Augie Hiebert
Encyclopedia
A. G. "Augie" Hiebert was an Alaskan television
pioneer. Hiebert is credited with building Alaska
's first television station
, KTVA
in Anchorage in 1953. He is often called the "father of Alaskan television."
. Fascinated with electronics
as a teenager, he built his first amateur radio
in Bend, Oregon
, when he was only 15. He landed his first job in Wenatchee, Washington
, at a radio station
after graduating from high school. He worked his way up from an announcer to a station engineer at another radio station in Bend.
, where they built the city's first radio station, KFAR
.
Hiebert also helped to set up KENI
, another AM station, in Anchorage in 1948.
Additionally, Hiebert established Alaska's first FM radio station, KNIK, in Anchorage in 1960.
Hiebert's first Satellite AM radio station was KBYR programmed and formatted by Broadcasters Hall Of Fame Inductee Rod Williams http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8671918710700849428
, an Alaska based production and broadcasting company. Hiebert and his small company would help found many of Alaska's original television station. (Hiebert sold Northern Television in 1997.)
In 1953 Hiebert and his company built Alaska's first television station, KTVA
, in Anchorage. The station initially offered local news, as well as some television programs and feature films. KTVA only broadcast for a few hours a day in its early years. Much of its network programming had to be physically flown in as tapes
from the mainland United States
, since there were no satellite broadcasting or nearby antenna
broadcasts available in Alaska in those days.
In 1955, just two years after launching KTVA, Hiebert founded KTVF
, Alaska's second television station, in Fairbanks.
Hiebert worked behind the scenes to bring live coverage of Neil Armstrong
's walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. The lunar live coverage was a coup for Hiebert and Alaska, since live coverage of events usually had to be pre-taped and shipped to the state in the late 1960s. Hiebert and other station owners negotiated with the U.S. military and the Alaskan congressional delegation
to bring a live satellite
feed of the landing to Alaska.
Hiebert was advocate for the special needs of Alaska's broadcasters. He organized 'Alaska Days' for Federal Communication Commission to educate members about the difficulties of broadcasting in a vast and sparsely populated state such as Alaska.
(FCC) to get Mirror Lake's FM radio station, KAUG
, federally licensed. KAUG was the first middle school
radio station in the United States to be licensed by the FCC.
on September 13, 2007 at the age of 90. He had recently been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Veteran television newscaster and journalist
Walter Cronkite
released a prepared statement on the news of Hiebert's death, "The great state of Alaska has lost one of its most distinguished citizens. Augie Hiebert was the pioneer of communications who brought radio and later television to his beloved home state."
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
pioneer. Hiebert is credited with building Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
's first television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
, KTVA
KTVA
KTVA, channel 11, is a station in Anchorage, Alaska. The station is the only television station owned by the MediaNews Group newspaper chain until a reorganization plan forced MediaNews to move the station to Affiliated Media, a holding company....
in Anchorage in 1953. He is often called the "father of Alaskan television."
Early life
Augie Hiebert was born in Trinidad, WashingtonTrinidad, Washington
--Uncle Bean 04:48, 16 November 2011 Trinidad is an unincorporated community in Grant County, Washington, and a ghost town. The town consists of Crescent Bar Road NW and three unnamed access roads , between Quincy and Wenatchee...
. Fascinated with electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
as a teenager, he built his first amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
in Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
, when he was only 15. He landed his first job in Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
, at a radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
after graduating from high school. He worked his way up from an announcer to a station engineer at another radio station in Bend.
Alaskan radio
In 1939, Hiebert followed one of his Bend, Oregon, co-workers, Austin E. "Cap" Lathrop, to Fairbanks, AlaskaFairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
, where they built the city's first radio station, KFAR
KFAR
KFAR is a commercial radio station programming news/talk in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, broadcasting on 660 AM. It airs Fox News Radio and carries national radio programs thru Compass Media Networks, Premiere Radio Networks and Westwood One, amongst others. Of the two AM news/talk stations...
.
Hiebert also helped to set up KENI
KENI
KENI is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Anchorage, Alaska, USA, the station serves the Southcentral Alaska area...
, another AM station, in Anchorage in 1948.
Additionally, Hiebert established Alaska's first FM radio station, KNIK, in Anchorage in 1960.
Hiebert's first Satellite AM radio station was KBYR programmed and formatted by Broadcasters Hall Of Fame Inductee Rod Williams http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8671918710700849428
Alaskan television
Augie Hiebert founded Northern TelevisionNorthern Television
Northern Television was the name of a subnetwork in northern British Columbia, composed of two private CBC Television stations, CFTK-TV, and CJDC-TV.-History:...
, an Alaska based production and broadcasting company. Hiebert and his small company would help found many of Alaska's original television station. (Hiebert sold Northern Television in 1997.)
In 1953 Hiebert and his company built Alaska's first television station, KTVA
KTVA
KTVA, channel 11, is a station in Anchorage, Alaska. The station is the only television station owned by the MediaNews Group newspaper chain until a reorganization plan forced MediaNews to move the station to Affiliated Media, a holding company....
, in Anchorage. The station initially offered local news, as well as some television programs and feature films. KTVA only broadcast for a few hours a day in its early years. Much of its network programming had to be physically flown in as tapes
Tapes
Tapes is a small city in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, near to Porto Alegre. It's good for sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing....
from the mainland United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, since there were no satellite broadcasting or nearby antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
broadcasts available in Alaska in those days.
In 1955, just two years after launching KTVA, Hiebert founded KTVF
KTVF
-History:The station signed on the air in February 1955 as the first television station serving what at the time was the smallest television market in the United States...
, Alaska's second television station, in Fairbanks.
Hiebert worked behind the scenes to bring live coverage of Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
's walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. The lunar live coverage was a coup for Hiebert and Alaska, since live coverage of events usually had to be pre-taped and shipped to the state in the late 1960s. Hiebert and other station owners negotiated with the U.S. military and the Alaskan congressional delegation
United States congressional delegations from Alaska
These are tables of congressional delegations from Alaska to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
to bring a live satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
feed of the landing to Alaska.
Hiebert was advocate for the special needs of Alaska's broadcasters. He organized 'Alaska Days' for Federal Communication Commission to educate members about the difficulties of broadcasting in a vast and sparsely populated state such as Alaska.
Retirement
Hiebert retired in 1997 at the age of 80 and sold his company, Northern Television the same year. However, he continued to be active in broadcasting after his retirement. He focused much of his energy on establishing a video-news program for Mirror Lake Middle School. He also worked with the Federal Communications CommissionFederal 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) to get Mirror Lake's FM radio station, KAUG
KAUG
KAUG is a radio station licensed to serve Anchorage, Alaska. The station is owned by the Anchorage School District. It airs a variety format....
, federally licensed. KAUG was the first middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
radio station in the United States to be licensed by the FCC.
Death
Augie Hiebert died in Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
on September 13, 2007 at the age of 90. He had recently been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Veteran television newscaster and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
released a prepared statement on the news of Hiebert's death, "The great state of Alaska has lost one of its most distinguished citizens. Augie Hiebert was the pioneer of communications who brought radio and later television to his beloved home state."