September 27, 1971. p. 38. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Public Affairs Center and Capital's WETA to Join (Published 1972)". The New York Times. April 5, 1972. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  20. ↑ "NPACT, Washington's WETA-TV to merge". Broadcasting Magazine . April 10, 1972. p. 42.
  21. ↑ Burgess, John (March 24, 1992). "Tuning In to a Trophy Technology". Washington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  22. ↑ Swisher, Kara (September 21, 1995). "WETA TO MANAGE CAPACCESS AREA COMPUTER NETWORK". Washington Post. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  23. ↑ ""Colorin Colorado" helps Hispanic parents encourage their children to read". eSchool News. October 22, 2003. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  24. ↑ Kopf, David (November 8, 2007). "AdLit.org Debuts To Help Struggling Adolescents Read, Write". THE Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  25. ↑ "BrainLine.org Confronts Traumatic Brain Injury Crisis" (PDF).
  26. ↑ Moore, Scott (January 29, 1999). "Up in the Air – The High-Definition Deficit". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  27. 1 2 Katy June-Friesen (January 12, 2009). "Many stations packaging their own kids' channels". Originally published in Current. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  28. ↑ Egner, Jeremy (April 3, 2006). "World and Go! streams flow into PBS plans". Current. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  29. ↑ Sefton, Dru (June 11, 2012). "Multicasts tailored to local priorities". Current. American University SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Channel Guide: TV". WETA-TV. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
  31. ↑ "RabbitEars.Info". www.rabbitears.info. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  32. ↑ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Retrieved March 24, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.