KAKM
KAKM, virtual channel 7 (VHF digital channel 8), is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station licensed to Anchorage, Alaska, United States. Owned by Alaska Public Media, it is sister to National Public Radio (NPR) member station KSKA (91.1 FM). The two outlets share studios at the Elmo Sackett Broadcast Center on the campus of Alaska Pacific University; KAKM's transmitter is located near Knik, Alaska.
 | |
| Anchorage, Alaska United States | |
|---|---|
| Branding | Alaska Public Television |
| Slogan | Life. Informed. |
| Channels | Digital: 8 (VHF) Virtual: 7 (PSIP) |
| Affiliations | 7.1: PBS 7.2: Create 7.3: 360 North 7.4: PBS Kids |
| Owner | Alaska Public Media |
| Licensee | Alaska Public Telecommunications, Inc. |
| First air date | May 7, 1975 |
| Call sign meaning | Anchorage Kenai Matanuska |
| Sister station(s) | KSKA, KYUK-LD |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 7 (VHF, 1975–2009) |
| Transmitter power | 50 kW |
| Height | 240 m (787 ft) |
| Facility ID | 804 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 61°25′19.8″N 149°52′27.8″W |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Public license information | Profile CDBS |
| Website | www |
| Juneau, Alaska United States | |
|---|---|
| Branding | see KAKM infobox |
| Slogan | see KAKM infobox |
| Channels | Digital: 10 (VHF) Virtual: 3 (PSIP) |
| Affiliations | 3.1: PBS 3.2: Create 3.3: 360 North 3.4: PBS Kids |
| Owner | Capital Community Broadcasting, Inc. |
| Operator | Alaska Public Media |
| First air date | October 1, 1978 |
| Call sign meaning | Unknown |
| Sister station(s) | KTOO, KNLL, KRNN |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 3 (VHF, 1978–2009) |
| Transmitter power | 1 kW |
| Height | −363.7 m (−1,193 ft) |
| Facility ID | 8651 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 58°18′4.8″N 134°25′13.6″W |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Public license information | (satellite of KAKM) Profile (satellite of KAKM) CDBS |
KAKM was the only PBS station in Alaska that was not part of AlaskaOne during its existence. The call letters were chosen to represent the three major geographic areas served by the station: Anchorage, Kenai, and Matanuska.
KAKM operates a full-time satellite station, KTOO-TV (virtual channel 3, VHF digital channel 10), licensed to the capital city of Juneau. This station is owned by Capital Community Broadcasting as a sister to non-commercial FM radio stations KTOO (FM), KNLL, and KRNN, but is operated by Alaska Public Media. KTOO's transmitter is located in downtown Juneau. KTOO was formerly part of AlaskaOne, until its dissolution in 2012.
History
KAKM first started regular transmissions on May 7, 1975. Previously, PBS programming had been offered to Anchorage stations on per-program basis. (For example, Sesame Street was carried on KTVA [channel 11], Mister Rogers' Neighborhood on KIMO [channel 13, now KYUR], and The Electric Company on KENI-TV [channel 2, now KTUU-TV]).
KAKM became the flagship station of Alaska Public Television, the successor to AlaskaOne, replacing KUAC-TV in Fairbanks, on July 1, 2012.[1] As a result, KTOO-TV became a full-time satellite of KAKM. The other AlaskaOne station, low-power television station KYUK-LD (channel 15) in Bethel, also rebroadcasts KAKM, but it broadcasts the Alaska Rural Communications Service on its second digital subchannel in place of Create.
Station presentation
KAKM's former "Line 7" logo, in blue
KAKM's former "Line 7" logo, in mauve
KAKM's former "Line 7" logo, with sister station KSKA
Digital television
The stations' digital signals are multiplexed:
KAKM digital channels
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | KAKM-HD | Main KAKM programming / PBS |
| 7.2 | 480i | Create | Create | |
| 7.3 | 4:3 | KAKM7.3 | 360 North | |
| 7.4 | 1080i | 16:9 | 24_7HD | PBS Kids |
KTOO-TV digital channels
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | AK PBS | Main KTOO-TV programming / PBS |
| 3.2 | 480i | Create | Create | |
| 3.3 | 360Nort | 360 North | ||
360 North provides statewide coverage of Alaska public affairs, documentaries, historical programs, and Native topics. Originating at KTOO-TV, 360 North replaced Gavel to Gavel Alaska, which televised the Alaska Legislature.[3]
Analog-to-digital conversion
Both stations shut down their analog signals 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:[4]
- KAKM shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 7; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 8. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 7.
- KTOO shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 3; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 10. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 3.
Translators
KAKM and KTOO extend their over-the-air coverage through a network of translator stations.
| Call sign | Community of license | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| K05FW-D | Girdwood, Alaska | FCC |
| K07PF-D | Homer, Alaska | FCC |
| K12LA-D | Kenai, Alaska | FCC |
| K21AM-D | Ninilchik, Alaska | FCC |
| K48AC-D | Kasilof, Alaska | FCC |
| Call sign | Community of license | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| K02QM-D | Lemon, Alaska | FCC |
| K07PF-D | Mendenhall Valley, Alaska | FCC |
| K09OQ | Wrangell, Alaska | FCC |
References
- "Split in Alaska public TV consortium". Television Business Report. December 9, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- RabbitEars TV Query for KAKM
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-28. Retrieved 2009-01-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24.