Pioneer Public TV
 | |
| KWCM: Appleton, Minnesota KSMN: Worthington, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| Branding | Pioneer Public Television |
| Slogan | Proudly Serving (area town) |
| Channels |
Digital: KWCM: 10 (VHF) Virtual: 10 (PSIP) Digital: KSMN: 15 (UHF) Virtual: 20 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels | (see article) |
| Translators |
K20JY-D 20 Olivia K27KN-D 27 Alexandria K44AE-D 44 Willmar K49FA-D 49 Fergus Falls |
| Affiliations | PBS |
| Owner | West Central Minnesota Educational Television Company |
| First air date |
KWCM: January 21, 1966[1] KSMN: March 2, 1997 |
| Call letters' meaning |
KWCM: Southern MiNnesota |
| Former channel number(s) |
KWCM: 10 (VHF, analog, 1966–2009) KSMN: 20 (UHF analog, 1997–2009) KWCM: 31 (UHF digital, –2009) |
| Former affiliations | NET (1966–1970) |
| Transmitter power |
KWCM: 200 kW (digital) |
| Height |
KWCM: 290.1 m (digital) |
| Facility ID |
KWCM: 71549 KSMN: 71558 |
| Transmitter coordinates |
KWCM: 45°10′3″N 96°0′2″W / 45.16750°N 96.00056°W KSMN: 43°53′52″N 95°56′50″W / 43.89778°N 95.94722°W |
| Website | www.pioneer.org |
KWCM-TV is the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member Public television station for southwest and west-central Minnesota. The station is licensed to the town of Appleton, and airs on digital channel 10, which is also its virtual channel. It operates a full-time satellite, KSMN-TV (digital channel 15, virtual channel 20) in Worthington. It is operated by the West Central Minnesota Educational Television Company.
Together, the two stations are known as Pioneer Public Television. Signals from the stations can also be received in parts of Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota. Several other translators carry the signal into other communities.
KWCM went on the air for the first time on February 7, 1966. In the early years, it repeated the signal of KTCA-TV in the Twin Cities. It adopted the Pioneer Public Television name in 1982, and added KSMN in 1997.
The station is available on the DirecTV and Dish Network feeds for the Twin Cities and Sioux Falls markets. Appleton is part of the Twin Cities market, while Worthington is part of the Sioux Falls market.
KWCM and KSMN's broadcasts are now digital-only, effective 9pm June 12, 2009.[2]
Digital channels
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xx.1 | 720p | 16:9 | KWCM-HD/KSMN-HD | Main programming / PBS |
| xx.2 | 480i | Create | Create | |
| xx.3 | KWCM-MN/KSMN-MN | Minnesota Channel | ||
| xx.4 | KWCM-WD/KSMN-WD | World | ||
| xx.5 | PTVKids | PBS Kids |
Pioneer-produced shows
Some locally produced shows include Postcards, Prairie Sportsman, Funtime Polka, Your Legislators, Country Spires and programs produced with the University of Minnesota Morris, Prairie Yard and Garden, Academic Challenge, Echoes of Cry of the Marsh and Minnesota Rivers and Fields. Some of these shows have also been shown on the Minnesota Channel, a statewide network originated at KTCI 17 Twin Cities which carries local programs on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Broadcast Translators
A network of digital translators in western Minnesota extends the reach of the primary KWCM and KSMN signals.
- K20JY-D 20 Olivia
- K27KN-D 27 Alexandria
- K44AE-D 44 Willmar
- K49FA-D 49 Fergus Falls
References
- ↑ The Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook says KWCM signed on February 7, while the Television and Cable Factbook says it signed on January 21.
- ↑ http://www.morrissuntribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=16452§ion=News