Kentucky Educational Television

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"KET" redirects here. For other uses, see KET (disambiguation).

Kentucky Educational Television
TypeNon-commercial educational broadcast television network
BrandingKET (general)
KET: The Kentucky Network (secondary)
Country
United States
TV stationsSee list of stations
(the network is usually carried as the main subchannel)
TV transmittersSee transmitter map
Headquarters600 Cooper Drive, Lexington, Kentucky
Areastatewide Kentucky
OwnerKentucky Authority for Educational Television
ParentCommonwealth of Kentucky
Established1962; 60 years ago (1962)
Launch date
September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23)
Digital channel(s)
See digital channels
Picture format
480i (SDTV) (1968–2008)
720p (HDTV) (2008–present)
Affiliation(s)PBS
Affiliatessee article
Former affiliations
NET (1968–1970)
Official website
www.ket.org

Kentucky Educational Television (branded on-air as KET: The Kentucky Network or simply KET) is a state network of PBS member television stations serving the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is operated by the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television, an agency of the Kentucky state government which holds the licenses for almost all of the PBS member stations licensed in the state, with the exception of WKYU-TV (channel 24) in Bowling Green. KET is the largest PBS state network in the United States;[1] the broadcast signals of its sixteen stations cover almost all of the state, as well as parts of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The network's offices, network center and primary studio facilities are located at the O. Leonard Press Telecommunications Center on Cooper Drive in Lexington, adjacent to the campus of the University of Kentucky (KET has no other direct affiliation with the university). KET also has production centers in Louisville as well as at the Kentucky State Capitol Annex in Frankfort. KET carries national programming from PBS and American Public Television along with a wide range of local programming, basic skills and workplace education.[1]

History[]

Overhead view of transmitter tower in Ashland, belonging to KET satellite WKAS.

Creation of the network[]

KET was founded by O. Leonard Press, a member of the University of Kentucky faculty, who was a pioneer in educational broadcasting. Before coming to the university, Press had developed the weekly broadcast from the National Press Club, which has aired for over half a century. In the mid-1950s, he taped a popular anthropology course, and the response to the telecourses was positive enough for Press and two of his colleagues to consider founding an educational television station at UK. This was a natural choice given UK's history in educational broadcasting. UK had been involved in broadcasting in one form or another since 1921, and operated WBKY (now WUKY), the nation's oldest educational radio station on the FM dial.[2][3][4]

This drive failed, but Press and his colleagues decided to set their sights higher and make a bid for a statewide educational television network along the lines of Alabama Educational Television (now Alabama Public Television). At the time, the only educational station in Kentucky was WFPK-TV (channel 15, now KET outlet WKPC-TV) in Louisville, which signed on the air on September 8, 1958. Before KET signed on, the only other areas of Kentucky that received a clear signal from an educational television station were Northern Kentucky (from WCET in Cincinnati), the Jackson Purchase (from WSIU-TV in Carbondale, Illinois), and certain areas of South Central Kentucky near the Tennessee state line (from WDCN, now WNPT, in Nashville, Tennessee).

The idea gained little momentum until 1959, when Press addressed the local Rotary Club in the state capital of Frankfort and a story about it appeared in The Courier-Journal newspaper. After landing support from UK officials, what was supposed to be a short meeting with Governor Bert T. Combs turned into a proposal to start the state network. The Kentucky Authority for Educational Television was created in 1962 with Press serving as its executive director.[5]

The project made little progress until 1965 when Ashland Oil founder Paul G. Blazer personally acquired the first thirteen transmitter sites and then gifted the sites to the authority. Ownership of the sites led to KET's expanded inclusion in the state budget and eligibility for HEW and Appalachian Regional Commission grants.[6]

First years on air (1968–1989)[]

KET finally went on the air for the first time on September 23, 1968 at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time (6:30 a.m. Central Time).[7] The first broadcast started with Governor Louie B. Nunn speaking at the network's dedication ceremony;[8][9] Nunn himself turned the dial to officially put the network on the air.[7] That first day, eight transmitters opened, at Ashland, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Madisonville, Morehead, Owenton, Somerset, plus two dependent translators at Hopkinsville and Owensboro.[7]

The Hazard, Murray and Pikeville transmitters, construction of which was delayed by weather, were not ready in time for the start of the network; Murray went into service on October 7[10] and the others near the end of the year. Another transmitter had started construction later, WCVN in Covington;[7] it began broadcasting September 8, 1969.[11]

After the initial twelve-transmitter network was completed, three more stations were added. Network reception turned out to be poor in the Louisville area, prompting the network to add WKMJ-TV channel 68 on August 31, 1970. In Paducah, failed commercial station WDXR-TV was donated to the network, rebuilt and returned as WKPD in 1979,[12] and a full-power Owensboro transmitter, WKOH-TV channel 31,[13] signed on February 14, 1980.[14]

Before joining PBS in 1970, KET was a member of its predecessor, National Educational Television, for its first two years of operation, broadcasting some of that network's programs. The first instructional television (ITV) program produced by KET was Kentucky is My Land, which premiered in 1969.[15] Originally operating only during school hours, the network began broadcasting adult education and evening fare in January 1970; by 1975, it was showing programming seven days a week.[16] The network began nightly coverage of the Kentucky General Assembly in 1978.

In 1982, KET Enterprises was created as a syndication arm of KET to develop, acquire and distribute educational programs nationally to and from other PBS affiliated networks.[17]

Star Channels and distance learning[]

From 1988 through the 1990s and early 2000s, KET's Star Channels satellite network brought hundreds of hours of instructional programming and professional development seminars to schools all over Kentucky.[18][19][20] The Star Channels received the national Innovations Award from the Ford Foundation in 1991.[21] KET Star Channels 703 and 704 were eventually converted into satellite-exclusive television channels that were entirely different from the over-the-air KET schedule, similar to those of KET3 and KET4 when they were launched in the early 2000s. Star Channels 703 and 704 were also available to Ku-band free-to-air satellite television users.[22]

Creation of a second service[]

Main article: WKPC-TV

In late 1996, the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television acquired the license for Louisville's then-standalone WKPC-TV from locally based Fifteen Telecommunications, Inc.; WKPC-TV had suffered a series of financial mishaps and had competed with KET for viewers in Louisville. KET's statewide schedule moved to WKPC-TV from WKMJ-TV on July 1. WKMJ went silent on that day for an upgrade on its transmitter; its August 1997 return to the air marked the launch of KET's second service, KET2, which was intentionally made to be tailored to the Louisville metropolitan area.[23][24]

Kentucky's first digital television station[]

WKPC-TV's digital signal, WKPC-DT, was the first KET affiliate to broadcast in digital, and Kentucky's first digital television station. On August 19, 1999, that station's digital signal was turned on by then-Kentucky governor Paul E. Patton as part of the opening day festivities of the Kentucky State Fair.[25][26]

Programming[]

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Kentucky Educational Television

Current programming[]

  • Comment on Kentucky, KET's longest-running public affairs program.[27] It has been in existence since 1974. Series creator and original host, Al Smith, retired from the series in November 2007. It has since been hosted by Ferrell Wellman and Bill Bryant.
  • Kentucky Afield is a magazine, radio show and television program, and is the official publication and television/radio program of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The magazine is a quarterly periodical while the television and radio programs are a 30-minute broadcast, all of which is devoted to the fish and wildlife resources of Kentucky and covers a broad range of outdoor topics, including angling, hunting, conservation and land management.
  • Kentucky Collectibles, a series where participants have their possessions assessed by an appraiser, with hosts Dave Shuffett and Amy Hess discuss with the guests about the valuables.[28]
  • Kentucky Life features profiles of people, places and ideas of Kentucky. It is the most popular show on KET.[29]
  • Louisville Life features events, people, and culture of Louisville.[30]
  • WoodSongs, a show devoted to performances of grassroots music

Former programming[]

In 1987, KET, along with Detroit, Michigan ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV, produced Learn to Read, an adult educational program that teaches reading skills and it was hosted by entrepreneur and literacy advocate Wally Amos. Amos was also the host of another KET-produced adult literacy program, .

Prior to 2002, KET went off the air every night at midnight E.T. (11 p.m. CT). The network used to sign off with the playing of "My Old Kentucky Home", which is the official state song of Kentucky. The film featured scenes from all areas of Kentucky, including Fort Boonesborough, the Jefferson Davis Monument, the Lincoln Birthplace, Kentucky Horse Park, and more.[31]

Stations[]

KET[]

KET, available to all cable subscribers in Kentucky,[32][33] broadcasts locally produced cultural and public information programs about the state, programs produced by independent Kentucky filmmakers, prime time programming from PBS, PBS Kids series, and GED, how-to and adult education programs.[34]

As it is one of a few PBS member state networks[1] encompassing two time zones, KET's programming operates on an Eastern Time Zone schedule; in promos, online guides on the network's website and print advertisements, airtimes within the Central Time Zone (which covers the western part of the state) are identified secondarily, in the manner of the "Eastern/Central" scheduling references used by many national broadcast and cable networks. Most of the KET stations have callsigns beginning with "WK", with the exception of Covington-licensed WCVN-TV.

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 
Download coordinates as: KML
Station City of license
(other cities served) 		Channels
VC / RF 		First air date Call letters' meaning ERP HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates Public license information
WKAS Ashland
(Huntington, WV/
Portsmouth, OH) 		25
36 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Ashland
("Ashland, Kentucky" transposed) 		61.3 kW 137 m (449 ft) 34171 38°27′43.7″N 82°37′11.8″W / 38.462139°N 82.619944°W / 38.462139; -82.619944 (WKAS) Profile
LMS
WKGB-TV1 Bowling Green
(Glasgow) 		53
29 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Green
Bowling
("Bowling Green, Kentucky" transposed) 		54.8 kW 234 m (768 ft) 34177 37°5′22.7″N 86°38′5″W / 37.089639°N 86.63472°W / 37.089639; -86.63472 (WKGB-TV) Profile
LMS
WCVN-TV2 Covington
(Cincinnati, OH) 		54
22 (UHF) 		September 8, 1969 (52 years ago) (1969-09-08) Covington 53.5 kW 117 m (384 ft) 34204 39°1′50.6″N 84°30′23″W / 39.030722°N 84.50639°W / 39.030722; -84.50639 (WCVN-TV) Profile
LMS
WKZT-TV3 Elizabethtown
(Fort Knox) 		23
23 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Elizabethtown
("Elizabethtown, Kentucky" transposed) 		61 kW 178 m (584 ft) 34181 37°40′55.2″N 85°50′31.2″W / 37.682000°N 85.842000°W / 37.682000; -85.842000 (WKZT-TV) Profile
LMS
WKHA Hazard 35
33 (UHF) 		1968 (54 years ago) (1968) Kentucky
Hazard
("Hazard, Kentucky" transposed) 		53.2 kW 369 m (1,211 ft) 34196 37°11′34.2″N 83°11′17.4″W / 37.192833°N 83.188167°W / 37.192833; -83.188167 (WKHA) Profile
LMS
WKLE Lexington
(Richmond) 		46
35 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Lexington
("Lexington, Kentucky" transposed) 		45.8 kW 257.6 m (845 ft) 34207 37°52′45″N 84°19′32.8″W / 37.87917°N 84.325778°W / 37.87917; -84.325778 (WKLE) Profile
LMS
WKPC-TV4 Louisville
(New Albany/
Jeffersonville, IN) 		15
30 (UHF) 		September 8, 1958 (63 years ago) (1958-09-08) No specific meaning[35] 60.3 kW 237 m (778 ft) 21432 38°22′1.6″N 85°49′53.8″W / 38.367111°N 85.831611°W / 38.367111; -85.831611 (WKPC-TV) Profile
LMS
WKMA-TV5 Madisonville 35
31 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Madisonville
("Madisonille, Kentucky" transposed) 		55.1 kW 298 m (978 ft) 34212 37°11′21.3″N 87°30′49″W / 37.189250°N 87.51361°W / 37.189250; -87.51361 (WKMA-TV) Profile
LMS
WKMR Morehead 38
30 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Morehead
("Morehead, Kentucky" transposed) 		51.4 kW 289 m (948 ft) 34202 38°10′38.3″N 83°24′17.2″W / 38.177306°N 83.404778°W / 38.177306; -83.404778 (WKMR) Profile
LMS
WKMU Murray
(Mayfield) 		21
17 (UHF) 		October 7, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-10-07) Kentucky
Murray ("Murray, Kentucky" transposed) 		56.9 kW 187 m (614 ft) 34174 36°41′34.2″N 88°32′10.6″W / 36.692833°N 88.536278°W / 36.692833; -88.536278 (WKMU) Profile
LMS
WKOH Owensboro
(Henderson/
Evansville, IN) 		31
17 (UHF) 		February 14, 1980 (42 years ago) (1980-02-14) Kentucky / Ohio Valley
or
Kentucky / Owensboro / Henderson 		63.3 kW 124 m (407 ft) 34205 37°51′7″N 87°19′44″W / 37.85194°N 87.32889°W / 37.85194; -87.32889 (WKOH) Profile
LMS
WKON Owenton
(Frankfort) 		52
24 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Owenton
("Owenton, Kentucky" transposed) 		49.7 kW 214 m (702 ft) 34211 38°31′31.5″N 84°48′39.4″W / 38.525417°N 84.810944°W / 38.525417; -84.810944 (WKON) Profile
LMS
WKPD6 Paducah 29
23 (UHF) 		May 31, 1971 (50 years ago) (1971-05-31) Kentucky
Paducah
("Paducah, Kentucky" transposed) 		55.7 kW 143 m (469 ft) 65758 37°5′39.7″N 88°40′20″W / 37.094361°N 88.67222°W / 37.094361; -88.67222 (WKPD) Profile
LMS
WKPI-TV7 Pikeville 22
23 (UHF)[36] 		1968 (54 years ago) (1968) Kentucky
Pikeville
("Pikeville, Kentucky" transposed) 		50.4 kW 423 m (1,388 ft) 34200 37°17′6.3″N 82°31′28.3″W / 37.285083°N 82.524528°W / 37.285083; -82.524528 (WKPI-TV) Profile
LMS
WKSO-TV8 Somerset 29
17 (UHF) 		September 23, 1968 (53 years ago) (1968-09-23) Kentucky
Somerset
("Somerset, Kentucky" transposed) 		53.3 kW 429 m (1,407 ft) 34222 37°10′2.6″N 84°49′29.8″W / 37.167389°N 84.824944°W / 37.167389; -84.824944 (WKSO-TV) Profile
LMS
Notes:
  • Aside from their transmitters, the network's stations (except WKLE and WKPC-TV) do not maintain any physical presence in their cities of license.
  • 1. WKGB did not carry the -TV suffix until 1988.
  • 2. WCVN did not carry the -TV suffix until 1983.
  • 3. WKZT did not carry the -TV suffix until 1983.
  • 4. WKPC-TV formerly operated as a stand-alone station; it was owned and operated by several local entities from its 1958 inception up to the time it was acquired by KET in 1997. It used the callsign WFPK-TV from 1958 to 1969 and served as a member of NET from 1958 to 1970.
  • 5. WKMA did not carry the -TV suffix until 1983.
  • 6. WKPD formerly operated as a commercial independent station using the callsign WDXR-TV from its 1971 inception until it ceased broadcasting in 1975. KET rebuilt the station and returned it to the air in 1979.
  • 7. WKPI did not carry the -TV suffix until 1983.
  • 8. WKSO did not carry the -TV suffix until 1989.

Coverage areas[]

Station Signal reach
WKAS northeastern Kentucky (Ashland); Huntington, West Virginia area; Portsmouth, Ohio area[37]
WKGB-TV South-central Kentucky (Bowling Green, Glasgow, Cave City, Mammoth Cave area), far north-central segment of the Nashville, Tennessee media market (including Cross Plains, Portland, and Lafayette (via cable)); also covers the Central City and Beaver Dam areas[38][39]
WCVN-TV most of the Cincinnati, Ohio market (including northern Kentucky, southeast Indiana, southwest Ohio)[40]
WKZT-TV southern portions of the Louisville market (excluding Adair County); also covers Hart County and northeastern Edmonson County.[41][42]
WKHA southeastern Kentucky (Hazard, areas between London and Pikeville); Lee and Wise counties in Virginia[43]
WKLE Central Kentucky (Lexington Metro, Frankfort, Georgetown, Winchester, Richmond and Danville)[43]
WKPC and WKMJ Louisville Metro and surrounding areas (Shelbyville); south-central Indiana (New Albany, Jeffersonville, Salem)[42][44][45]
WKMA Pennyrile region of western Kentucky, including Madisonville, Hopkinsville, Central City, Princeton Cadiz, Eddyville; north side of Clarksville, Tennessee[46][47]
WKMR-TV mainly northeastern Kentucky, including Morehead, grade B coverage available in Ashland and Maysville[43][48]
WKMU Western Kentucky's Jackson Purchase region (Murray, Mayfield, Benton); northwestern Tennessee (including Paris, Union City, Martin, rural western Stewart County)[49][50]
WKOH Owensboro and Henderson; southwest Indiana (including the Evansville area)[47][51]
WKON Owenton, Warsaw, Sparta, areas between Frankfort and Covington, northern suburbs of Lexington, and the Madison, Indiana area[52]
WKPD-TV Paducah area, Jackson Purchase region of western Kentucky; southern Illinois (including Metropolis and Cairo. Covers some of the same areas as WKMU-TV Murray.[49][50]
WKPI-TV southernmost areas of the Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia market including the Pikeville and Paintsville area; southwestern West Virginia; parts of southwestern Virginia[53]
WKSO southeast central Kentucky (Somerset, Danville, Campbellsville, Columbia, Corbin, London); Pickett, Scott and Fentress Counties in Tennessee (including Byrdstown, Oneida, and Jamestown, respectively)[43][54]

Louisville's WKPC and WKMJ are the only KET stations whose transmitters are located outside of Kentucky – both stations' transmitters are located at the Kentuckiana Tower Farm in rural Floyd County, Indiana (north of Floyds Knobs and New Albany). Because of its location and signal strength (according to FCC data), WKPC and WKMJ cover more of the Indiana side of the Louisville market than the Kentucky side. In addition to the reach of WKPC and WKMJ, several of KET's other stations are viewed in significant portions of Kentucky's neighboring states as well.

Kentucky Educational Television is located in Kentucky
Louisville
Louisville
Lexington
Lexington
Cincinnati
Cincinnati
Huntington
Huntington
Nashville
Nashville
Evansville
Evansville
Bowling Green
Bowling Green
Knoxville
Knoxville
Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau
WCVN
WCVN
W20CT-D
W20CT-D
W23DM-D
W23DM-D
WKON
WKON
WKAS
WKAS
WKPC/WKMJ
WKPC/WKMJ
WKMR
WKMR
W28DD-D
W28DD-D
WKLE
WKLE
WKOH
WKOH
WKZT
WKZT
WKPI
WKPI
WKHA
WKHA
WKMA
WKMA
WKSO
WKSO
WKPD
WKPD
WKGB
WKGB
WKMU
WKMU
class=notpageimage|
Map of all of KET's satellites in Kentucky

Translators[]

KET also operates three translator stations:[55]

Station City of license Channels
TV / RF 		First air date ERP HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates Notes
W16EB-D Augusta 38 (PSIP)
16 (UHF) 		October 11, 2007 (14 years ago) (2007-10-11) 0.8 kW 137 m 167571 38°46′4″N 84°0′35″W / 38.76778°N 84.00972°W / 38.76778; -84.00972 (W16EB-D) Relays WKMR
W23DM-D Falmouth 52 (PSIP)
23 (UHF) 		January 12, 2007 (15 years ago) (2007-01-12) 0.8 kW 86 m 167570 38°40′9″N 84°19′35″W / 38.66917°N 84.32639°W / 38.66917; -84.32639 (W23DM-D) Relays WKON
W32FD-D Louisa 25 (PSIP)
32 (UHF) 		January 12, 2007 (15 years ago) (2007-01-12) 0.11 kW 72 m 167569 38°6′36″N 82°36′35″W / 38.11000°N 82.60972°W / 38.11000; -82.60972 (W32FD-D) Relays WKAS

Former translators[]

KET also previously utilized analog transmitters that were shut down before the digital TV translation. They were:

Station Channel City of license Years active Signal repeated
W09AX 9 198?-199? WKHA[56]
W10AR 10[57] Louisa 199?-2009 WKMR[58]
W55AJ 55 Hawesville 198?-199? WKOH[59]
W55AL 55 Tompkinsville 199?-2006 WKSO-TV[58]
W56AT 56 Augusta 199?-2009 WKMR[57]
W56AM 56 Falmouth 199?-2009 WKON
W64AV 64 Hopkinsville 1986–2000 WKMA-TV[60]
W66AH 66 Whitesburg 198?-199? WKHA
W67AN 67 Letcher 198?-199? WKHA[61]

In Augusta, W20CT-D was launched in October 2007 as the companion for W56AT. W28DD-D was the digital companion for W10AR in Louisa. Falmouth's W23DM-D was the digital companion for W56AM.[57]

KET2[]

KET2, based on KET's original Louisville station, WKMJ-TV, airs the national PBS schedule, local programming including shows focused on the Louisville area, children's programs, how-to series, documentaries and public affairs programs.[1] Outside of Louisville, KET2 can be seen on several cable systems across Kentucky as well as on KET's digital signals. It is broadcast in standard definition and is available to 62% of Kentucky's cable subscribers.[33] Originally, WKMJ-TV was the KET translator serving the Louisville market alongside of the independent WKPC-TV; it carried the same programs as in the rest of the state. In 2020, KET2's over-the-air signal was upgraded to 720p HD to match the main KET feed.

Station City of license Channels
VC / RF 		First air date Call letters' meaning ERP HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates Public license information
WKMJ-TV Louisville 68 (PSIP)
34 (UHF) 		September 2, 1970 (51 years ago) (1970-09-02) Kentucky
Media and
Journalism 		61.6 kW 218 m 34195 38°22′1.6″N 85°49′53.8″W / 38.367111°N 85.831611°W / 38.367111; -85.831611 (WKMJ-TV) Profile
LMS

WKMJ did not use the -TV suffix until 1983.

KET KY: The Kentucky Channel[]

KET KY, formerly branded as KET3, which is carried as the third digital subchannel on 15 of the KET stations and on WKMJ-DT2, formerly broadcast all of the state network's educational programming throughout its broadcast day. In January 2008, KET3 was relaunched as KET KY, now broadcasting Kentucky-based issues, heritage, history and culture.[1] The network's educational programming was moved to KET ED in late 2007.

KET KY also broadcasts coverage of the Kentucky General Assembly while it is in session, combining the services previously offered on KET5 and KET6. KET KY presently broadcasts 24 hours a day in standard definition.[33] KET KY also previously broadcast KET HD programming from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight Eastern (7-11 p.m. Central) until Fall 2009.

In 2020, the KETKY over-the-air feed was upgraded to 16:9 widescreen SD from standard 4:3 SD.

KET Kids[]

On December 12, 2016, the fourth subchannel of KET's main satellites were relaunched for the first time since the discontinuation of KET ED, the Educational Channel seven years prior. It was first broadcasting a test pattern. Since January 12, 2017, the DT4 subchannel of all of the KET stations except WKMJ now carries the new 24-hour-a-day PBS Kids channel, with the branding KET Kids. It provides a 24/7 schedule of children's programming. However, both KET and KET2 continue to provide a limited block of PBS Kids programming.[62] It became available to Kentucky's cable providers in March 2017.[63]

In 2020, the KET Kids over-the-air feed was upgraded to 16:9 widescreen SD from standard 4:3 SD.

KET World[]

KET World features programs about world history, featuring programming content sourced from the World network; it is currently available only on the third digital subchannel of KET's secondary Louisville station WKMJ-TV.

Discontinued services[]

KET ED: Education Channel[]

KET ED (formerly branded as "KET4"), formerly offered KET's digital service during primetime hours and programming from the Annenberg Channel at other times. At one time, this service was carried on the fourth digital subchannel of KET's station. From 2007 to 2009, it was re-branded as KET ED, the Education Channel. During that time, professional development and instructional programming, and Annenberg programming was provided 20 hours per day from 12 midnight to 8 p.m. Eastern time (11 p.m. to 7 p.m. Central time), which was previously on KET3 and on Star Channels 703 and 704. In Louisville, this service was also available 24 hours a day on WKMJ's DT3 digital signal, but has since been discontinued in 2009, due to an increase of fees for the usage of the national PBSHD channel by PBS. Instead, KET reinvested the money to acquire new digital equipment, including upgrades to allow the transmission of locally produced and tape delayed programming in high definition. This increase of PBSHD fees has also led to KET scheduling HD programming themselves, rather than merely carrying the national feed on the KET KY channel.

Beginning in the fall of 2009, KET ED provided a feed of K-12 educational programming on KET KY from 1:00 to 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.[33] The KET ED programming block on KET KY was ultimately discontinued in the early 2010s, but the KET ED service remains available as an on-demand video service on KET's website.

KET5 and KET6[]

KET5 and KET6 featured live coverage of the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate respectively on the services, while the state General Assembly was in session. These channels were discontinued in January 2008, when KET realigned its digital programming (see KET KY and KET ED above). As mentioned above, coverage of the General Assembly, while reduced significantly, is still carried on KET KY. In the state capital of Frankfort, however, both the Kentucky House and Senate are seen when in session on local cable provider Frankfort Plant Board, overlapping the slots of C-SPAN3 and NASA TV.[64][65]

Cable and satellite availability[]

In addition to KET's statewide cable television availability, some cable providers along state lines can cover certain areas on both sides of the state lines because of their interstate customer base.

On DirecTV and Dish Network, certain KET stations are also available in the Kentucky-associated media markets in their entireties. WKPD, WKOH, WKPC, WCVN, and WKAS are carried on the respective local feeds in the Paducah/Cape Girardeau, Evansville, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Huntington/Charleston markets. KET2, through WKMJ-TV, is currently available on both satellite providers in the Louisville market only. Currently, in the Bowling Green market, only Dish Network carries the network via WKGB as DirecTV does not provide local channels to that market.[32]

Digital television[]

Digital channels[]

The digital channels of most of KET's stations are multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming
[66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80]
xx.1 720p 16:9 KET Main KET programming / PBS
xx.2 KET2 KET2
xx.3 480i KET KY Kentucky Channel
xx.4 KETKIDS PBS Kids

WKMJ's digital channel uses a different multiplexed lineup from the other fifteen KET stations:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[81]
68.1 720p 16:9 KET2 Main WKMJ-TV programming / PBS ("KET2")
68.2 480i KETKY Kentucky Channel
68.3 KETWRLD World

Analog-to-digital conversion[]

Climbing the analog antenna of WKAS's tower in Ashland.

Although the DTV Delay Act extended the mandatory deadline from February 17 to June 12, 2009, KET shut down the analog signals of all 16 Stations on April 16, 2009.[82][83][84]

Each stations' post-transition digital allocations are as follows:

  • WKAS shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 25; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 26. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 25.
  • WKGB-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 53; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 48. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 53, which was among the high band UHF channels (52-69) that were removed from broadcasting use as a result of the transition.
  • WCVN-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 54; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 24. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 54.
  • WKHA shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 35; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 16. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 35.
  • WKMU shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 21; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 36. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 21.
  • WKOH shut down its analog signal over UHF channel 31; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 30. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 31.
  • WKON shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 52; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 44. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 52.
  • WKPC-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 15; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 17. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 15.
  • WKPD shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 29; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 41. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 29.
  • WKPI-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 22; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 24. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 22.
  • WKSO-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 29; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 14. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 29.
  • WKLE shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 46; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 42. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 46.
  • WKMR shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 38; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 15. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 38.
  • WKMA shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 35; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 42. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 35.
  • WKZT-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 23; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 43. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 23.
  • WKMJ-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 68; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 38. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 68.

KET began broadcasting in high definition from its new high definition production facility in Lexington on October 1, 2009.[84]

On January 29, 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture awarded KET a grant worth $357,700, as part of its Public Television Digital Transition Grant program, to upgrade 20 analog microwave relays for WKSO, WKMR, WKHA and WKPI to digital, in order to provide digital television service to rural areas of Kentucky.[85]

Distance learning[]

KET, among its many educational programs, runs a Distance Learning program. The program features Latin, Humanities, Physics and German language course offerings and offers leveled courses ranging from introductory to advanced placement classes. It's offered primarily for Kentucky high school students for whom it's offered tuition-free. However, out-of-state schools may enroll students in the course for a small tuition fee.

The aim of the program is to provide a full course in the aforementioned subjects for schools who don't offer a particular class. Often schools seek distance learning as a temporary solution in cases of funding cuts, which lead to dismissal of teachers or discontinuation of the teaching of certain subjects altogether. The program also is popular with parents of home-schooled children.

The program was established in 1989; the direct-to-school model became possible after a substantial expansion of the state network's headquarters (now dubbed "The O. Leonard Press Telecommunications Center") and legislative funding to provide a satellite receiver for every school and public library in the state. The course was originally administered and taught via live satellite broadcasts directly into classrooms with two-way keypads for real-time student-teacher interaction. Homework, tests, quizzes and other material were distributed by modem and mail.[19]

Since the mid-1990s, KET's Distance Learning program has migrated from broadcast lessons to instruction via KET's website and multimedia lessons on videotape, CD and DVD.

Funding[]

In 2017, it was reported that KET receives approximately $3.4 million annually from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which amounts to about $0.78 per Kentuckian.[86] Other sources of funding outside of grants include those raised by the Friends of KET (established in 1971), the KET Fund for Excellence (since 1981) and the Commonwealth Fund for KET (since 1995), as well as their annual Telethons, which typically airs in late February/early March since 1974.

KET slogans[]

  • Where the Vision Continues (1988, used in honor of KET's 20th anniversary)[56]
  • Bringing Kentucky Together (1989–early 1990s)[87]
  • Simply The Best! (late 1990s–early 2000s)
  • Explore Kentucky, Explore the World (2007–2016)
  • Where Learning Comes to Life (2016–present)

Bibliography[]

Books[]

  • Press, O. Leonard (2008). The KET Story: A Personal Account. Lexington, Kentucky: The Clark Group. ISBN 978-1-883589-89-9.

References[]

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External links[]

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