Pioneer Public Television
Encyclopedia
KWCM-TV is the Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) member Public television station for southwest and west-central Minnesota
. The station is licensed to the town of Appleton
, and airs on digital channel 10, which is also its virtual channel. It operates a full-time satellite, KSMN-TV (digital channel 15, virtual channel 20) in Worthington
. It is operated by the West Central Minnesota Educational Television Company.
Together, the two stations are known as Pioneer Public Television. Signals from the stations can also be received in parts of Iowa
, South Dakota
and North Dakota
. Several other translators carry the signal into other communities.
KWCM went on the air for the first time on February 7, 1966. In the early years, it repeated the signal of KTCA-TV
in the Twin Cities. It adopted the Pioneer Public Television name in 1982, and added KSMN in 1997. The station was completely ignored by TV Guide
until the mid-1990s; it wasn't listed in the Minnesota State Edition until 1995.
Although Appleton is part of the Twin Cities market, KWCM is not available on the Twin Cities DirecTV
or Dish Network
feeds. However, KSMN is available on the Sioux Falls DirecTV and Dish Network feeds, as Worthington is part of the Sioux Falls market. KWCM is currently working on making its signal available to satellite subscribers in the Twin Cities market.
KWCM and KSMN's broadcasts are now digital-only, effective 9pm June 12, 2009.
, Echoes of Cry of the Marsh and Minnesota Rivers and Fields. Some of these shows have also been shown on the Minnesota Channel
, a statewide network originated at KTCI
17 Twin Cities which carries local programs on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(PBS) member Public television station for southwest and west-central Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The station is licensed to the town of Appleton
Appleton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,871 people, 729 households, and 376 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,442.2 people per square mile . There were 860 housing units at an average density of 432.0 per square mile...
, and airs on digital channel 10, which is also its virtual channel. It operates a full-time satellite, KSMN-TV (digital channel 15, virtual channel 20) in Worthington
Worthington, Minnesota
Worthington is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,764 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nobles County.The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St...
. It is operated by the West Central Minnesota Educational Television Company.
Together, the two stations are known as Pioneer Public Television. Signals from the stations can also be received in parts of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. Several other translators carry the signal into other communities.
KWCM went on the air for the first time on February 7, 1966. In the early years, it repeated the signal of KTCA-TV
Twin Cities Public Television
Twin Cities Public Television is a non-profit organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that operates the Twin Cities' two Public Broadcasting Service member Public television stations, KTCA-TV and KTCI-TV...
in the Twin Cities. It adopted the Pioneer Public Television name in 1982, and added KSMN in 1997. The station was completely ignored by TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
until the mid-1990s; it wasn't listed in the Minnesota State Edition until 1995.
Although Appleton is part of the Twin Cities market, KWCM is not available on the Twin Cities DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
or Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
feeds. However, KSMN is available on the Sioux Falls DirecTV and Dish Network feeds, as Worthington is part of the Sioux Falls market. KWCM is currently working on making its signal available to satellite subscribers in the Twin Cities market.
KWCM and KSMN's broadcasts are now digital-only, effective 9pm June 12, 2009.
Pioneer-produced shows
Some locally-produced shows include Prairie Sportsman, Funtime Polka, Your Legislators, Country Spires and programs produced with the University of Minnesota Morris, Prairie Yard and Garden, Academic ChallengeAcademic Challenge
Academic Challenge is the name of several television game shows:* Academic Challenge , an American university-level competition* Academic Challenge , a high school program throughout Ohio...
, Echoes of Cry of the Marsh and Minnesota Rivers and Fields. Some of these shows have also been shown on the Minnesota Channel
Minnesota Channel
The Minnesota Channel is a full-time state-wide network originating at Twin Cities Public Television. It is carried on digital subchannels of nine stations and features programming related to Minnesota , plus coverage of the Minnesota Legislature when in session.- History :In early 2003, TPT began...
, a statewide network originated at KTCI
Twin Cities Public Television
Twin Cities Public Television is a non-profit organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that operates the Twin Cities' two Public Broadcasting Service member Public television stations, KTCA-TV and KTCI-TV...
17 Twin Cities which carries local programs on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Broadcast Translators
In addition to its two primary transmitters, Pioneer Public TV also uses a network of broadcast translators to carry its signal:- AlexandriaAlexandria, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 8,820 people, however the most recent count suggests a population upwards of 10,000, which is displayed on Alexandria's city limits signs. The census lists 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per...
K30AF - JacksonJackson, MinnesotaJackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...
K45EH - Fergus FallsFergus Falls, MinnesotaFergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,138 at the 2010 census.-Today:...
K49FA - WindomWindom, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 4,490 people, 1,910 households, and 1,195 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,263.6 people per square mile . There were 2,089 housing units at an average density of 587.9 per square mile...
K60AD - FrostFrost, MinnesotaFrost is a city in Faribault County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 198 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
K45IX