KCTS-TV
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KCTS-TV is a public television station in Seattle, Washington, that is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), that broadcasts on analog channel 9; digital broadcasts are on channel 41. Its offices and broadcasting center are located at the northeast corner of Seattle Center. Its transmitter is located 1.9 miles east on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA.
KCTS's broadcasts will be digital-only, effective June 12, 2009.[1]
History
KCTS first went on the air on December 7, 1954, broadcasting from the campus of the University of Washington and using equipment donated by KING-TV owner Dorothy Bullitt.
During the 1950s and 1960s, KCTS primarily supplied classroom instructional programs used in Washington State's K–12 schools, plus National Educational Television programs. Outside of schoolrooms, KCTS' audience among the general public was somewhat limited, and most programming was in black-and-white until the mid-'70s.
In 1970, National Educational Television was absorbed into the newly created Public Broadcasting Service. Under PBS affiliation, KCTS began offering a vastly enhanced scope of programming for the general public, including British programming. KCTS is perhaps most known for producing/distributing the popular PBS Kids show Bill Nye The Science Guy, as well as other programs such as Students By Nature (not a PBS-disrtibuted program), and The Miracle Planet, among other shows.
KCTS moved to its present location on the Seattle Center campus in 1986. KCTS became independent of the University of Washington in 1987.
KCTS is seen throughout southwestern British Columbia on local cable systems, as well as across Canada on the Bell TV and Star Choice satellite providers, as well as on many other Canadian cable TV systems. KCTS receives substantial financial support from its far-flung Canadian audience as well as from viewers in Washington State.
Since 1994, KCTS has also operated KYVE Yakima, Washington which has served central Washington since November 1, 1962. Prior to branding in the early 2000s of KYVE as a KCTS affiliate, some programs included a combined KCTS/KYVE visual bug in the lower-right corner of the screen, indicating they were simulcast to both markets.
KCTS also operates a cable television service known as KCTS Plus, currently carried on Seattle area cable systems. KCTS Plus runs 24-hour Classic Arts Showcase programming.
Until late-2006, KCTS used a logo similar to the ones used by Detroit's WTVS and Houston's KUHT. These stations are members of LARK International, a public-television production company, which owns the sunburst-on-square logo; however, they are not related to each other.
Transmitter Failure
On December 23, 2006 one of KCTS's analog transmitters failed, leaving the station no other choice but to operate at 158 kW, about half their licensed power. They requested a Special Temporary Authority from the FCC, and it was granted on February 20, 2007. On August 2, 2007 they have requested an extension of the STA. They also have the transmitter parts on order from NCE Japan.
Translators
KCTS is rebroadcast on the following translator stations.
- K03FA Channel 3 Issaquah
- K18AD Channel 18 Wenatchee
- K40AE Channel 40 Cashmere / Leavenworth
- K61BI Channel 61 Neah Bay
- K69BE Channel 69 Ellensburg (Moving to Ch. 17)