Jump to content

Kentucky Educational Television

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kentucky Educational Television
Programming
Subchannels
  • .1: KET
  • .2: KET2
  • .3: Kentucky Channel
  • .4: PBS Kids
AffiliationsPBS, APT
Ownership
OwnerKentucky Authority for Educational Television
History
First air date
September 23, 1968 (56 years ago) (1968-09-23)
Links
Websiteket.org

Kentucky Educational Television (KET) is a statewide television network serving the U.S. commonwealth of Kentucky, a member of PBS. It is operated by the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television, an agency of the Kentucky state government, which provides more than half of its annual funding. KET is the dominant public broadcaster in the commonwealth, with transmitters covering the vast majority of the state as well as parts of adjacent states; the only other PBS member in Kentucky is WKYU-TV (channel 24) in Bowling Green. KET is the largest PBS state network in the United States; 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; KET also has production centers in Louisville and at the Kentucky State Capitol Annex in Frankfort.

The plan for a statewide educational broadcaster was first conceived in 1959 by O. Leonard Press, who served as the founding director for the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television when it was established in 1962 and remained with KET for three decades. Broadcasting began on September 23, 1968, and the network grew into a force in educational, cultural, and public affairs broadcasting in the state. Some of its educational programs, such as distance learning and adult education, attracted national interest. In 1997, KET took over WKPC-TV, which had formerly been a separate public television station in Louisville; in the years that followed, KET became the first digital broadcaster in Kentucky. In addition to offering national programming from PBS and other distributors, KET produces programs on Kentucky public affairs and culture as well as educational content. One of its four channels is the Kentucky Channel, which covers the Kentucky General Assembly. Beyond state government support, it receives funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and supporting viewers.

History

[edit]
A red-and-white tower topped by a red cylindrical antenna
The KET tower in New Albany, Indiana, broadcasts WKPC-TV and WKMJ-TV to the Louisville area.

Creation of the network

[edit]

Interest in educational television in Kentucky existed but was later compared to some other states. In 1953, an educational figure in Louisville told Bill Ladd of The Courier Journal, "I just hope that Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee don't get so far ahead of us that we can't ever catch up. I hope that Kentucky doesn't start off 48th in educational television."[1] While Jefferson County, home to Louisville, began the process to build what became WFPK-TV (now WKPC-TV) on channel 15 in 1957, and the station signed on the next year,[2][3] the impetus for what became KET came on July 22, 1959, when O. Leonard Press, the director of the radio department at the University of Kentucky (UK)—owner of educational radio station WBKY, on air since 1940—proposed a statewide educational television network that would include studios at the university, interconnection with other universities, and a transmitter system to deliver educational programs to schools. This service was conceived along the lines of Alabama Educational Television, which had started in 1955 as the first statewide educational network.[4] Press touted a system incorporating WFPK-TV as well as complete coverage of the Commonwealth with the capacity to "stamp out illiteracy" and ensure universal teaching of basic school subjects.[5] He also pushed for the entire network to be built at once to ensure that rural areas, which most needed such a service, were just as well-served as Kentucky's population centers.[6]

The network took an important step forward when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agreed to designate 10 new UHF television channels in the state for non-commercial educational use in August 1961; the original design did not include the transmitters at Elizabethtown or Owenton (as the existing WFPK-TV was included), though it did provide for programs to originate from Lexington, Louisville, or Murray.[7] The plan gained the support of governor Bert T. Combs,[8] and the 1962 Kentucky General Assembly passed a trio of bills to set up the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television, enable the State Board of Education to lease facilities, and allow the state to issue revenue bonds to finance construction.[9] It was hoped to begin KET broadcasts by December 1963,[10] but difficulties mounted, including the refusal of the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction (MPATI) to sign a contract to furnish programs until schools enrolled in its service.[11] In October 1963, the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television applied for the first construction permits to build the network after clarifying grant rules that initially seemed to make the state government ineligible for funding from the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.[12]

However, a two-year setback was experienced in 1964 when the General Assembly—which budgets on a biennial basis—refused to fund construction of the transmitters.[13] Other state needs were prioritized: in education, these included issues in Jefferson County, low teacher pay, and transportation problems.[14] Planning activities continued during the period. The Elizabethtown transmitter had been added to the proposed network by 1965, when a feature article in the Sunday Herald-Leader noted that Kentucky's plan for transmitter construction had been adopted by other states, notably Georgia.[15] Schools, meanwhile, continued to depend on sources such as MPATI and commercial stations in bordering states, such as WSAZ-TV in Huntington, West Virginia. However, MPATI increased its fees,[15] and WSAZ-TV dropped the mathematics program it was carrying due to scheduling difficulties, affecting 2,700 students in eastern Kentucky.[16] Schools in south-central Kentucky continued to utilize educational programs from WDCN-TV in Nashville, Tennessee;[17][18][19] Glasgow had been among the charter users of WDCN educational programming when it began in 1962,[20] and Bowling Green followed suit in 1964.[21]

The 1966 General Assembly budget provided the necessary funds to start work on building KET by including a $359,000 appropriation.[22] Another impetus was given by the Stuart Blazer Foundation, set up by Ashland Oil founder Paul G. Blazer in memory of his deceased son. The foundation began buying and deeding transmitter sites to the state, beginning with the Somerset site in April 1966.[23][24] Federal matching funds were applied for and received from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Appalachian Regional Commission,[25] while the FCC granted the 12 construction permits later in the year.[26][27] After awarding WCVN-TV in Covington in late September,[28] the commission awarded the remaining construction permits in November, the largest single award of permits to one applicant in its history.[29] Ground was broken on the Lexington production center in June 1967,[30] followed by bids for the equipment needed at the studios and transmitters.[31]

By May 1968, work on the Lexington and Somerset transmitters had been completed,[32] and KET had announced its initial array of 19 in-school programs, mostly for elementary school students.[33][34] However, site problems snarled work in Covington. Ashland Oil had provided property in the Taylor Mill area, though the city of Covington also provided sites.[35] However, Taylor Mill met with citizen protest despite being approved by the city council, while sites in Covington would interfere with a new instrument landing system for the Greater Cincinnati Airport.[36][37] As a result, KET opted to return to Taylor Mill, in spite of opposition whipped up by a local housewife who fretted the facility would be a hazard to aviation and generate interference to reception of other TV stations.[38]

The O. Leonard Press years (1968–1992)

[edit]

KET finally went on the air for the first time on September 23, 1968,[39] at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time (6:30 a.m. Central Time).[40] The first broadcast started with Governor Louie B. Nunn speaking at the network's dedication ceremony;[41][42] Nunn himself turned the dial to officially put the network on the air.[40] That first day, eight transmitters opened, at Ashland, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Lexington, Madisonville, Morehead, Owenton, Somerset, plus two dependent translators at Hopkinsville and Owensboro.[40] Initially unable to produce its own programs, the original set of courses broadcast by KET were leased or purchased from other producers.[43][44][45]

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,[46] and the Hazard and Pikeville transmitters went on the air near the end of the year. WCVN-TV in Covington began broadcasting on September 8, 1969.[47] Approximately 72 percent of the state's school districts were equipped to utilize KET programs at launch, a figure that grew to 85 to 90 percent within a year.[48] After exclusively providing programs for schools, KET initiated evening broadcasting utilizing programs from National Educational Television on January 6, 1969, a delay that allowed time to train personnel and complete the studio setup.[49][50][51] KET transitioned to become a member station of PBS in 1970 upon its creation.[52] That same year, it debuted its first instructional series, the 17-lesson Kentucky Is My Land for use in 7th-grade history classes.[53]

After the initial twelve-transmitter network was completed, three more stations were added between 1970 and 1980. Network reception turned out to be poor in the Louisville area,[54] prompting the network to launch WKMJ-TV channel 68 on August 31, 1970.[52] In Paducah, unsuccessful commercial station WDXR-TV was donated to the network; it was rebuilt and returned as WKPD in 1979,[55] and a full-power Owensboro transmitter, WKOH-TV channel 31,[56] started operating on February 14, 1980.[57] After the sign-on of WKOH, the network was broadcasting over a total of 15 transmitters throughout the state and on eight low-power translator stations, primarily in eastern Kentucky.[58] By this time, however, the production of programs from studios at the state universities had ceased except for taped content, with Lexington serving as KET's only studio site.[59] KET began to receive PBS programming via satellite on April 15, 1978.[60]

During the 1970s, KET also matured in the area of programming and structure. Friends of KET, a non-profit volunteer organization supporting KET's fundraising, was incorporated in 1971.[61] Three years later, Comment on Kentucky, one of KET's flagship public affairs shows, debuted.[62] In March 1975, KET broadcast the network's first telethon, dubbed Festival '75, a 10-day-long programming schedule that temporarily converted the network to an alternative channel to commercial outlets; this was done in hopes for the network's regular programming schedule to expand to a seven-day schedule.[63] Three months later, KET began broadcasting seven days a week with the debut of a Saturday schedule.[64] In 1978, KET initiated nightly coverage during the sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly.[61] In expanding its public affairs remit, KET had to deal with political controversy, notably around its legislative coverage.[65]

These increased public affairs and other programs did not detract from KET's educational mission. By 1977, 75 percent of Kentucky schools used KET programming, primarily in elementary classes, including 99.3 percent of the state's special needs students. The network produced a GED adult education series sold to stations in 25 states and the Department of Defense.[66] The nationally regarded GED program in several iterations has continued to be a part of KET. In 1989, country musician Waylon Jennings earned his GED by watching tapes of the KET programs on his tour bus.[67]

The early 1980s were a time of budget cuts for many public broadcasters, including KET. The network was in part insulated by a timing quirk: federal construction credits from the new facilities in Paducah and Owensboro accrued to KET in 1980 and 1981 and offset most of the state's budget cuts.[68] Despite this environment, Press continued to push for ambitious expansion. KET etc. began broadcasting on Lexington's new cable system in 1981 with adult education programs as well as replays of KET programming.[69][70] In order to make the service more widely available in Lexington and statewide on translators, KET applied for the then-open commercial channel 62 in the area,[71][72] but after three commercial groups also sought the channel,[73] KET withdrew its proposal in June 1982.[74] Despite budget cuts, Press was reluctant to cede to commercializing inroads. KET did not air regular annual pledge drives until 1981,[75] and underwriting announcements were modest and did not use company logos.[76]

I think of us as an educational institution that uses television as its method of reaching its clientele. Our business is education, not broadcasting. Broadcasting is just our means of accomplishing our mission.

O. Leonard Press[77]

Later in the decade, Press proposed that KET begin satellite delivery of its in-school programming directly to schools.[77] This system began to take shape in 1988 under the name KET Star Channels. Schools were outfitted with satellite dishes as well as keypads designed to provide two-way communication between instructors in Lexington and students throughout the state, inspired by a football play predictor game at a Lexington sports bar;[78] KET reached an agreement with the maker, NTN Communications, to use its technology.[79] Additionally, ground was broken on an expansion to the KET facility.[80] The first Star Channels course, on statistics and probability, was taught in January 1989 to 24 Kentucky high schools and another 41 high schools in 16 states.[81][82] The program was then rolled out statewide in the wake of the Kentucky Supreme Court finding the state's education system unconstitutional.[83] Star Channels attracted international attention, including delegations from China and Kuwait.[78]

In 1990, the General Assembly established the KET Fund for Independent Productions, a grant program to support the development of independent films in Kentucky.[84]

Press announced his retirement from KET effective June 30, 1992.[85] He would be replaced by Virginia Gaines Fox of Campbellsville, whom Press had hired to KET at the network's launch in 1968.[86] By his retirement, Press had been honored as national public television manager of the year[87] and had also served as chair of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters and the PBS board of directors and the vice chair of the National Association of Public Television Stations.[88] That October, KET opened a 67,000-square-foot (6,200 m2) expansion of its Lexington facility, which was dedicated as the O. Leonard Press Telecommunications Center in this honor.[87]

Acquisition of WKPC-TV and digitalization

[edit]

Since opening WKMJ-TV in 1970, KET had competed with Louisville's WKPC-TV for viewers and supporters in that market. Attempts in the 1980s to reduce the duplication of programming between WKPC and KET had been largely unsuccessful.[89][90] However, WKPC's owner, locally based Fifteen Telecommunications, Inc., had suffered a series of financial mishaps in the 1990s.[91] As a result, in April 1996, the WKPC-TV board of directors opted to begin pursuing a merger into KET.[91]

An agreement was reached between WKPC-TV and the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television in December 1996,[92] by which KET acquired certain technical assets, including the land on which their shared transmission tower in New Albany, Indiana, sat, and the license.[93] On July 1, 1997, KET's main programming moved to WKPC-TV. WKMJ-TV simultaneously suspended operations for a transmitter overhaul;[94] it returned a month later at increased power, carrying a new service called KET2, which was designed with the Louisville metropolitan area in mind and initially featured additional children's programs, adult education programming and local productions.[95] Outside of Louisville, KET2 was seen on cable systems statewide,[93] and it replaced the former KET Etc. channel in Lexington.[96] The state network also added to its schedule several programs that WKPC-TV had aired in the Louisville area but not KET in the rest of the state.[94]

KET was the first Kentucky television station to begin digital broadcasts, with WKPC-DT in Louisville being activated on August 19, 1999, by governor Paul E. Patton as part of the opening day festivities of the Kentucky State Fair.[97] This transition also placed KET among the first 10 public broadcasters to begin digital broadcasts.[98] By late 2002, KET had completed digital rollout from all of its main transmitters and had begun multicasting four channels.[99]

Gaines Fox retired at the end of 2002, having led KET through its digital television deployment and increased private support for the broadcaster. Local programming funding had tripled from 1989 to 2002, and the Kentucky independent film program ranked among the national leaders; 11,000 Kentucky high school students were enrolled in KET's distance learning classes.[100] Fox was replaced by Malcolm "Mac" Wall, the executive director of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.[101] Wall sought to improve engagement with Louisville by hiring a director of Louisville operations, the network's first executive based in the city, and opening an office there in addition to sharing studios with the Jefferson County school system.[102] The network ceased analog broadcasting from all main transmitters on April 16, 2009.[103] Later that year, KET opened a high-definition TV production center in Lexington.[104] However, KET was one of the harder-hit PBS members by the Great Recession; in 2008, it lost $1.8 million in funding from the state of Kentucky and cut its staff by 18 percent.[105]

Shae Hopkins leadership

[edit]

To replace Wall, KET tapped Shae Hopkins, who had been a senior executive for the network and had been a staff member since 1986; unlike with Wall, executives opted not to conduct a national search in order to save money during major state budget cuts.[106][107]

KET consolidated its separate Louisville offices and studios in 2011, adding the second streetside studio in American public television to its Main Street facility.[108]

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.[109]

KET's distance learning offerings transitioned to online-only delivery before being discontinued in 2018 after 30 years due to state budget cuts in Kentucky. Enrollment had dwindled to 648 students; four full-time and 14 part-time employees lost their jobs as a result.[110]

On September 18, 2018, the Kentucky Historical Society dedicated a historical marker at the network's studio facility in observance of the network's 50th anniversary.[39]

Funding

[edit]

In fiscal year 2022–23, KET raised $32.5 million in operating revenue, 52% of which was represented by $16.8 million in funding from the Kentucky state government. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting accounted for another 12% of revenue, with the remainder split between grants (15%) and private donations (21%).[111] KET had 35,883 members in fiscal year 2021–22.[112]

Programming

[edit]
Refer to caption
Bill Goodman interviews chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen on KET's One on One in 2008

KET's local programs generally center around one of three topics: Kentucky public affairs, Kentucky history and culture, and education.

Public affairs

[edit]

On November 15, 1974, KET debuted Comment on Kentucky, a weekly public affairs program and political roundtable hosted by Al Smith, a newspaper publisher from Russellville.[62] Smith hosted the program from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1982 to 2007, taking leave from KET when he was named to co-chair the Appalachian Regional Commission.[113] By the time of his retirement, Smith was the longest-tenured host of a public affairs program on public television. The program was credited with bringing the state together, utilizing KET's statewide reach to discuss Kentucky issues.[114] After Smith's retirement, Ferrell Wellman hosted Comment on Kentucky until 2013;[115] he was replaced, first on an interim and then on a permanent basis, by Bill Bryant, news anchor for Lexington commercial station WKYT-TV.[116]

Comment on Kentucky was joined in 1994 by Kentucky Tonight, which originally was a nightly statewide newscast before being retooled into an interview program.[117][118] In addition to Kentucky Tonight, KET public affairs director Renee Shaw hosts Connections, a community affairs and interview program that began production in 2005,[119] and Kentucky Edition, a new nightly news program that premiered in 2022.[120]

KET also organizes political debates. Its first gubernatorial debate took place in 1975 and was moderated by Smith.[121][122] In each gubernatorial election year from 1979 through 1995, KET organized and broadcast two gubernatorial debates; in 1999, incumbent governor Paul E. Patton faced weak opposition, and no debate was organized.[123]

History and culture

[edit]

In 1985, KET began airing Kentucky Afield, an outdoors show produced by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The program had been on the air for more than 30 years and was previously syndicated for air by local commercial stations around the commonwealth.[124]

1995 saw the debut of Kentucky Life, a feature magazine originally hosted by Byron Crawford of The Courier-Journal and later by Dave Shuffett from 1999 to 2015.[125] From 2015 to 2022, former baseball player Doug Flynn was host;[126] he was replaced by Chip Polston, a frequent on-air volunteer during KET's pledge drives, starting with season 28 in January 2023.[127]

Other KET productions over the years have covered diverse aspects of Kentucky culture. In 2020, KET debuted The Farmer and the Foodie, an educational food show with hosts traveling the state.[128]

Education

[edit]

While most of KET's educational content is now delivered outside of television, its production continues at KET. The network was one of the first PBS LearningMedia partners when the service was created in its present form in 2011;[129] KET content on PBS LearningMedia generated 3.5 million views, more than half outside of Kentucky, in KET's 2020–21 fiscal year. KET also continues to offer GED education services under the brand FastForward.[130]

In 1987, the KET Enterprises unit began syndicating Learn to Read, an adult literacy program produced by commercial station WXYZ-TV in Detroit for people with a fourth-grade education or less, to public television stations.[131]

Stations

[edit]

KET broadcasts from 16 main transmitters and three low-powered translators on the ultra high frequency (UHF) band. In the Louisville area, KET has two transmitters: WKPC-TV (channel 15) and WKMJ-TV (channel 68), a legacy of when WKPC-TV was a separate station before being bought by KET in 1997. The latter converted to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) operation on September 19, 2022. WCVN-TV in Covington began ATSC 3.0 broadcasts on June 5, 2023, as part of a partnership with Public Media Connect, the public broadcaster serving the Cincinnati area; KET provides transmission capacity in 3.0 format for WCET and WPTO (as well as datacasting capabilities for both organizations) and vice versa in 1.0 format, with fiber delivering signals between Lexington and Dayton, Ohio. This was the first partnership between separately owned public broadcasters.[132]

Kentucky Educational Television transmitters
Station City of license
Facility ID ERP HAAT Transmitter coordinates First air date Public license information
WCVN-TV Covington 54 (22) 34204 39.9 kW 132 m (433 ft) 39°1′51″N 84°30′23″W / 39.03083°N 84.50639°W / 39.03083; -84.50639 (WCVN-TV) September 8, 1969
WKAS Ashland 25 (36) 34171 63.2 kW 156 m (512 ft) 38°27′44″N 82°37′12″W / 38.46222°N 82.62000°W / 38.46222; -82.62000 (WKAS) September 23, 1968
WKGB-TV Bowling Green 53 (29) 34177 32.4 kW 248.3 m (814.6 ft) 37°5′23″N 86°38′5″W / 37.08972°N 86.63472°W / 37.08972; -86.63472 (WKGB-TV) September 23, 1968
WKHA Hazard 35 (33) 34196 55.9 kW 384.8 m (1,262.5 ft) 37°11′35″N 83°11′17″W / 37.19306°N 83.18806°W / 37.19306; -83.18806 (WKHA) 1968
WKLE Lexington 46 (35) 34207 35.8 kW 268 m (879.3 ft) 37°52′45″N 84°19′33″W / 37.87917°N 84.32583°W / 37.87917; -84.32583 (WKLE) September 23, 1968
WKMA-TV Madisonville 35 (31) 34212 36.7 kW 316 m (1,037 ft) 37°11′21″N 87°30′49″W / 37.18917°N 87.51361°W / 37.18917; -87.51361 (WKMA-TV) September 23, 1968
WKMJ-TV Louisville 68 (34) 34195 40 kW 257 m (843 ft) 38°22′1″N 85°49′54″W / 38.36694°N 85.83167°W / 38.36694; -85.83167 (WKMJ-TV) September 2, 1970
WKMR Morehead 38 (30) 34202 60.5 kW 297.2 m (975.1 ft) 38°10′38″N 83°24′17″W / 38.17722°N 83.40472°W / 38.17722; -83.40472 (WKMR) September 23, 1968
WKMU Murray 21 (17) 34174 32.7 kW 199.8 m (655.5 ft) 36°41′34″N 88°32′11″W / 36.69278°N 88.53639°W / 36.69278; -88.53639 (WKMU) October 7, 1968
WKOH Owensboro 31 (17) 34205 37.3 kW 142 m (466 ft) 37°51′7″N 87°19′44″W / 37.85194°N 87.32889°W / 37.85194; -87.32889 (WKOH) February 14, 1980
WKON Owenton 52 (24) 34211 28.7 kW 231 m (758 ft) 38°31′32″N 84°48′39″W / 38.52556°N 84.81083°W / 38.52556; -84.81083 (WKON) September 23, 1968
WKPC-TV Louisville 15 (30) 21432 58 kW 266.1 m (873.0 ft) 38°22′1″N 85°49′54″W / 38.36694°N 85.83167°W / 38.36694; -85.83167 (WKPC-TV) September 8, 1958[a]
WKPD Paducah 29 (23) 65758 90 kW 159 m (522 ft) 37°5′40″N 88°40′20″W / 37.09444°N 88.67222°W / 37.09444; -88.67222 (WKPD) May 31, 1971[b]
WKPI-TV Pikeville 22 (23) 34200 45.1 kW 427.7 m (1,403.2 ft) 37°17′6″N 82°31′28″W / 37.28500°N 82.52444°W / 37.28500; -82.52444 (WKPI-TV) 1968
WKSO-TV Somerset 29 (17) 34222 49.1 kW 452 m (1,483 ft) 37°10′3″N 84°49′30″W / 37.16750°N 84.82500°W / 37.16750; -84.82500 (WKSO-TV) September 23, 1968
WKZT-TV Elizabethtown 23 (23) 34181 33.7 kW 192.8 m (632.5 ft) 37°40′55″N 85°50′31″W / 37.68194°N 85.84194°W / 37.68194; -85.84194 (WKZT-TV) September 23, 1968
  1. ^ As a separate non-commercial educational station. WKPC-TV joined KET on July 1, 1997.
  2. ^ As commercial independent station WDXR-TV, which operated until October 22, 1975. The license was sold to KET and the facility rebuilt and returned to service as WKPD on September 9, 1979.[55]

Translators

[edit]

KET also operates three translator stations:[133]

KET translators
City of license Call sign Channel Facility ID ERP HAAT Transmitter coordinates First air date Translating
Augusta W16EB-D 16 167571 0.8 kW −18.2 m (−59.7 ft) 38°46′4.2″N 84°0′34.7″W / 38.767833°N 84.009639°W / 38.767833; -84.009639 (W16EB-D) October 11, 2007 WKMR
Falmouth W23DM-D 23 167570 0.8 kW 26.7 m (87.6 ft) 38°40′9.2″N 84°19′34.7″W / 38.669222°N 84.326306°W / 38.669222; -84.326306 (W23DM-D) January 12, 2007 WKON
Louisa W32FD-D 32 167569 0.12 kW 21.8 m (71.5 ft) 38°6′36.3″N 82°36′34.5″W / 38.110083°N 82.609583°W / 38.110083; -82.609583 (W32FD-D) January 12, 2007 WKAS

KET previously had translators in other communities throughout the state. The original network design included translators at Hopkinsville and Owensboro.[134] Another four were added by 1973, including Barbourville, Cowan Creek, Pineville, and Whitesburg.[135] The Owensboro translator was taken out of service in 1974 when its location, the Daviess County Vocational School, was demolished; no good local KET signal was available there until WKOH-TV was built in 1979.[56]

Network map

[edit]
Kentucky Educational Television is located in Kentucky
W16EB-D
W16EB-D
W23DM-D
W23DM-D
W32FD-D
W32FD-D
WCVN
WCVN
WKAS
WKAS
WKGB
WKGB
WKHA
WKHA
WKLE
WKLE
WKMA
WKMA
WKMR
WKMR
WKMU
WKMU
WKOH
WKOH
WKON
WKON
WKPI
WKPI
WKSO
WKSO
WKZT
WKZT
Map of all of KET's satellites in Kentucky

Subchannels

[edit]

KET's transmitters broadcast four subchannels in most areas:[136]

  • The main KET channel;
  • KET2, a secondary service created in 1997 in the wake of the Louisville merger, with an emphasis on how-to and travel programs and replays of PBS programs;
  • The Kentucky Channel (KET KY), established in 2008,[137] which covers the Kentucky General Assembly and broadcasts programs about Kentucky topics and independently produced programs;
  • and KET PBS Kids, which was introduced in 2017.[138]

The ATSC 3.0 transmitters at Louisville and Covington also make available the World Channel as subchannel 5.

KET multiplex[139]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
xx.1 720p 16:9 KET Main KET programming / PBS
xx.2[A] KET2 KET2
xx.3 480i KETKY Kentucky Channel
xx.4 KETKIDS PBS Kids
  1. ^ In Louisville, 68.1 instead of 15.2

In northern Kentucky, WCET broadcasts subchannels 54.1 and 54.3 of WCVN-TV in ATSC 1.0 format, while WPTO broadcasts subchannels 54.2 and 54.4.[132]

Subchannels of WKMJ-TV[140][141]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
68.1 720p 16:9 KET2 Main WKMJ-TV programming / PBS ("KET2")
68.2 KET KET
68.3 480i KETKY Kentucky Channel
68.4 KETKIDS PBS Kids
68.5 KETWRLD World
Subchannels of WCVN-TV[132][142]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
54.1 720p 16:9 KET
54.2 KET2
54.5 World
14.1 WPTO 14.1
48.1 WCET 48.1

From 2007 to 2010, KET broadcast KET ED, the Education Channel, which provided professional development and instructional programming.[143] Until 2008, dedicated KET5 and KET6 subchannels carried live coverage of the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate.[144][145]

Bibliography

[edit]

Books

[edit]
  • Press, O. Leonard (2008). The KET Story: A Personal Account. Lexington, Kentucky: The Clark Group. ISBN 978-1-883589-89-9.
  • Nash, Francis M. (1995). Towers Over Kentucky: A History of Radio and TV in the Bluegrass State (PDF). Host Communications, Inc. ISBN 978-1-879688-93-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ladd, Bill (December 6, 1953). "A Quick Jump Around The Dial". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 5:19. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Ladd, Bill (May 16, 1957). "County Likely To Seek Educational TV Permit". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. pp. 1, 16. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Ladd, Bill (September 6, 1958). "Educational TV Opens; Test Called A Success". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 2:2. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Pardue, Anne (July 23, 1959). "Kentucky-Wide Educational-TV Network Urged: U. K.'s O. Leonard Press Cites Growth Of Colleges And Shortage Of Teachers". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 2:1. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Ladd, Bill; Press, O. Leonard (September 13, 1960). "TV Boon To Education: Nearby States Have Networks; U. K. Has Similar Dreams Here". The Courier-Journal. p. 2:2. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Vied, Steve (October 1, 1991). "KET founder passes torch after 28 years". Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. pp. 1C, 3C. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Ladd, Bill (July 18, 1961). "10 More Educational Channels To Be Requested For Kentucky". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 2:2. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Whaley, Charles (October 25, 1961). "Educational TV For State Given Boost: Combs, Others At Conference Like Potential". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Whaley, Charles E. (February 15, 1962). "State Senate Votes Education-TV Bills". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 8. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Target Date Is Set For Educational TV". The Lexington Leader. Associated Press. October 17, 1962. p. 15. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Educational TV Plan Runs Into Obstacle". The Lexington Herald. Lexington, Kentucky. Associated Press. April 10, 1963. p. 17. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Permit Filing Is Milestone In Educational TV Growth". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. October 21, 1963. p. 18. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Neikirk, Bill (February 8, 1964). "Billion-Dollar Budget Ready For Assembly". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky. Associated Press. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Neikirk, Bill (November 23, 1964). "Fall Of 1967 Is Official Target Date For Statewide Educational TV". The Lexington Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. Associated Press. p. 7. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Projected Kentucky ETV Network Promises Comprehensive Coverage". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. August 8, 1965. p. B-T-S 14, 22. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "TV Canceled, Loss Keenly Felt By Schools". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. August 23, 1965. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Glenn, Ray (March 9, 1970). "ETV Is Missing Good Segment Of Viewers". Kentucky New Era. Hopkinsville, Kentucky. p. 8 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Trigg Sets Workshop On TV Use In School". Kentucky New Era. October 12, 1967. p. 15 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ Willis Jr., Finley (July 4, 1965). "3-Year Setback In Educational TV Program In Kentucky". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. p. 22 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "18 Systems Utilizing ETV, More Interested". Nashville Banner. September 14, 1962. p. 36. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Dietz, Eugene (August 23, 1964). "ETV Adds 4 School Areas: 47 Midstate, Southern Kentucky Systems Set Television Courses". The Tennessean. p. 11-A. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Work Slated On State's ETV Project". The Lexington Herald. Lexington, Kentucky. January 30, 1966. p. 29. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Foundation Presents ETV Site To State". The Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. Associated Press. April 21, 1966. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Ladd, Bill (May 18, 1966). "7 Education-TV Station Sites in Hand". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. B2. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Derickson, Ralph W. (June 12, 1966). "State ETV Authority Asks Million Plus Federal Aid". Sunday Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "FCC Approves Kentucky ETV Network". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. November 25, 1966. p. 9. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ "ETV Transmitters Approved". Williamson Daily News. Williamson, West Virginia. December 20, 1966. p. 10. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ "Permit Granted For Educational TV At Covington". The Paducah Sun. October 5, 1966. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Education TV Construction Permits OKd". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky. Associated Press. November 25, 1966. p. 9. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Breathitt Cites Uses Of Educational TV". The Paducah Sun. Paducah, Kentucky. Associated Press. June 23, 1967. p. 4-B. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "ETV Net Bids Total $5 Million". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Associated Press. September 1, 1967. p. B2. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "ETV System Building Nearly Done". Sunday Herald-Leader. May 5, 1968. p. 11. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Educational TV Program May Begin In September". The Paducah Sun. Paducah, Kentucky. May 1, 1968. p. 11A. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Kentucky's Educational Television System To Open On Schedule With Schools This Fall". The Lexington Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. July 26, 1968. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Engineers Study Site For ETV In Covington". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. May 12, 1967. p. 25. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Ky TV Tower Site Delays Station's Start". The Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. August 16, 1967. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "'Treatment in Kind': Elizabethtown Squabble Could Hold Up ETV". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Associated Press. August 17, 1967. p. B2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Schoolmeester, Ron (February 7, 1968). "'People Haven't Been Apprised Of The Situation': Taylor Mill Housewife Protests State ETV Tower". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 19. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ a b Kentucky Historical Society (September 18, 2018). KET: The Kentucky Network (Kentucky Historical Marker). Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  40. ^ a b c Runsdorf, Blithe (September 23, 1968). "Gov. Nunn 'Dials' ETV Into Being". The Lexington Leader. pp. 1, 16. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  41. ^ Truman, Cheryl (September 24, 2018). "Once considered a 'novel notion,' state network celebrates its 50th anniversary". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  42. ^ The KET Story. Kentucky Educational Television. September 23, 2018 – via KET.org.
  43. ^ "New Kentucky Educational TV System Will Begin Broadcasting in September, 1968: Plans Now In Process" (PDF). Rural Kentuckian Magazine. Louisville, Kentucky. March 1968. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  44. ^ "Programming for Educational Television Must Meet High Quality Standards" (PDF). Rural Kentuckian Magazine. Louisville, Kentucky. April 1968. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  45. ^ "From the archives: The beginnings of Kentucky Educational Television (KET)". Kentucky Living. September 20, 2018. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  46. ^ "MSU TV Transmitter Goes On Air". Sun-Democrat. October 9, 1968. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  47. ^ "Little Eddie, 'Teach' Score Big". Cincinnati Enquirer. September 18, 1969. p. 38. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  48. ^ "How Goes Kentucky Educational Television? 'Good, But Could Be Better,' Says Director". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 22, 1969. p. 10. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ Doussard, James (September 5, 1968). "Night Programs Delayed: Daytime ETV Net to Open Sept. 23". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. B2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ Doussard, James (January 7, 1969). "Beamed to Homes First Time: How Was Your Signal? KET Asks". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. B2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ Gentry, Margareet (January 7, 1969). "Educational TV Network Begins Night Programming". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. p. 2. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Google Books.
  52. ^ a b Doussard, James (August 17, 1970). "Channel 68 Begins Air Tests Today". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. B2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ Doussard, James (January 18, 1970). "First KET Series: Kentucky Story". The Courier-Journal. p. F1. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ Doussard, James (January 23, 1969). "Tough Problem: Louisville Not Getting Education Net's Signal". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. B2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ a b Bartleman, Bill (September 10, 1979). "Pride marks 'sign on' of transmitter". The Paducah Sun. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  56. ^ a b Brosky, John (October 26, 1979). "Right on the beam". Messenger-Inquirer. p. 1-D. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  57. ^ "KET's Channel 31 will go on air today". Messenger-Inquirer. February 14, 1980. p. 2C. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  58. ^ Nash 1995, p. 278.
  59. ^ Powell, Bill (September 11, 1979). "Transmitter brings KET into focus for Paducah". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. pp. B1, B3. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ "KET to receive network shows via satellite". Kentucky New Era. April 1, 1978. p. 11 – via Google Books.
  61. ^ a b "KET Milestones". Kentucky Educational Television. 2014. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  62. ^ a b "Al Smith is host: 'Comment on Kentucky' starts on TV Nov. 15". News-Democrat and Leader. November 7, 1974. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "KET network to begin different 'telethon'". Park City Daily News. March 6, 1975. p. 5. Retrieved July 24, 2023 – via Google Books.
  64. ^ "Saturday programming on KET goes statewide". McLean County News. June 12, 1975. p. 6. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ Reed, David (September 22, 1978). "10th Anniversary KET". The Lexington Herald. Lexington, Kentucky. p. D-1, D-4. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ Pearce, John Ed (March 27, 1977). "The Other TV". The Courier-Journal. p. Magazine 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ Stroud, Joseph S. (January 27, 1990). "Waylon Jennings to receive GED from Martha Wilkinson". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. p. C1, C2. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ Walker, Joe (March 15, 1985). "Transmitters provided monetary edge for KET". The Paducah Sun. p. A-12. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ "KET goes on cable". The Advocate-Messenger. October 12, 1980. p. TV Parade 3. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ White, Susan (May 1, 1981). "Barry moves from WLEX's weather map to 'Noon Today' set". The Lexington Leader. p. D-8. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  71. ^ Reed, David (July 13, 1981). "KET Needs Another Channel, Director Says". The Lexington Herald. p. C4. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ White, Susan (October 27, 1981). "Who's who in competition for Channel 62". The Lexington Leader. p. C-1. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ Wolfe, Charles (September 28, 1981). "KET Reports Problems With 'Second Network'". Kentucky New Era. Associated Press. p. 3. Retrieved July 24, 2023 – via Google Books.
  74. ^ Brammer, Jack (June 7, 1982). "KET drops out of competition for Channel 62". The Lexington Leader. p. C-4. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  75. ^ Reed, David (November 14, 1980). "Public Television Network Returns to On-Air Fund Raising in March". The Lexington Herald. Lexington, Kentucky. p. B-12. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  76. ^ Stroud, Joseph S. (September 19, 1988). "KET chief bucking trends as network turns 20: O. Leonard Press keeps sponsors at arm's length". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  77. ^ a b "A stronger KET would help state, director says". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 3, 1986. p. B3, B5. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  78. ^ a b Teltsch, Kathleen (October 30, 1991). "To Teach Distant Pupils, Educators in Kentucky Turn On Interactive TV". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  79. ^ Douglass, Elizabeth (April 12, 1990). "Carlsbad firm makes popular games for TV, but no profits". The Evening Tribune. San Diego, California. p. AA-1.
  80. ^ White, Susan (September 24, 1988). "KET giving futuristic look to learning—Kentucky's educational network launches one-of-a-kind program". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1, C12. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  81. ^ Morse, Emily (January 12, 1989). "Lincoln in pilot program for new KET satellite classes". The Advocate-Messenger. p. 3. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  82. ^ Roser, Mary Ann (January 16, 1989). "KET finds key that revamps TV courses". Lexington Herald-Leader. pp. B1, B7. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  83. ^ Lawson, Gil (November 29, 1989). "2-way TV helps small schools do big things despite isolation". The Courier-Journal. pp. A1, A9. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  84. ^ "Grants to film makers help preserve video art in TV documentaries". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. March 26, 1991. p. B3. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  85. ^ "KET director Press to retire next year". The Courier-Journal. April 23, 1991. p. B3. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  86. ^ "KET selects new director". Messenger-Inquirer. July 17, 1991. p. 1C. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  87. ^ a b White, Susan (October 3, 1992). "New KET building open to public today". Lexington Herald-Leader. pp. B1, B6. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  88. ^ "KET director sees loss of teaching role". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. November 22, 1987. pp. E1, E2. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  89. ^ Dorsey, Tom (December 31, 1982). "Changing their image: Channels 15, 68 agree to end duplicate programs". Courier-Journal. p. C5. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  90. ^ Dorsey, Tom (April 24, 1985). "WKPC-KET clash wastes hundreds of thousands of dollars". Courier-Journal. pp. B1, B4. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  91. ^ a b Voskuhl, John (September 28, 1996). "Channel 15's grand plans went bust". Courier-Journal. pp. A1, A7. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  92. ^ Dorsey, Tom (December 12, 1996). "KET will run PBS station in Louisville". Courier-Journal. pp. A1, A7. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  93. ^ a b Fox, Virginia G. (August 2, 1997). "A new day for public TV". Courier-Journal. p. A7. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  94. ^ a b Dorsey, Tom (June 11, 1997). "Public-TV station WKPC becomes history July 1". Courier-Journal. p. D1, D2. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  95. ^ Dorsey, Tom (July 31, 1997). "KET2, too". Courier-Journal. p. C1. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  96. ^ Svokos, Heather (July 29, 1997). "KET rechannels part of lineup: Cable offspring will have younger, more urban flavor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. p. Today 3. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  97. ^ Dorsey, Tom (August 19, 1999). "Digital TV arrives in Kentucky; few notice". The Courier-Journal. p. E2. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  98. ^ Sheer, Douglas I. (May 2002). "Making every blade shine in the Bluegrass State". Television Broadcast's DigitalTV. Vol. 24, no. 5. pp. 45–46. ProQuest 203760369 – via ProQuest.
  99. ^ Dorsey, Tom (September 12, 2002). "Executive director of KET to retire". The Courier-Journal. p. E2. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  100. ^ Svokos, Heather (December 27, 2002). "KET original Virginia Fox signs off: Director, CEO led network into the future". Lexington Herald-Leader. pp. A1, A10. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  101. ^ Dorsey, Tom (March 7, 2003). "Wall of Oklahoma to replace Fox at KET". The Courier-Journal. p. C1. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  102. ^ Shafer, Sheldon S. (January 26, 2004). "KET opens office in Louisville, plans more local programming". The Courier-Journal. p. B3. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  103. ^ Sloan, Scott (April 15, 2009). "KET, WKYT go digital Thursday: Public broadcast station delayed switch after ice storm hit state". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  104. ^ "The Digital Transition: The Malcolm (Mac) Wall Years". KET. Kentucky Educational Television. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  105. ^ "Timeline: The History of Public Broadcasting in the U.S." Current. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  106. ^ Sloan, Scott (October 22, 2009). "KET looks inside for new leader". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C7. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  107. ^ Sloan, Scott (January 18, 2010). "KET says experience counts in new leader". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1, A2. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  108. ^ "KET announces move to street-side studio facilities in downtown Louisville". Current. August 18, 2011. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  109. ^ "$2.5 million in grants will help rural stations complete DTV transition". Current. January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  110. ^ Truman, Cheryl (May 4, 2018). "KET distance learning program cut". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A5. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  111. ^ "Fiscal 2023 Local Content and Service Report to the Community" (PDF). KET. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  112. ^ "Annual Financial Report, Fiscal Year 2022" (PDF). KET. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  113. ^ Yetter, Deborah (March 19, 2021). "Al Smith, journalist and founding host of KET's 'Comment on Kentucky' dies at 94". The Courier Journal. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  114. ^ Dorsey, Tom (November 16, 2007). "Al Smith era ends: 'Comment on Kentucky' pulled state together". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. pp. E1, E6. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  115. ^ Brammer, Jack (June 22, 2013). "Wellman steps down as host of KET's 'Comment on Kentucky'". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. p. A5. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  116. ^ "Bill Bryant named permanent 'Comment on Kentucky' host". WLKY. March 20, 2015. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  117. ^ Carter, Tom (June 4, 1994). "KET throws its hat into daily news ring". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. Today 3, 6. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  118. ^ Crane, Nancy (September 3, 1994). "Louisville, local DJs make bet on game". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. Today 3, 15. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  119. ^ Gumbrecht, Jamie; Copley, Rich (September 1, 2005). "New show on KET sticks close to the community". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D2. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  120. ^ Brown, Jennifer P. (June 1, 2022). "KET is launching a nightly news program with host Renee Shaw". Hoptown Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  121. ^ Ramsey, Sy (October 13, 1975). "Sunday on KET: Gubernatorial debate is set". The Park City Daily News. Associated Press. p. 10. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  122. ^ Brammer, Jack (September 12, 1987). "Gubernatorial hopefuls agree to debate twice". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  123. ^ Cross, Al (July 24, 2003). "Fletcher eyes single statewide TV debate". The Courier-Journal. p. B1, B3. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  124. ^ "'Kentucky Afield' now on KET". The Messenger. July 19, 1985. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  125. ^ Truman, Cheryl (October 6, 2014). "KET's Dave Shuffett retiring, but 'Kentucky Life' to continue". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  126. ^ "Baseball's Flynn to host KET's 'Kentucky Life'". Lexington Herald-Leader. August 28, 2015. p. A8. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  127. ^ "Kentucky Life welcomes new host Chip Polston ahead of new season". KET. October 17, 2022. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  128. ^ Ghabour, Dahlia (April 25, 2022). "KET's 'The Farmer and the Foodie' returns to showcase the best of life, food in Kentucky". The Courier Journal. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  129. ^ "PBS Digital Learning Library graduates into larger LearningMedia". Current. May 18, 2011. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  130. ^ "Fiscal 2021 Local Content and Service Report to the Community" (PDF). KET. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  131. ^ Embry, Mike (July 5, 1987). "KET uses TV to help adults earn high school diplomas". Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. Associated Press. p. 3C. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  132. ^ a b c Fybush, Scott (April 17, 2023). "Cross-border partnership brings NextGen TV to Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky market". Current. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  133. ^ "List of TV Translator Input Channels". Federal Communications Commission. July 23, 2021. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  134. ^ Ladd, Bill (September 22, 1968). "Kentucky's New ETV Network: Fifteen-year dream comes true Monday as transmission begins". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. pp. E1, E3. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  135. ^ "KET adds sixth low-power unit to reach Louisa". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. March 4, 1973. p. 136. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  136. ^ "TV Channels". KET. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  137. ^ "Today's KET". KET. Kentucky Educational Television. 2014. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  138. ^ Horsley, McKenna (April 5, 2017). "KET announces 24-hour channel dedicated to children's programming". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  139. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WKAS". RabbitEars.info. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  140. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WKMJ". RabbitEars.info.
  141. ^ "NextGen TV". KET. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  142. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WCVN". RabbitEars.info. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  143. ^ "TV Channels". Kentucky Educational Television. Archived from the original on November 21, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  144. ^ "KET Channels-KET5". Kentucky Educational Television. Archived from the original on September 28, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  145. ^ "KET Channels-KET6". Kentucky Educational Television. Archived from the original on September 28, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
[edit]