Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Oregon Public Broadcasting
TypeNon-commercial educational broadcast television and radio network
BrandingOPB
Country
United States
First air date
  • Radio: January 23, 1923 (102 years ago) (1923-01-23)
  • Television: October 7, 1957 (68 years ago) (1957-10-07)
Broadcast area
OwnerOregon Public Broadcasting
see § Television stations
Affiliations
  • Radio:
  • Television:
NET (1957–1970)
Official website
www.opb.org

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is the primary public media organization for most of the U.S. state of Oregon, as well as southern Washington. It provides news, information, and programming via television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, on more than 20 radio stations, and via opb.org and other digital platforms. TV broadcasts include local and regional programming as well as programs from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and American Public Television (APT), and radio programs from National Public Radio (NPR), American Public Media (APM), Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and the BBC World Service, among other distributors. Its headquarters and television studios are located in Portland, Oregon.

The part of southwestern Oregon not served by OPB, including Medford and Klamath Falls, is served by Jefferson Public Radio, and Southern Oregon PBS.

History

[edit]

20th century

[edit]
KOAC early studio and transmitter building near Oregon State University, c. 1941

OPB traces its roots back to January 23, 1923, when KFDJ signed on from the campus of Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) in Corvallis. From 1923 to 1981, the OAC/Oregon State campus served as the base of operations for educational broadcasting in Oregon. Charles B. Mitchel, a first-year speech professor at OAC, was instrumental in bringing Oregon's first public radio station to the state. physics instructor Jacob Jordan is credited with building the station's first radio transmitter near campus in 1923.[1][2] It was one of several AM stations signed on by land-grant colleges in the early days of radio.

The radio station's call letters were changed to KOAC on December 11, 1925. In 1932, KOAC became a service of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education General Extension Division.[3]

During the mid-1950s, the university constructed KOAC's first television studios inside Gill Coliseum. On October 7, 1957, KOAC-TV signed on as Oregon's first educational television station. For nearly 60 years, faculty and students at Oregon State University broadcast news, information and entertainment programming across the state from the Corvallis studios.[4] First known as Oregon Educational Broadcasting, the public network became the Oregon Educational and Public Broadcasting Service (OEPBS) in 1971.[5]

KOAC won its first Peabody Award for Outstanding Public Service by a Local Station in 1942 for Our Hidden Enemy, Venereal Disease.[6][7] KOAC won a second Peabody Award in 1972 for Conversations with Will Shakespeare and Certain of His Friends.[6]

KOAC-AM announcer broadcasting from the main studios in Covell Hall at Oregon State University (1929).
KOAC-TV satilite studio at University of Oregon (Eugene), 1963

In the late 1950s, KOAC's broadcast signal was shared across the state by microwave transmitters and receivers. KOAC also added satellite studios for radio broadcasting in Eugene, Monmouth, Salem, and Portland. In the 1960s, satellite TV studios were added in Portland and Eugene. The Portland studio was located in a leased building at what is now 2828 SW Naito Parkway. A full-time satellite of KOAC-TV began broadcasting on February 6, 1961 as KOAP-TV (for KOAC Portland); KOAP-FM followed in 1962. The Eugene studio was located on the University of Oregon campus, in Villard Hall. Up until 1965, all programs from the KOAC satellites were live, due to a lack of video recording equipment. Both studios operated two RCA TK31 cameras for live broadcasts.

On December 6, 1964, KTVR-TV began broadcasting in La Grande. The station started primarily as a commercial television station, affiliated with NBC and ABC. KTVR-TV operated as a semi-satellite of KTVB in Boise, Idaho. The La Grande studio was located at 1605 Adams Ave. and produced nightly newscasts and other local programming. However, by 1967, the La Grande studio and office were closed and KTVR became a full-fledged satellite of KTVB. KTVR was unique in the Pacific Time Zone, because as a repeater of a Mountain Time Zone station, its "prime time" schedule was broadcast from 6 to 9 p.m. OEPBS bought KTVR on August 31, 1976, and converted it to PBS on February 1, 1977. At first, KTVR rebroadcast programming from two Washington stations—KWSU-TV in Pullman and KSPS-TV in Spokane—until OEPBS completed a transmission link to La Grande. On September 1, 1977, OEPBS took KTVR off the air for transmitter repairs, due to increasing technical problems. KTVR returned to the air on January 1, 1978, carrying OEPBS programming for the first time.

See also: KVDO-TV

KOAB-TV in Bend began broadcasting on February 24, 1970, as KVDO-TV, a commercial independent station licensed to Salem. Channel 3 struggled to compete with Portland's established independent, KPTV (channel 12), and in 1972, the station was purchased by Liberty Communications, then-owners of Eugene's ABC affiliate KEZI (channel 9). The intention was to make KVDO a full-power satellite of KEZI. During the sale, KATU (channel 2), Portland's ABC affiliate, objected over duplication of programming, and there were also objections to Liberty's common ownership of local cable systems and the television station. As a result, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed Liberty to buy KVDO-TV on the condition that it sell the station within three years.

The state government approved the purchase of KVDO-TV in 1975, with OEPBS taking control of the station on February 19, 1976. Nine days later, on February 28, a disgruntled viewer protesting KVDO's sale to OEPBS cut guy wires, toppling the channel 3 transmitter tower. On September 20, 1976, KVDO signed back on the air with a new tower; from then until March 31, 1981, the station broadcast an alternate program lineup to KOAP-TV and KOAC-TV, featuring time-shifted OEPBS programs, shows for the Spanish-speaking population in the Willamette Valley, and several local productions in Salem. OEPBS consistently eyed moving the station elsewhere to reduce duplication, which became more acute when budget cuts prompted KVDO-TV to drop its separate programs in 1981. The network pursued and won approval from the FCC to move the channel 3 allocation and license to Bend, which had no PBS coverage. KVDO-TV ceased broadcasting in Salem on July 31, 1983; on December 22, channel 3 signed back on the air as KOAB. The call letters were modified to KOAB-TV when KOAB-FM signed on the air on January 23, 1986.

In 1981, OEPBS was spun off from the Oregon State System of Higher Education and became a separate state agency, Oregon Public Broadcasting. As part of the network overhaul, KOAP-FM-TV became the flagships of the OPB network and central operations were relocated from Corvallis to Portland. The Portland stations changed their calls to KOPB-FM-TV in 1989.

KEPB-TV in Eugene began operation on February 27, 1990, as Eugene's first public television station, bringing most of Eugene a clear signal for PBS programming for the first time ever. Although KOAC-TV had long claimed Eugene as part of its primary coverage area (Corvallis is part of the Eugene market), it only provided rimshot coverage to most of Eugene itself and was marginal at best in the southern portion of the city. Most of Eugene could only get a clear picture from KOAC-TV on cable.[citation needed]

In the early 2000s, OPB installed Oregon's first digital transmitter, taking a critical first step in the digital television transition.[8]

21st century

[edit]

For 2001 and 2002, the Oregon state government provided about 14 percent of OPB's operational budget; for 2003 and 2004, it was cut to 9 percent.[9]

On December 4, 2007, OPB launched opbmusic, a 24-hour online radio channel spotlighting Pacific Northwest musicians.[10] As of December 11, 2020, OPB discontinued the opbmusic HD radio and online audio stream and integrated opbmusic multimedia content into its broader arts and culture reporting.[11]

In March 2009, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting chose OPB to manage the pilot version of American Archive, CPB's initiative to digitally preserve content created by public broadcasters.[12]

Television stations

[edit]
StationCity of licenseChannels
(RF / VC)		First air dateCall letters'
meaning		ERPHAATFacility IDTransmitter coordinatesPublic license information
KOPB-TV[a]Portland10 (VHF)
10		February 6, 1961
(64 years ago) (1961-02-06)		Oregon Public Broadcasting46 kW524 m (1,719 ft)5058945°31′20.5″N 122°44′49.5″W / 45.522361°N 122.747083°W / 45.522361; -122.747083 (KOPB-TV)Public file
LMS
KOAC-TVCorvallis7 (VHF)
7		October 7, 1957
(68 years ago) (1957-10-07)		Oregon Agricultural College18.1 kW357 m (1,171 ft)5059044°38′24.9″N 123°16′29.3″W / 44.640250°N 123.274806°W / 44.640250; -123.274806 (KOAC-TV)Public file
LMS
KEPB-TV[b]Eugene29 (UHF)
28		September 27, 1990
(35 years ago) (1990-09-27)		Eugene Public Broadcasting100 kW403 m (1,322 ft)5059144°0′9″N 123°6′58.5″W / 44.00250°N 123.116250°W / 44.00250; -123.116250 (KEPB-TV)Public file
LMS
KOAB-TV[c]Bend11 (VHF)
3		February 24, 1970
(55 years ago) (1970-02-24)		KOAC Bend90 kW245 m (804 ft)5058844°4′39.9″N 121°20′0.3″W / 44.077750°N 121.333417°W / 44.077750; -121.333417 (KOAB-TV)Public file
LMS
KTVR[d]La Grande13 (VHF)
13		December 6, 1964
(61 years ago) (1964-12-06)		Television Grande Ronde16.1 kW775 m (2,543 ft)5059245°18′32.7″N 117°43′58.3″W / 45.309083°N 117.732861°W / 45.309083; -117.732861 (KTVR)Public file
LMS
Map this section's coordinates using OpenStreetMap
  • Download coordinates as KML

Notes:

  1. ^ KOPB-TV used the callsign KOAP-TV from its 1961 sign-on until 1989.
  2. ^ KEPB-TV used the call sign KZJD during its construction permit from 1989 to 1990, and KEPB (without the -TV suffix) for just one day on May 1, 1990.
  3. ^ KOAB-TV used the callsign KVDO-TV from its 1970 sign-on until 1983. It was a commercial independent station until OEPBS bought the station in 1976. It was licensed to Salem until 1983.
  4. ^ KTVR was a commercial station relaying KTVB from Boise, Idaho until 1977.

Cable and satellite availability

[edit]

OPB Television is available on all cable providers in its service area. On Dish Network, KOPB-TV, KEPB-TV, and KOAB-TV are available on the Portland, Eugene and Bend local broadcast station lineups, respectively. KOPB-TV and KEPB-TV are available on the Portland and Eugene DirecTV broadcast station lineups.

Digital television

[edit]

OPB's first digital channel was OPB CREATE (an affiliate of the Create network), announced in January 2006; its availability was limited to certain Comcast digital cable customers and on Clear Creek Television in Oregon City.[13]

In December 2008, in anticipation of the original February 18, 2009, deadline for switching to all-digital broadcasting, OPB announced the launch of three digital subchannels: OPB, which would air OPB programming with an "improved picture for viewers with traditional sets", OPB HD, airing programming in "high definition with the highest-quality picture and sound", and OPB Plus, which offered "more choices in viewing times and added programs in news, public affairs and lifestyle."[14]

Subchannels

[edit]

OPB currently offers four digital multiplex channels:[15]

OPB multiplex[16]
ChannelRes.AspectShort nameProgramming
xx.11080i16:9OPBPBS[15]
xx.2WorldOPB World[15][17]
xx.3480iOPBKidsOPB Kids[18]
xx.4Audio onlyOPB-FM
  • OPB Radio
  • KMHD Jazz Radio (SAP channel 1)
[15][18]

OPB was one of the partners of The Oregon Channel, a public affairs network that began with the 74th Oregon Legislative Assembly in 2007. Programming consisted of Oregon legislative sessions and other public affairs events. The Oregon Channel was discontinued in 2011.

All of OPB's digital channels are also available on cable providers Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum and Ziply Fiber (grandfathered TV subscribers), and three other providers serving specific regions and communities in Oregon: Clear Creek (a cooperative serving the Redland area of Oregon City), BendBroadband (serving Central Oregon), and Crestview Cable Communications (serving Madras, Prineville, and La Pine).[14]

On July 6, 2011, OPB combined OPB and OPB SD into one high-definition channel feed on the main channel of its digital stations. OPB Plus moved from the third digital subchannel to the second subchannel and OPB Radio moved from the fourth digital subchannel to the third subchannel.

On January 26, 2023, OPB ended broadcasting of OPB Plus and replaced it with OPB World.

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

During 2009, OPB shut down the analog transmitters of the stations on a staggered basis. The station's digital channel allocations post-transition are as follows:[19][20]

  • KOAC-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 7; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 39 to VHF channel 7.
  • KOPB-TV shut down its analog, signal, over VHF channel 10; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 27 to VHF channel 10.
  • KEPB-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 28; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 29, using virtual channel 28.
  • KOAB-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 3; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 11, using virtual channel 3.
  • KTVR shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 13; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 5 to channel 13.

Translators

[edit]

Low-power translators in Elkton, Glendale, Mapleton, Myrtle Point, Newport, Oakland, Oakridge, and Swisshome have been discontinued.[when?]

Radio stations

[edit]
Call signFrequencyCity of licenseFacility IDClassPower
(W)		ERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))
KOAC-FM89.7 FMAstoria81807A—180321 m (1,053 ft)
KOBK88.9 FMBaker City94195C3—600559 m (1,834 ft)
KOAB-FM91.3 FMBend50609C1—75,000199 m (653 ft)
KOBN90.1 FMBurns174446A—600274 m (899 ft)
KOAC550 AMCorvallis50587B5,000——
KOTD89.7 FMThe Dalles173179A—50589 m (1,932 ft)
KETP88.7 FMEnterprise174467A—100535 m (1,755 ft)
KOPB1600 AMEugene841B5,000 day
1,000 night		——
KOGL89.3 FMGleneden Beach91095A—210−14 m (−46 ft)
KHRV90.1 FMHood River90769A—65227 m (745 ft)
KOJD89.7 FMJohn Day174221A—900−39 m (−128 ft)
KTVR-FM89.9 FMLa Grande94194C2—400760 m (2,490 ft)
KOAP88.7 FMLakeview93285A—170−180 m (−590 ft)
KOPB-FM[a]91.5 FMPortland50607 [21]C0—73,000470 m (1,540 ft)
KRBM90.9 FMPendleton50608C2—25,000180 m (590 ft)
KTMK91.1 FMTillamook91082A—140356 m (1,168 ft)

Notes:

Broadcast translators of KOPB-FM
Call signFrequencyCity of licenseFacility IDClassERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))
K283BT104.5 FMAstoria142734D70107.4 m (352 ft)
K276BU103.1 FMCorvallis50601D15326 m (1,070 ft)
K214AQ90.7 FMMount Vernon50603D25383 m (1,257 ft)
K293BL106.5 FMNedonna Beach50610D10396.9 m (1,302 ft)
K298AC107.5 FMOntario50611D62120 m (390 ft)
K228DT93.5 FMPacific City50614D10677 m (2,221 ft)
K212AQ90.3 FMRiley50598D50524.7 m (1,721 ft)
K252DL98.3 FMWalton92367D8489.8 m (1,607 ft)

Since the spring of 2009, OPB has operated jazz radio station KMHD; the station is owned by Mount Hood Community College, but operates out of OPB's studio facilities in Portland.

HD stations

[edit]

Currently only KMHD and KOPB-FM carry HD radio content.

The OPB HD radio channels are:

ChannelProgramming
OPB FM HD-1Main OPB radio programing
KMHD-FM HD-1KMHD "Jazz Radio"[22]

Other radio frequencies

[edit]

Original programming

[edit]
Main article: List of Oregon Public Broadcasting podcasts

OPB produces original audio and video content for distribution across multiple channels including TV, radio, and online podcasting or streaming services.

Notable podcast series include Bundyville, a deep-dive investigation of the beliefs and politics behind the 2014 Bundy standoff, the 2016 Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and the sovereign citizen movement.[23] Its second season aired in 2019 with a broadened focus on right-wing and anti-government extremism in the United States.[24] Long-running programs include OPB Politics Now[25] and Think Out Loud,[26][27] both of which have been on air since 2008. The newest series The Evergreen is a weekly podcast highlighting stories from across the Pacific Northwest.

Notable TV and video productions include Oregon Field Guide and Oregon Art Beat, which first premiered in 1990 and 1999 respectively.

Table of OPB Shows
TitleRelease dateSubjectEnded?Ref.
All Science. No Fiction.April 18, 2022Science and NatureNo[28]
Class of 2025December 11, 2013EducationNo[29]
Oregon Art Beat1999Art and CultureNo[30]
Oregon ExperienceJune 16, 2006HistoryNo[31]
Oregon Field GuideApril 16, 1990NatureNo[32]
SuperabundantNovember 23, 2021FoodNo[33]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Horton, Kami. "It all started as a lab experiment: A century ago, the broadcaster that became OPB was born". opb.org. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  2. ^ Morris, J.M. "The Remembered Years". oregonstate.edu. Scholars Archive Admin at OSU. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  3. ^ KOAC timeline Archived September 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine from the Oregon State University website
  4. ^ "KOAC (Radio station: Corvallis, Or.)". snaccooperative.org. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Geddes, Robert D. "Report on Non-Commercial Television in Portland". pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu. Portland City Club. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Kristi Turnquist (March 31, 2010). "Oregon Public Broadcasting wins Peabody Award". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  7. ^ ""Our Hidden Enemy—Venereal Disease" for Outstanding Public Service by a Local Station". Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  8. ^ "History of Oregon Public Broadcasting". OPB. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  9. ^ "Don't reduce funding for public broadcasting". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. April 10, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  10. ^ Kristi Turnquist (December 11, 2007). "OPBmusic launches". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  11. ^ "Oregon Public Broadcasting's Online Music Channel Will Cease Streaming Next Week". Willamette Week. December 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Selects Initiative Manager for American Archive Project". Corporation for Public Broadcasting. March 26, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  13. ^ "Oregon Public Broadcasting Launches Its First Digital Multicast Channel". OPB.org. January 31, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ a b "OPB to Launch New Digital Television Channel Lineup". OPB.org. December 5, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ a b c d "Channels". OPB.org. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  16. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KOAC
  17. ^ "OPB launches OPB WORLD, a 24/7 multicast channel". OPB.org. February 1, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "KOPB-TV PORTLAND, OR". www.rabbitears.info. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  19. ^ Portland TV stations backtrack, delay digital transition, a February 6, 2009, article from The Oregonian
  20. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  21. ^ FCC License KOPB-FM Channel: 218C0 91.5 MHz
  22. ^ "About KMHD". OPB.org. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  23. ^ "The New Yorker Recommends: A Revealing Podcast About the Bundy Family". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  24. ^ "A unique collaboration lets the Bundyville podcast tell stories of anti-government extremism in the American West". Nieman Lab. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  25. ^ "Four Oregon-Made Politics Podcasts to Stream Before Election Day". Portland Monthly. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  26. ^ "In a State Divided by More Than the Cascades, Can Oregon's Flagship Public Radio Station Bridge the Gap?". Portland Monthly. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  27. ^ Stahl, Jessica (September 18, 2017). "7 podcasts to listen to after watching 'The Vietnam War'". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  28. ^ "OPB All Science No Fiction".
  29. ^ "OPB".
  30. ^ "OPB".
  31. ^ "OPB Oregon Experience".
  32. ^ "OPB Oregon Field Guide".
  33. ^ "OPB Superabundant".
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oregon_Public_Broadcasting&oldid=1325491096"

    Oregon Public Broadcasting
    TypeNon-commercial educational broadcast television and radio network
    BrandingOPB
    Country
    United States
    First air date
    • Radio: January 23, 1923 (102 years ago) (1923-01-23)
    • Television: October 7, 1957 (68 years ago) (1957-10-07)
    Broadcast area
    OwnerOregon Public Broadcasting
    see § Television stations
    Affiliations
    • Radio:
    • Television:
    NET (1957–1970)
    Official website
    		www.opb.org

    Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is the primary public media organization for most of the U.S. state of Oregon, as well as southern Washington. It provides news, information, and programming via television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, on more than 20 radio stations, and via opb.org and other digital platforms. TV broadcasts include local and regional programming as well as programs from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and American Public Television (APT), and radio programs from National Public Radio (NPR), American Public Media (APM), Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and the BBC World Service, among other distributors. Its headquarters and television studios are located in Portland, Oregon.

    The part of southwestern Oregon not served by OPB, including Medford and Klamath Falls, is served by Jefferson Public Radio, and Southern Oregon PBS.

    History

    20th century

    KOAC early studio and transmitter building near Oregon State University, c. 1941

    OPB traces its roots back to January 23, 1923, when KFDJ signed on from the campus of Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) in Corvallis. From 1923 to 1981, the OAC/Oregon State campus served as the base of operations for educational broadcasting in Oregon. Charles B. Mitchel, a first-year speech professor at OAC, was instrumental in bringing Oregon's first public radio station to the state. physics instructor Jacob Jordan is credited with building the station's first radio transmitter near campus in 1923.[1][2] It was one of several AM stations signed on by land-grant colleges in the early days of radio.

    The radio station's call letters were changed to KOAC on December 11, 1925. In 1932, KOAC became a service of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education General Extension Division.[3]

    During the mid-1950s, the university constructed KOAC's first television studios inside Gill Coliseum. On October 7, 1957, KOAC-TV signed on as Oregon's first educational television station. For nearly 60 years, faculty and students at Oregon State University broadcast news, information and entertainment programming across the state from the Corvallis studios.[4] First known as Oregon Educational Broadcasting, the public network became the Oregon Educational and Public Broadcasting Service (OEPBS) in 1971.[5]

    KOAC won its first Peabody Award for Outstanding Public Service by a Local Station in 1942 for Our Hidden Enemy, Venereal Disease.[6][7] KOAC won a second Peabody Award in 1972 for Conversations with Will Shakespeare and Certain of His Friends.[6]

    KOAC-AM announcer broadcasting from the main studios in Covell Hall at Oregon State University (1929).
    KOAC-TV satilite studio at University of Oregon (Eugene), 1963

    In the late 1950s, KOAC's broadcast signal was shared across the state by microwave transmitters and receivers. KOAC also added satellite studios for radio broadcasting in Eugene, Monmouth, Salem, and Portland. In the 1960s, satellite TV studios were added in Portland and Eugene. The Portland studio was located in a leased building at what is now 2828 SW Naito Parkway. A full-time satellite of KOAC-TV began broadcasting on February 6, 1961 as KOAP-TV (for KOAC Portland); KOAP-FM followed in 1962. The Eugene studio was located on the University of Oregon campus, in Villard Hall. Up until 1965, all programs from the KOAC satellites were live, due to a lack of video recording equipment. Both studios operated two RCA TK31 cameras for live broadcasts.

    On December 6, 1964, KTVR-TV began broadcasting in La Grande. The station started primarily as a commercial television station, affiliated with NBC and ABC. KTVR-TV operated as a semi-satellite of KTVB in Boise, Idaho. The La Grande studio was located at 1605 Adams Ave. and produced nightly newscasts and other local programming. However, by 1967, the La Grande studio and office were closed and KTVR became a full-fledged satellite of KTVB. KTVR was unique in the Pacific Time Zone, because as a repeater of a Mountain Time Zone station, its "prime time" schedule was broadcast from 6 to 9 p.m. OEPBS bought KTVR on August 31, 1976, and converted it to PBS on February 1, 1977. At first, KTVR rebroadcast programming from two Washington stations—KWSU-TV in Pullman and KSPS-TV in Spokane—until OEPBS completed a transmission link to La Grande. On September 1, 1977, OEPBS took KTVR off the air for transmitter repairs, due to increasing technical problems. KTVR returned to the air on January 1, 1978, carrying OEPBS programming for the first time.

    KOAB-TV in Bend began broadcasting on February 24, 1970, as KVDO-TV, a commercial independent station licensed to Salem. Channel 3 struggled to compete with Portland's established independent, KPTV (channel 12), and in 1972, the station was purchased by Liberty Communications, then-owners of Eugene's ABC affiliate KEZI (channel 9). The intention was to make KVDO a full-power satellite of KEZI. During the sale, KATU (channel 2), Portland's ABC affiliate, objected over duplication of programming, and there were also objections to Liberty's common ownership of local cable systems and the television station. As a result, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed Liberty to buy KVDO-TV on the condition that it sell the station within three years.

    The state government approved the purchase of KVDO-TV in 1975, with OEPBS taking control of the station on February 19, 1976. Nine days later, on February 28, a disgruntled viewer protesting KVDO's sale to OEPBS cut guy wires, toppling the channel 3 transmitter tower. On September 20, 1976, KVDO signed back on the air with a new tower; from then until March 31, 1981, the station broadcast an alternate program lineup to KOAP-TV and KOAC-TV, featuring time-shifted OEPBS programs, shows for the Spanish-speaking population in the Willamette Valley, and several local productions in Salem. OEPBS consistently eyed moving the station elsewhere to reduce duplication, which became more acute when budget cuts prompted KVDO-TV to drop its separate programs in 1981. The network pursued and won approval from the FCC to move the channel 3 allocation and license to Bend, which had no PBS coverage. KVDO-TV ceased broadcasting in Salem on July 31, 1983; on December 22, channel 3 signed back on the air as KOAB. The call letters were modified to KOAB-TV when KOAB-FM signed on the air on January 23, 1986.

    In 1981, OEPBS was spun off from the Oregon State System of Higher Education and became a separate state agency, Oregon Public Broadcasting. As part of the network overhaul, KOAP-FM-TV became the flagships of the OPB network and central operations were relocated from Corvallis to Portland. The Portland stations changed their calls to KOPB-FM-TV in 1989.

    KEPB-TV in Eugene began operation on February 27, 1990, as Eugene's first public television station, bringing most of Eugene a clear signal for PBS programming for the first time ever. Although KOAC-TV had long claimed Eugene as part of its primary coverage area (Corvallis is part of the Eugene market), it only provided rimshot coverage to most of Eugene itself and was marginal at best in the southern portion of the city. Most of Eugene could only get a clear picture from KOAC-TV on cable.[citation needed]

    In the early 2000s, OPB installed Oregon's first digital transmitter, taking a critical first step in the digital television transition.[8]

    21st century

    For 2001 and 2002, the Oregon state government provided about 14 percent of OPB's operational budget; for 2003 and 2004, it was cut to 9 percent.[9]

    On December 4, 2007, OPB launched opbmusic, a 24-hour online radio channel spotlighting Pacific Northwest musicians.[10] As of December 11, 2020, OPB discontinued the opbmusic HD radio and online audio stream and integrated opbmusic multimedia content into its broader arts and culture reporting.[11]

    In March 2009, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting chose OPB to manage the pilot version of American Archive, CPB's initiative to digitally preserve content created by public broadcasters.[12]

    Television stations

    StationCity of licenseChannels
    (RF / VC)    		First air dateCall letters'
    meaning    		ERPHAATFacility IDTransmitter coordinatesPublic license information
    KOPB-TV[a]Portland10 (VHF)
    10    		February 6, 1961
    (64 years ago)     (1961-02-06)    		Oregon Public Broadcasting46 kW524 m (1,719 ft)5058945°31′20.5″N 122°44′49.5″W / 45.522361°N 122.747083°W / 45.522361; -122.747083 (KOPB-TV)Public file
    LMS
    KOAC-TVCorvallis7 (VHF)
    7    		October 7, 1957
    (68 years ago)     (1957-10-07)    		Oregon Agricultural College18.1 kW357 m (1,171 ft)5059044°38′24.9″N 123°16′29.3″W / 44.640250°N 123.274806°W / 44.640250; -123.274806 (KOAC-TV)Public file
    LMS
    KEPB-TV[b]Eugene29 (UHF)
    28    		September 27, 1990
    (35 years ago)     (1990-09-27)    		Eugene Public Broadcasting100 kW403 m (1,322 ft)5059144°0′9″N 123°6′58.5″W / 44.00250°N 123.116250°W / 44.00250; -123.116250 (KEPB-TV)Public file
    LMS
    KOAB-TV[c]Bend11 (VHF)
    3    		February 24, 1970
    (55 years ago)     (1970-02-24)    		KOAC Bend90 kW245 m (804 ft)5058844°4′39.9″N 121°20′0.3″W / 44.077750°N 121.333417°W / 44.077750; -121.333417 (KOAB-TV)Public file
    LMS
    KTVR[d]La Grande13 (VHF)
    13    		December 6, 1964
    (61 years ago)     (1964-12-06)    		Television Grande Ronde16.1 kW775 m (2,543 ft)5059245°18′32.7″N 117°43′58.3″W / 45.309083°N 117.732861°W / 45.309083; -117.732861 (KTVR)Public file
    LMS
    Map this section's coordinates using OpenStreetMap
    • Download coordinates as KML

    Notes:

    1. ^ KOPB-TV used the callsign KOAP-TV from its 1961 sign-on until 1989.
    2. ^ KEPB-TV used the call sign KZJD during its construction permit from 1989 to 1990, and KEPB (without the -TV suffix) for just one day on May 1, 1990.
    3. ^ KOAB-TV used the callsign KVDO-TV from its 1970 sign-on until 1983. It was a commercial independent station until OEPBS bought the station in 1976. It was licensed to Salem until 1983.
    4. ^ KTVR was a commercial station relaying KTVB from Boise, Idaho until 1977.

    Cable and satellite availability

    OPB Television is available on all cable providers in its service area. On Dish Network, KOPB-TV, KEPB-TV, and KOAB-TV are available on the Portland, Eugene and Bend local broadcast station lineups, respectively. KOPB-TV and KEPB-TV are available on the Portland and Eugene DirecTV broadcast station lineups.

    Digital television

    OPB's first digital channel was OPB CREATE (an affiliate of the Create network), announced in January 2006; its availability was limited to certain Comcast digital cable customers and on Clear Creek Television in Oregon City.[13]

    In December 2008, in anticipation of the original February 18, 2009, deadline for switching to all-digital broadcasting, OPB announced the launch of three digital subchannels: OPB, which would air OPB programming with an "improved picture for viewers with traditional sets", OPB HD, airing programming in "high definition with the highest-quality picture and sound", and OPB Plus, which offered "more choices in viewing times and added programs in news, public affairs and lifestyle."[14]

    Subchannels

    OPB currently offers four digital multiplex channels:[15]

    OPB multiplex[16]
    ChannelRes.AspectShort nameProgramming
    xx.11080i16:9OPBPBS[15]
    xx.2WorldOPB World[15][17]
    xx.3480iOPBKidsOPB Kids[18]
    xx.4Audio onlyOPB-FM
    • OPB Radio
    • KMHD Jazz Radio (SAP channel 1)
    [15][18]

    OPB was one of the partners of The Oregon Channel, a public affairs network that began with the 74th Oregon Legislative Assembly in 2007. Programming consisted of Oregon legislative sessions and other public affairs events. The Oregon Channel was discontinued in 2011.

    All of OPB's digital channels are also available on cable providers Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum and Ziply Fiber (grandfathered TV subscribers), and three other providers serving specific regions and communities in Oregon: Clear Creek (a cooperative serving the Redland area of Oregon City), BendBroadband (serving Central Oregon), and Crestview Cable Communications (serving Madras, Prineville, and La Pine).[14]

    On July 6, 2011, OPB combined OPB and OPB SD into one high-definition channel feed on the main channel of its digital stations. OPB Plus moved from the third digital subchannel to the second subchannel and OPB Radio moved from the fourth digital subchannel to the third subchannel.

    On January 26, 2023, OPB ended broadcasting of OPB Plus and replaced it with OPB World.

    Analog-to-digital conversion

    During 2009, OPB shut down the analog transmitters of the stations on a staggered basis. The station's digital channel allocations post-transition are as follows:[19][20]

    • KOAC-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 7; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 39 to VHF channel 7.
    • KOPB-TV shut down its analog, signal, over VHF channel 10; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 27 to VHF channel 10.
    • KEPB-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 28; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 29, using virtual channel 28.
    • KOAB-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 3; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 11, using virtual channel 3.
    • KTVR shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 13; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 5 to channel 13.

    Translators

    Low-power translators in Elkton, Glendale, Mapleton, Myrtle Point, Newport, Oakland, Oakridge, and Swisshome have been discontinued.[when?]

    Radio stations

    Call signFrequencyCity of licenseFacility IDClassPower
    (W)    		ERP
    (W)    		Height
    (m (ft))
    KOAC-FM89.7 FMAstoria81807A—180321 m (1,053 ft)
    KOBK88.9 FMBaker City94195C3—600559 m (1,834 ft)
    KOAB-FM91.3 FMBend50609C1—75,000199 m (653 ft)
    KOBN90.1 FMBurns174446A—600274 m (899 ft)
    KOAC550 AMCorvallis50587B5,000——
    KOTD89.7 FMThe Dalles173179A—50589 m (1,932 ft)
    KETP88.7 FMEnterprise174467A—100535 m (1,755 ft)
    KOPB1600 AMEugene841B5,000 day
    1,000 night    		——
    KOGL89.3 FMGleneden Beach91095A—210−14 m (−46 ft)
    KHRV90.1 FMHood River90769A—65227 m (745 ft)
    KOJD89.7 FMJohn Day174221A—900−39 m (−128 ft)
    KTVR-FM89.9 FMLa Grande94194C2—400760 m (2,490 ft)
    KOAP88.7 FMLakeview93285A—170−180 m (−590 ft)
    KOPB-FM[a]91.5 FMPortland50607 [21]C0—73,000470 m (1,540 ft)
    KRBM90.9 FMPendleton50608C2—25,000180 m (590 ft)
    KTMK91.1 FMTillamook91082A—140356 m (1,168 ft)

    Notes:

    Broadcast translators of KOPB-FM
    Call signFrequencyCity of licenseFacility IDClassERP
    (W)    		Height
    (m (ft))
    K283BT104.5 FMAstoria142734D70107.4 m (352 ft)
    K276BU103.1 FMCorvallis50601D15326 m (1,070 ft)
    K214AQ90.7 FMMount Vernon50603D25383 m (1,257 ft)
    K293BL106.5 FMNedonna Beach50610D10396.9 m (1,302 ft)
    K298AC107.5 FMOntario50611D62120 m (390 ft)
    K228DT93.5 FMPacific City50614D10677 m (2,221 ft)
    K212AQ90.3 FMRiley50598D50524.7 m (1,721 ft)
    K252DL98.3 FMWalton92367D8489.8 m (1,607 ft)

    Since the spring of 2009, OPB has operated jazz radio station KMHD; the station is owned by Mount Hood Community College, but operates out of OPB's studio facilities in Portland.

    HD stations

    Currently only KMHD and KOPB-FM carry HD radio content.

    The OPB HD radio channels are:

    ChannelProgramming
    OPB FM HD-1Main OPB radio programing
    KMHD-FM HD-1KMHD "Jazz Radio"[22]

    Other radio frequencies

    Original programming

    OPB produces original audio and video content for distribution across multiple channels including TV, radio, and online podcasting or streaming services.

    Notable podcast series include Bundyville, a deep-dive investigation of the beliefs and politics behind the 2014 Bundy standoff, the 2016 Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and the sovereign citizen movement.[23] Its second season aired in 2019 with a broadened focus on right-wing and anti-government extremism in the United States.[24] Long-running programs include OPB Politics Now[25] and Think Out Loud,[26][27] both of which have been on air since 2008. The newest series The Evergreen is a weekly podcast highlighting stories from across the Pacific Northwest.

    Notable TV and video productions include Oregon Field Guide and Oregon Art Beat, which first premiered in 1990 and 1999 respectively.

    Table of OPB Shows
    TitleRelease dateSubjectEnded?Ref.
    All Science. No Fiction.April 18, 2022Science and NatureNo[28]
    Class of 2025December 11, 2013EducationNo[29]
    Oregon Art Beat1999Art and CultureNo[30]
    Oregon ExperienceJune 16, 2006HistoryNo[31]
    Oregon Field GuideApril 16, 1990NatureNo[32]
    SuperabundantNovember 23, 2021FoodNo[33]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Horton, Kami. "It all started as a lab experiment: A century ago, the broadcaster that became OPB was born". opb.org. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
    2. ^ Morris, J.M. "The Remembered Years". oregonstate.edu. Scholars Archive Admin at OSU. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
    3. ^ KOAC timeline Archived September 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine from the Oregon State University website
    4. ^ "KOAC (Radio station: Corvallis, Or.)". snaccooperative.org. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
    5. ^ Geddes, Robert D. "Report on Non-Commercial Television in Portland". pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu. Portland City Club. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
    6. ^ a b Kristi Turnquist (March 31, 2010). "Oregon Public Broadcasting wins Peabody Award". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
    7. ^ ""Our Hidden Enemy—Venereal Disease" for Outstanding Public Service by a Local Station". Retrieved June 16, 2017.
    8. ^ "History of Oregon Public Broadcasting". OPB. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
    9. ^ "Don't reduce funding for public broadcasting". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. April 10, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
    10. ^ Kristi Turnquist (December 11, 2007). "OPBmusic launches". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
    11. ^ "Oregon Public Broadcasting's Online Music Channel Will Cease Streaming Next Week". Willamette Week. December 4, 2020.
    12. ^ "The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Selects Initiative Manager for American Archive Project". Corporation for Public Broadcasting. March 26, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
    13. ^ "Oregon Public Broadcasting Launches Its First Digital Multicast Channel". OPB.org. January 31, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2013.[permanent dead link]
    14. ^ a b "OPB to Launch New Digital Television Channel Lineup". OPB.org. December 5, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2013.[permanent dead link]
    15. ^ a b c d "Channels". OPB.org. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
    16. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KOAC
      • RabbitEars TV Query for KOPB
      • RabbitEars TV Query for KEPB
      • RabbitEars TV Query for KOAB
      • RabbitEars TV Query for KTVR
    17. ^ "OPB launches OPB WORLD, a 24/7 multicast channel". OPB.org. February 1, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
    18. ^ a b "KOPB-TV PORTLAND, OR". www.rabbitears.info. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
    19. ^ Portland TV stations backtrack, delay digital transition, a February 6, 2009, article from The Oregonian
    20. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
    21. ^ FCC License KOPB-FM Channel: 218C0 91.5 MHz
    22. ^ "About KMHD". OPB.org. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
    23. ^ "The New Yorker Recommends: A Revealing Podcast About the Bundy Family". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
    24. ^ "A unique collaboration lets the Bundyville podcast tell stories of anti-government extremism in the American West". Nieman Lab. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
    25. ^ "Four Oregon-Made Politics Podcasts to Stream Before Election Day". Portland Monthly. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
    26. ^ "In a State Divided by More Than the Cascades, Can Oregon's Flagship Public Radio Station Bridge the Gap?". Portland Monthly. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
    27. ^ Stahl, Jessica (September 18, 2017). "7 podcasts to listen to after watching 'The Vietnam War'". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
    28. ^ "OPB All Science No Fiction".
    29. ^ "OPB".
    30. ^ "OPB".
    31. ^ "OPB Oregon Experience".
    32. ^ "OPB Oregon Field Guide".
    33. ^ "OPB Superabundant".
    • Official website
    • The Remembered Years – KOAC history
    • “Oregon Field Guide Education Program; Focus on Organisms; Part 1,” 1994–03, The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia, American Archive of Public Broadcasting
    • “Oregon Field Guide Education Program; Focus on Organisms; Part 2,” 1994–03, The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia, American Archive of Public Broadcasting
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oregon_Public_Broadcasting&oldid=1325491096"