WTVS

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WTVS
Detroit Public TV Logo.svg
Detroit, Michigan
Branding Detroit Public TV
Channels Digital: 43 (UHF)
Virtual: 56 (PSIP)
Affiliations PBS
Owner Detroit Educational Television Foundation
First air date October 3, 1955
Former channel number(s) Analog:
56 (1955-2009)
Former affiliations NET (1955-1970)
Transmitter power 600 kW
Height 318 m
Facility ID 16817
Transmitter coordinates 42°26′52″N 83°10′23″W / 42.44778°N 83.17306°W / 42.44778; -83.17306
Licensing authority FCC
Public license information: Profile
CDBS
Website www.dptv.org

WTVS, branded as Detroit Public TV, is the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member Public television station in Metro Detroit, Michigan. Broadcasting since 1955, its vision statement is "educate, entertain and inspire — in partnership with our community." The viewer supported station produces many local programs including Get Up! Get Out, In the Frame: Exploring the DIA, Leaders on Leadership, American Black Journal, and Am I Right among others. It is also a leading producer of fundraising programs for PBS. Detroit Public TV partners with Detroit Public Schools by managing WRCJ-FM with a classical and jazz music format. The station is located inside the Detroit School of Arts. The station's President and General Manager is Rich Homberg and Richard Rassel presides as Chairman, Board of Trustees. WTVS is also one of only three stations that mention Windsor and London as among their primary viewing areas, with the other two being WDIV, and WMYD.

Its transmitters are located in suburban Oakland County with its studios and offices in the Riley Broadcast Center and HD Studios in Wixom.[1] It also has a satellite studio in the Maccabees Building in Midtown Detroit.[2] Previously the studios were in the New Center area of Detroit which are now served for its fixed satellite services.[3][4] It is one of five local Detroit TV stations seen in Canada on Shaw Broadcast Services and the Shaw Direct satellite provider. WTVS broadcasts its digital signal from the same tower as WMYD Channel 20 and WWJ-TV Channel 62 at 8 Mile and Meyers Road in Oak Park, Michigan at a height of 1073 feet (327 m). Prior to the digital TV switchover, WTVS transmitted its signal from a 1,000-foot (300 m) tower located near the intersection of 11 Mile and Inkster Roads in Southfield along with WMYD (channel 20) and WKBD (channel 50). Today, only WKBD-TV and WPXD broadcast from that tower.

Contents

Digital Television [edit]

WTVS's digital channel is 43, using PSIP to display its virtual channel as 56. it is multiplexed into the following digital subchannels. Many newer television receivers also list WTVS subchannels 43.177 and 43.193. These are from the UpdateTV service.

Channel Name Video Aspect Programming
56.1 WTVS-HD 1080i 16:9 Main WTVS programming / PBS
56.2 WTVS-SD 480i DPTV Plus (PBS Satellite Service)
56.3 WTVSSD2 4:3 Create

WTVS permanently turned off its analog signal on April 16, 2009, at 12:05 p.m. eastern time, after presenting the national anthems of Canada and the USA. WTVS had cited repeated failures of their 28 year old transmitter as a reason for ending the analog transmissions on April 16 rather than June 12 (the analog had failed seven times just since January 1, 2009 alone).

On October 12, 2009 WTVS upgraded to a new 600 kW transmitter, tripling its old power and vastly increasing its coverage area.[5]

WTVS also has plans for a Mobile DTV feed of subchannel 56.1.[6][7]

Coverage [edit]

WTVS is carried on most cable systems in Southeast Michigan, Southwestern Ontario and parts of the British Columbia Southern Interior.

WTVS was carried by the Cancom system since 1983 as the PBS signal for Canadian cable television systems too distant to receive a border station over-the-air. It developed a strong base of Canadian viewer support in all provinces and territories.

External links [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Contact Us." WTVS. Retrieved on December 8, 2012. "Contact Us Riley Broadcast Center and HD Studios 1 Clover Court Wixom, MI 48393-2247"
  2. ^ "Detroit Public TV opens Midtown studio." Model D. Tuesday March 22, 2011. Retrieved on December 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Driving Directions." WTVS. Retrieved on December 8, 2012.
  4. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions." WTVS. February 4, 2005. Retrieved on December 8, 2012. "Detroit Public Television 7441 Second Avenue Detroit, MI 48202"
  5. ^ WTVS Detroit Public TV Digital TV information page
  6. ^ http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atscmph
  7. ^ http://www.mdtvsignalmap.com/