WNED-TV
Encyclopedia
WNED-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) member Public television
station in Buffalo, New York
. Owned by the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, it broadcasts on digital channel 43 from studios in downtown Buffalo and a transmitter located in Grand Island, New York
. Until April 16, 2009, it was also broadcast on analog channel 17.
In addition to Buffalo, WNED also has a substantial viewership in Southern Ontario
, including Toronto
; it identifies as "Buffalo/Toronto" on-air. Many cable and satellite providers in Southern Ontario include WNED as the PBS station, and more than half of its financial support comes from Canada
.
in 1955. At first it was locally owned and took those programs from all networks which the city's oldest station, WBEN-TV (Channel 4) didn't opt to carry. Later, in 1954, WGR-TV (Channel 2) signed on, and claimed most of the ABC and some NBC programming which Channel 17 had previously used to fill much of its schedule. This could have left WBUF without a significant source of the network programming most viewers preferred. But NBC then bought channel 17 as an experiment to see if a UHF station could compete with VHF
given sufficient signal strength, marketing promotion and program investment. The network also hoped to expand its presence in major markets beyond the five where the FCC allowed any network or group owner to operate full power VHF stations...a limit NBC had reached by 1948. But there was a loophole in the ownership limits allowing any such group owner to acquire two additional UHF outlets without relinquishing a VHF property. NBC expanded WBUF's power considerably to improve its signal strength and range, and built a new studio and transmitter complex on Buffalo's north side to provide service capabilities to match market-leading CBS affiliate WBEN-TV on Channel 4 and fast-rising ABC affiliate WGR-TV on Channel 2. However, despite a large investment, WBUF never made much headway against WBEN-TV (now WIVB-TV
) and WGR-TV (now WGRZ-TV
). Part of the problem was that television manufacturers were not required to build in UHF tuning capability. Viewers needed a converter to watch WBUF, and even with one the picture quality was often inferior to the VHF competition without an outdoor antenna. In fact, viewers of NBC programs in the eastern portion of the Buffalo metropolitan area often got a better signal from WROC-TV
in Rochester
, which then operated with full power on low-band VHF channel 5. The final blow came in late 1956, when the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) ended an almost decade-long competitive process and issued a third VHF license to Buffalo, on channel 7 -- the winner was Churchill Broadcasting, owner of WKBW Radio, for the station which was to become WKBW-TV
. NBC signed off WBUF on September 30, 1958 (two months to the day before WKBW-TV signed on) and moved its affiliation to WGR-TV Channel 2, while ABC signed with the new Channel 7.
WNED-TV has become a leading PBS member. It produced several original programs that have been carried throughout the PBS system such as the Mark Russell
comedy specials and Reading Rainbow
, produced in association with GPN
until early 2006. Starting in May 2006, co-production of Reading Rainbow continued with Educate Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, after the University of Nebraska Regents (the owners of GPN and NET
) sold its long-time production interest to WNED. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=180055&p=irol-newsArticle_print&ID=828093
In 1975, the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association bought two commercial radio stations, WEBR-AM and WREZ-FM. The AM station had been founded in 1924, while the FM station was founded as WEBR-FM in 1960, becoming WBCE-FM in the early 1970s before becoming WREZ. The FM station was renamed WNED-FM in 1977, when it adopted a classical music format. In 1977, WEBR-AM became the nation's first public all-news radio station and was the top-rated public radio station in the country by 1978. In 1993 it was renamed WNED-AM after cutbacks in government funding forced it to dramatically cut its local programming in favour of network and syndicated content.
From 1987 to 2000, WNED-TV operated a sister station, WNEQ, on channel 23. The operation of two PBS television stations proved unviable. In late 1999, the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association announced that it would sell WNEQ to LIN Broadcasting
. It is now known as WNLO
.
Until this time WNED-TV had maintained the old commercial license it had inherited from WBUF-TV, while WNEQ had operated on a traditional non-commercial license. LIN needed WNED's commercial license in order to make its acquisition viable. At one point, it seemed likely that LIN would actually purchase channel 17 from the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association. This would have resulted in the WNED-TV intellectual unit moving to channel 23, while channel 17 would have become a commercial station. However, the long history of channel 17 as a PBS
station prevented this. The FCC was persuaded to allow channel 17 and channel 23 to swap licenses, allowing WNEQ to be sold to LIN. After 42 years of operating as a commercial licensee operating as a non-commercial broadcaster, WNED acquired an educational license in 2000. WNEQ was sold to LIN in early 2001, and is now WNLO
, an affiliate of the CW network.
Through the use of a digital subchannel
, WNED-TV now provides ThinkBright
as a second programming service, covering most of New York State with twelve hours a day of regional, educational and cultural programming. It is available on all New York PBS member stations except Long Island/New York City
.
WNED-TV is simulcast on many translators
, including W46BA, in Jamestown, New York
, and W62AE, licensed to Cherry Creek, New York
. These stations are analog, but are "grandfathered," allowing them to operate past the national digital transition if necessary. Because of inadequate signal coverage to rural schools in the valley areas of mountainous southwestern New York State, WNED once had a massive network of translator licenses--some active and some now defunct, in some cases even "extra-legal." The transmitters and towers belong to the Chautauqua Board of Cooperative Educational Services, the experimental Appalachian Television Project, and Cattaraugus Area Television System (CATS) group and are scattered across numerous small towns in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties in areas that have virtually no population in their FCC-designated coverage areas. It is unknown whether or not these licenses have actual stations associated with them, but the network predates the FCC's discontinuation of channels 70 through 83, since some of the Cattaraugus County licenses were in that range. In addition, the CATS system originates some of its own local programming, such as live high school football games.
Digital channels>
Channel
Name
Programming
43.1
WNED-HD
Main WNED programming / PBS HD
43.2
WNED-SD
SD Simulcast of 43.1
43.3
WNED-TH
ThinkBright
TV
WNED converted to digital-only broadcast on April 16, 2009. W46BA and W62AE, as low-power stations, are not required to broadcast digitally.
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 in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Owned by the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, it broadcasts on digital channel 43 from studios in downtown Buffalo and a transmitter located in Grand Island, New York
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
. Until April 16, 2009, it was also broadcast on analog channel 17.
In addition to Buffalo, WNED also has a substantial viewership in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, including Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
; it identifies as "Buffalo/Toronto" on-air. Many cable and satellite providers in Southern Ontario include WNED as the PBS station, and more than half of its financial support comes from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
As WBUF-TV
Channel 17 first signed on in 1953 as WBUF-TV an early UHF commercial station launched in 1953. It was sold to NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 1955. At first it was locally owned and took those programs from all networks which the city's oldest station, WBEN-TV (Channel 4) didn't opt to carry. Later, in 1954, WGR-TV (Channel 2) signed on, and claimed most of the ABC and some NBC programming which Channel 17 had previously used to fill much of its schedule. This could have left WBUF without a significant source of the network programming most viewers preferred. But NBC then bought channel 17 as an experiment to see if a UHF station could compete with VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
given sufficient signal strength, marketing promotion and program investment. The network also hoped to expand its presence in major markets beyond the five where the FCC allowed any network or group owner to operate full power VHF stations...a limit NBC had reached by 1948. But there was a loophole in the ownership limits allowing any such group owner to acquire two additional UHF outlets without relinquishing a VHF property. NBC expanded WBUF's power considerably to improve its signal strength and range, and built a new studio and transmitter complex on Buffalo's north side to provide service capabilities to match market-leading CBS affiliate WBEN-TV on Channel 4 and fast-rising ABC affiliate WGR-TV on Channel 2. However, despite a large investment, WBUF never made much headway against WBEN-TV (now WIVB-TV
WIVB-TV
WIVB-TV, virtual channel 4, is the CBS-affiliated television station for Western New York that is licensed to Buffalo. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter on Center Street in Colden. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to CW...
) and WGR-TV (now WGRZ-TV
WGRZ-TV
WGRZ, virtual channel 2 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Buffalo, New York. Its studio is located at 259 Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo. Its transmitter is located at 11530 Warner Hill Road in South Wales, New York...
). Part of the problem was that television manufacturers were not required to build in UHF tuning capability. Viewers needed a converter to watch WBUF, and even with one the picture quality was often inferior to the VHF competition without an outdoor antenna. In fact, viewers of NBC programs in the eastern portion of the Buffalo metropolitan area often got a better signal from WROC-TV
WROC-TV
WROC-TV, virtual channel 8, is a CBS affiliate based in Rochester, New York, USA, owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group. WROC-TV operates Fox affiliate WUHF through a shared services agreement. The two share studios on Humboldt Street in Rochester...
in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, which then operated with full power on low-band VHF channel 5. The final blow came in late 1956, when the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) ended an almost decade-long competitive process and issued a third VHF license to Buffalo, on channel 7 -- the winner was Churchill Broadcasting, owner of WKBW Radio, for the station which was to become WKBW-TV
WKBW-TV
WKBW-TV, channel 7, is the ABC affiliate for the Buffalo, New York television market, and is one of many local Buffalo TV stations seen over-the-air and on cable in Canada. Its transmitter is located at 8909 Center Street in Colden. The station is owned by the Granite Broadcasting Corporation, who...
. NBC signed off WBUF on September 30, 1958 (two months to the day before WKBW-TV signed on) and moved its affiliation to WGR-TV Channel 2, while ABC signed with the new Channel 7.
As WNED-TV
NBC donated its license and some equipment to the newly-formed Western New York Public Broadcasting Association. Channel 17 returned to the air on March 30, 1959 as WNED-TV, the second educational station in New York State. Although WNED-TV still had a commercial license, it operated as a noncommercial educational station.WNED-TV has become a leading PBS member. It produced several original programs that have been carried throughout the PBS system such as the Mark Russell
Mark Russell
Mark Russell is an American political satirist/comedian. He also sings and plays the piano.-Biography:...
comedy specials and Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow is an American children's television series aired by PBS from June 6, 1983 until November 10, 2006 that encouraged reading among children. The award-winning public television series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's...
, produced in association with GPN
Nebraska Educational Telecommunications
Nebraska Educational Telecommunications is a state network of non-commercial educational public broadcasting radio and television stations in Nebraska and is based in Lincoln. It is operated by the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission...
until early 2006. Starting in May 2006, co-production of Reading Rainbow continued with Educate Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, after the University of Nebraska Regents (the owners of GPN and NET
Nebraska Educational Telecommunications
Nebraska Educational Telecommunications is a state network of non-commercial educational public broadcasting radio and television stations in Nebraska and is based in Lincoln. It is operated by the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission...
) sold its long-time production interest to WNED. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=180055&p=irol-newsArticle_print&ID=828093
In 1975, the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association bought two commercial radio stations, WEBR-AM and WREZ-FM. The AM station had been founded in 1924, while the FM station was founded as WEBR-FM in 1960, becoming WBCE-FM in the early 1970s before becoming WREZ. The FM station was renamed WNED-FM in 1977, when it adopted a classical music format. In 1977, WEBR-AM became the nation's first public all-news radio station and was the top-rated public radio station in the country by 1978. In 1993 it was renamed WNED-AM after cutbacks in government funding forced it to dramatically cut its local programming in favour of network and syndicated content.
From 1987 to 2000, WNED-TV operated a sister station, WNEQ, on channel 23. The operation of two PBS television stations proved unviable. In late 1999, the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association announced that it would sell WNEQ to LIN Broadcasting
LIN TV
LIN TV Corporation is an American holding company that operates 31 television stations.-History:LIN TV's roots trace back to the founding of its former parent, LIN Broadcasting Corporation, in 1961. LIN Broadcasting was engaged in radio, television, direct marketing, information and learning, music...
. It is now known as WNLO
WNLO
WNLO is the CW-affiliated television station for Western New York licensed to Buffalo. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter on the eastern side of Grand Island. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 11 and Verizon FiOS channel 23...
.
Until this time WNED-TV had maintained the old commercial license it had inherited from WBUF-TV, while WNEQ had operated on a traditional non-commercial license. LIN needed WNED's commercial license in order to make its acquisition viable. At one point, it seemed likely that LIN would actually purchase channel 17 from the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association. This would have resulted in the WNED-TV intellectual unit moving to channel 23, while channel 17 would have become a commercial station. However, the long history of channel 17 as a PBS
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....
station prevented this. The FCC was persuaded to allow channel 17 and channel 23 to swap licenses, allowing WNEQ to be sold to LIN. After 42 years of operating as a commercial licensee operating as a non-commercial broadcaster, WNED acquired an educational license in 2000. WNEQ was sold to LIN in early 2001, and is now WNLO
WNLO
WNLO is the CW-affiliated television station for Western New York licensed to Buffalo. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter on the eastern side of Grand Island. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 11 and Verizon FiOS channel 23...
, an affiliate of the CW network.
Through the use of a digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
, WNED-TV now provides ThinkBright
ThinkBright
ThinkBright TV is a PBS television digital subchannel serving New York State except New York City. Its programming includes educational series, lifelong learning, arts and culture, children's shows and public affairs coverage with a focus on New York's people, places and heritage.ThinkBright & Well...
as a second programming service, covering most of New York State with twelve hours a day of regional, educational and cultural programming. It is available on all New York PBS member stations except Long Island/New York City
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
.
WNED-TV is simulcast on many translators
Broadcast relay station
A broadcast relay station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator , rebroadcaster , or repeater is a broadcast transmitter which relays, repeats, or reflects the signal of another radio station or television station, usually to an area not covered by the signal of the originating station...
, including W46BA, in Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
, and W62AE, licensed to Cherry Creek, New York
Cherry Creek (town), New York
Cherry Creek is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 1,152 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from that of a small stream that flows through the town amid many cherry trees....
. These stations are analog, but are "grandfathered," allowing them to operate past the national digital transition if necessary. Because of inadequate signal coverage to rural schools in the valley areas of mountainous southwestern New York State, WNED once had a massive network of translator licenses--some active and some now defunct, in some cases even "extra-legal." The transmitters and towers belong to the Chautauqua Board of Cooperative Educational Services, the experimental Appalachian Television Project, and Cattaraugus Area Television System (CATS) group and are scattered across numerous small towns in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties in areas that have virtually no population in their FCC-designated coverage areas. It is unknown whether or not these licenses have actual stations associated with them, but the network predates the FCC's discontinuation of channels 70 through 83, since some of the Cattaraugus County licenses were in that range. In addition, the CATS system originates some of its own local programming, such as live high school football games.
Station presentation
Over the years, WNED-TV has shown different logos, citing stylistic changes and changes in network logos as well.Digital television
The station's digital signal on UHF channel 43 is multiplexed:ThinkBright
ThinkBright TV is a PBS television digital subchannel serving New York State except New York City. Its programming includes educational series, lifelong learning, arts and culture, children's shows and public affairs coverage with a focus on New York's people, places and heritage.ThinkBright & Well...
TV
WNED converted to digital-only broadcast on April 16, 2009. W46BA and W62AE, as low-power stations, are not required to broadcast digitally.
External links
- Official site
- UHF Morgue: History of WBUF-TV Channel 17's earlier incarnation
- Gallery of past logos for WNED