WKPC-TV
WKPC-TV, virtual channel 15 (UHF digital channel 30), is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station licensed to Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Owned by the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television, the station is operated as part of the statewide Kentucky Educational Television (KET) network. WKPC-TV's transmitter (like those belonging to several other Louisville stations, including sister WKMJ-TV) is located at the Kentuckiana Tower Farm at Floyds Knobs, in Floyd County, Indiana. WKPC and WKMJ are the only KET-owned stations whose transmitters are outside Kentucky's borders.
 | |
| Louisville, Kentucky United States | |
|---|---|
| Channels | Digital: 30 (UHF) Virtual: 15 (PSIP) |
| Branding | KET (general) KET: The Kentucky Network (secondary) |
| Slogan | Where Learning Comes to Life |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations | 15.1: KET/PBS 15.2: KET2 15.3: KY Channel 15.4: KET PBS Kids |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Kentucky Authority for Educational Television |
| Sister stations | WKMJ-TV |
| History | |
| First air date | September 8, 1958 |
| Former call signs | Analog: WFPK-TV (1958–1969) Digital: WKPC-DT (1999–2009) |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 15 (UHF, 1958–2009) |
| Former affiliations | NET (1958–1970) |
| Call sign meaning | W Kentucky Public Communications |
| Technical information | |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 21432 |
| ERP | 60.3 kW 58 kW (CP) |
| HAAT | 237 m (778 ft) 266.1 m (873 ft) (CP) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 38°22′1″N 85°49′54″W |
| Links | |
| Public license information | (satellite of WKLE, Lexington, Kentucky) Profile LMS |
| Website | www |
History
WKPC-TV first went on the air on September 8, 1958. It formerly operated as a standalone station owned by the city of Louisville. It used the call sign WFPK-TV from 1958 to 1969 and served as a member of National Educational Television (NET) from 1958 to 1970.
In 1997, the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television acquired the license for WKPC-TV from locally based Fifteen Telecommunications, Inc. August 1997 saw the launch of KET's second service, KET2, which was intentionally tailored for the Louisville metropolitan area.[1][2]
Digital television
WKPC-TV's digital signal, WKPC-DT, was the first KET affiliate to broadcast in digital, making it Kentucky's first digital television station. On August 19, 1999, the station's digital signal was turned on by then-Kentucky governor Paul E. Patton during the opening ceremonies of the Kentucky State Fair.[3][4]
Digital channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.1 | 720p | 16:9 | KET | Main KET programming / PBS |
| 15.2 | 480i | 4:3 | KET2 | KET2 |
| 15.3 | KET KY | Kentucky Channel | ||
| 15.4 | KETKIDS | PBS Kids |
Analog-to-digital conversion
On April 16, 2009, WKPC-TV turned off its analog signal over UHF channel 15 as part of the mandatory analog-to-digital television transition of 2009. 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.
Spectrum auction results
WKPC currently holds a construction permit to reallocate its digital signal onto UHF channel 30. This is part of the network's participation in the 2016–17 FCC Spectrum incentive auction.
See also
References
- KET Milestones (1997–1998) Archived from the original May 6, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- Press Release (May 30, 1997). "KET Acquires WKPC/Channel 15 License". KET. Archived from the original July 22, 1997. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- KET Milestones (1999–2000). Archived from the original May 6, 2001. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- Experience the Future with KET. Archived from the original May 1, 2001. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- Digital TV Market Listing for WKPC
External links
- Official website
- WKPC in the FCC's TV station database
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WKPC-TV