WIPB

Last updated

WIPB
Ball State PBS.svg
Channels
BrandingBall State PBS
Programming
Affiliations49.1: PBS
49.2: Create
49.3: Weather radar and audio simulcast of WBST
Ownership
Owner Ball State University
WBST
History
First air date
June 14, 1953(70 years ago) (1953-06-14) (as WLBC-TV)
October 31, 1971(51 years ago) (1971-10-31) (as WIPB)
Former call signs
WLBC-TV (1953–1971)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:
49 (UHF, 1953–2009)
Digital:
23 (UHF, until 2019)
CBS (primary, 1953–early 1960s)
ABC (secondary, 1953–1971)
NBC (secondary, 1953–early 1960s,
primary, early 1960s–1971)
DuMont (secondary, 1953–1956)
NTA Film Network (secondary, late 1950s)
Call sign meaning
Indiana Public Broadcasting
Technical information
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 3646
ERP 228 kW
HAAT 246 m (807 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 40°5′37″N85°23′32″W / 40.09361°N 85.39222°W / 40.09361; -85.39222
Links
Public license information
Website ballstatepbs.org

WIPB, virtual channel 49 (UHF digital channel 19), is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station licensed to Muncie, Indiana, United States. Owned by Ball State University, it is a sister station to National Public Radio (NPR) member WBST (92.1 FM). The two stations share studios at the E. F. Ball Communication Building on the university's campus in northwestern Muncie; WIPB's transmitter is located on County Road 50 in rural southern Delaware County (south of Cowan).

Contents

History

UHF channel 49 in Central Indiana

The UHF channel 49 allocation in Central Indiana was originally occupied by WLBC-TV, which signed on the air on June 14, 1953, as a primary CBS affiliate with secondary affiliations with ABC, NBC and DuMont. The station was founded by Don Burton, owner of Muncie radio station WLBC (1340 AM, now WMUN). During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network. [1] WLBC-TV dropped CBS programming in the early 1960s, becoming a primary NBC and secondary ABC affiliate. Burton expanded the WLBC radio facility on 29th Street in southeast Muncie and constructed a 500 feet (150 m) tower outside the building.

Although WLBC served as the NBC and ABC affiliates of record for the Muncie area in the 1960s, the city and surrounding areas received at least Grade B signal coverage from television stations out of Indianapolis, located about 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Muncie—including NBC affiliate WFBM-TV (channel 6, now ABC affiliate WRTV), and ABC affiliate WLWI-TV (channel 13, now NBC affiliate WTHR)—as well as stations from Dayton, about 80 miles (130 km) to the east, and Fort Wayne, roughly 75 miles (121 km) to the north. To make matters worse, WLBC-TV was hampered by low viewership as only a small percentage of Central Indiana area television sets were even capable of receiving UHF stations since set manufacturers were not required to equip televisions with UHF tuners until the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed the All-Channel Receiver Act in 1961; even then, UHF tuners were not included on all newer sets until 1964 and the retail prices for standalone UHF tuners at the time were high. The station eventually started a news department in the 1960s.

WIPB station history

Burton sold the UHF channel 49 license in 1971 to Eastern Indiana Community Television, a local ad hoc nonprofit group led by Gretchen Huff and Sunny Spurgeon, which had been working to apply for a license to operate an educational television station in Muncie. The group converted it into a non-commercial educational license, and changed the station's call letters to WIPB (for "Indiana Public Broadcasting"). Eastern Indiana Community Television subsequently sold the license to Ball State University, which signed on the station on the afternoon of October 31, 1971, as a PBS member station; as part of PBS' Program Differentiation Plan, the network's programming was divided between it and two other PBS members in the Indianapolis market—WFYI (channel 20) and Bloomington-based WTIU (channel 30); they were joined in 1992 by WTBU in Indianapolis (channel 69, now Daystar owned-and-operated religious station WDTI). WIPB, as a non-commercial outlet, briefly operated a news department during the 1980s, producing a daily newscast titled On-Line 49.

On November 1, 2020, WIPB rebranded as Ball State PBS. [2]

Programming

WIPB's claim to fame is having been the station that The Joy of Painting , a half-hour art program hosted by Bob Ross, originated from (except for its first season, which was recorded at WNVC in Falls Church, Virginia) from mid-1983 to 1994. [3] The station also produces Connections Live!, a half-hour weekly magazine program that focuses on the people and places of interest in Central Indiana that connect people to their communities; the program has won four Regional Emmy Awards since 2002.

Trivia

The jingle heard in WIPB's station identifications from the late 1980s was "Logo #7", a stock track composed by Vic Sepanski for the Omnimusic library. It was also utilized by WPSU-TV (then WPSX) around the same time period. As an example, this ID can be found on older recordings of The Joy of Painting.

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect Short nameProgramming [4]
49.1 720p 16:9 WIPB-DTMain WIPB programming / PBS
49.2 480i WIPB-D2Indiana Channel (4 p.m.–7 p.m.) / Create (all other times)
49.3 4:3 WIPB-D3 Weather radar and audio simulcast of Indiana Public Radio

Analog-to-digital conversion

WIPB began broadcasting a digital signal on October 31, 2005. The station shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 49, on February 18, 2009, the day after the original target date for full-power television stations in the United States to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate (which Congress had moved the previous month to June 12). The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 23. [5] [6] Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 49.

Following the transition, WIPB decommissioned its original East 29th Street tower that formerly occupied its analog transmitter, which was dismantled in January 2013; its digital signal operates from a separate 800 feet (240 m) tower located to its south.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWNY-TV</span> CBS affiliate in Carthage, New York

WWNY-TV is a television station licensed to Carthage, New York, United States, serving as the CBS affiliate for the Watertown area. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power, Class A Fox affiliate WNYF-CD. Both stations share studios on Arcade Street in downtown Watertown, while WWNY-TV and WNYF-CD's transmitters are located on the same tower along NY 126/State Street on Champion Hill.

Rocky Mountain PBS is a network of PBS member television stations serving the U.S. state of Colorado. Headquartered in Denver, it is operated by Rocky Mountain Public Media, Inc., a non-profit organization which holds the licenses for most of the PBS member stations licensed in the state, with the exception of KBDI-TV in Broomfield, which serves as the Denver market's secondary PBS station through the network's Program Differentiation Plan. The network comprises five full-power stations—flagship station KRMA-TV in Denver and satellites KTSC in Pueblo, KRMJ in Grand Junction, KRMU in Durango and KRMZ in Steamboat Springs. The broadcast signals of the five full-power stations and 60 translators cover almost all of the state, as well as parts of Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WUFT (TV)</span> PBS member station in Gainesville, Florida

WUFT is a PBS member television station in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is owned by the University of Florida alongside low-power weather-formatted independent station WRUF-LD, NPR member WUFT-FM (89.1), and commercial radio stations WRUF and WRUF-FM (103.7). The five stations share studios at Weimer Hall on the University's campus; WUFT's transmitter is located on Northwest 53rd Avenue in Gainesville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WREX</span> NBC affiliate in Rockford, Illinois

WREX is a television station in Rockford, Illinois, United States, affiliated with NBC. Owned by Allen Media Broadcasting, it is the market's only full-powered VHF station and is Rockford's second oldest television station. WREX's studios and transmitter are located on Auburn Road just west of Rockford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTIU</span> PBS member station in Bloomington, Indiana

WTIU, virtual channel 30, is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station serving Indianapolis, Indiana, United States that is licensed to Bloomington. Owned by Indiana University, it is a sister station to National Public Radio (NPR) member WFIU. The two stations share studios on the Indiana University campus on East 7th Street in Bloomington; WTIU's transmitter is located on Sare Road on the city's southeast side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTTV</span> CBS affiliate in Bloomington, Indiana

WTTV, licensed to Bloomington, Indiana, United States, and WTTK, licensed to Kokomo, Indiana, are television stations affiliated with CBS and serving the Indianapolis area. They are owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Fox affiliate WXIN. The stations share studios on Network Place in northwestern Indianapolis. WTTV's transmitter is located on State Road 252 in Trafalgar, while WTTK's transmitter sits on West 73rd Street on the northern outskirts of Indianapolis.

WISH-TV is a television station in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, affiliated with The CW. It is locally owned by Circle City Broadcasting alongside Marion-licensed MyNetworkTV affiliate WNDY-TV and low-power, Class A getTV affiliate WIIH-CD. The stations share studios on North Meridian Street on the near north side of Indianapolis; WISH-TV and WNDY-TV also share transmitter facilities on Walnut Drive in the Augusta section of the city's northwest side.

WDTI, virtual channel 69, is a Daystar owned-and-operated television station licensed to Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The station is owned by the Indianapolis Community Television subsidiary of Word of God Fellowship, itself a subsidiary of the Daystar Television Network. WDTI's offices are located on Crawfordsville Road in northwestern Indianapolis, and its transmitter is located on Walnut Drive, also on the city's northwest side. It is operated separately from low-powered sister station WIPX-LD in Indianapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNDY-TV</span> MyNetworkTV affiliate in Marion, Indiana

WNDY-TV is a television station licensed to Marion, Indiana, United States, serving the Indianapolis area as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. It is locally owned by Circle City Broadcasting alongside Indianapolis-licensed CW affiliate WISH-TV and low-power, Class A getTV affiliate WIIH-CD. The stations share studios on North Meridian Street on the near north side of Indianapolis; WNDY-TV and WISH-TV also share transmitter facilities on Walnut Drive in the Augusta section of the city's northwest side. Despite Marion being WNDY-TV's city of license, the station maintains no physical presence there.

WPXL-TV is a television station in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, broadcasting the Ion Television network. It is owned and operated by the Ion Media subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company, and maintains offices on Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Cleary Avenue in Metairie; its transmitter is located off Paris Road near the Orleans–St. Bernard parish line.

WNEO is a non-commercial educational television station licensed to Alliance, Ohio, United States. It is simulcast full-time over satellite station WEAO in Akron, Ohio. Both are member stations of PBS and jointly brand as PBS Western Reserve. WNEO is the Youngstown market's PBS station of record, while WEAO provides the Cleveland market with a second choice for PBS programming alongside the market's primary PBS station, WVIZ.

WNED-TV is a PBS member television station in Buffalo, New York, United States. It is owned by the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association alongside NPR member WBFO and classical music radio station WNED-FM (94.5). The three stations share studios in Horizons Plaza at 140 Lower Terrace in downtown Buffalo; WNED-TV's transmitter is located in Grand Island, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTXS-TV</span> ABC/CW affiliate in Sweetwater, Texas

KTXS-TV is a television station licensed to Sweetwater, Texas, United States, serving the Abilene area as an affiliate of ABC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside low-power TBD owned-and-operated station KTES-LD. Both stations share studios on North Clack Street in Abilene, while KTXS-TV's transmitter is located near Trent, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLBC-FM</span> Radio station in Muncie, Indiana

WLBC-FM is a commercial FM radio station in Muncie, Indiana. It is owned by Woof Boom Radio and airs a hot adult contemporary radio format. The radio studios and transmitter are on East 29th Street in the Southside of Muncie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WANE-TV</span> Television station in Indiana, United States

WANE-TV is a television station in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, affiliated with CBS and owned by Nexstar Media Group. The station's studios and transmitter are located on West State Boulevard in the Tower Heights section of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRCG</span> CBS affiliate in Jefferson City, Missouri

KRCG is a television station licensed to Jefferson City, Missouri, United States, serving as the CBS affiliate for the Columbia–Jefferson City market. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station maintains studios and transmitter facilities on US 54 in the nearby town of New Bloomfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCLJ-TV</span> Bounce TV station in Bloomington, Indiana

WCLJ-TV is a television station licensed to Bloomington, Indiana, United States, serving the Indianapolis area as an affiliate of the digital multicast network Bounce TV. It is owned by Inyo Broadcast Holdings alongside Ion Television affiliate WIPX-TV. WCLJ-TV and WIPX-TV share offices on Production Drive in southwestern Indianapolis; through a channel sharing agreement, the two stations transmit using WIPX-TV's spectrum from an antenna on SR 252 in Trafalgar, Indiana.

KRSU-TV is an educational independent television station in Claremore, Oklahoma, United States, serving the Tulsa area. Owned by Rogers State University, the station maintains studios on the university's campus on West Will Rogers Boulevard in Claremore, and its transmitter is located to the adjacent southeast of Oologah Lake in northern Rogers County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMUN</span> Radio station in Muncie, Indiana

WMUN is a commercial radio station licensed to Muncie, Indiana, and serving Delaware County, Indiana. It broadcasts a talk and sports radio format and is owned by Woof Boom Radio Muncie License LLC. WMUN features programming from Fox Sports Radio. The station airs some local talk programming in the morning, and a local hour of sports talk is heard weekdays at 4 p.m. WMUN is the flagship station for Ball State University women's basketball and carries games from the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers. On Friday nights in the fall, WMUN carries local high school football.

References

  1. ↑ "Require Prime Evening Time for NTA Films", Boxoffice: 13, November 10, 1956
  2. ↑ "WIPB-TV is now Ball State PBS". Ball State PBS. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ Kloc, Joe (October 1, 2014). "The Soothing Sounds of Bob Ross". Newsweek.
  4. ↑ RabbitEars TV Query for WIPB
  5. ↑ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ CDBS Print
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.