KBTC-TV
Encyclopedia
KBTC-TV is an American public television station in Tacoma, Washington
, affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS). It broadcasts on digital channel 27, and Comcast
cable channel 12. Its offices and broadcasting center are located on the campus of owner Bates Technical College
. The property was purchased from KSTW
when that station moved to Renton
in 2001.
Bates Technical College also owns KCKA analog channel 15 which signed on the air October 2, 1982 and digital channel 19 in Centralia
, where it repeats KBTC's programming, and owned public radio station KBTC-FM 91.7 until 2004, when it was sold to Public Radio Capital and became KXOT.
In addition to reaching a local over-the-air audience, KBTC is transmitted to Comcast Cable viewers in Seattle
, Bellevue
, Everett
, and many areas of southwest Washington.
The station originally signed on the air September 25, 1961 as KTPS-TV and licensed to Tacoma School District No. 10, owned by the Tacoma Public Schools
. Previous to that time, KTPS had operated on Channel 62. Bates took over in 1992 and changed the calls to KBTC on October 12, 1992.
KBTC's scheduled programming is digital-only, effective June 12, 2009. However KBTC-TV has continued its analog signal as part of the FCC's "Nightlight" program, running a DTV transition guide.
On November 1, 2009, KBTC began broadcasting in 1080i HD on 28.1. MHZ Worldview
appears on subchannel 28.2. Due to the increased bandwidth required for the HD broadcast, 28.3 Docs and 28.4 Create are no longer being broadcast.
On May 15, 2010, KBTC began broadcasting in 1080i HD from an additional transmitter location on channel 24 (remapping to channel 28) from Mount Constitution
to the Bellingham
, Vancouver, BC
, and Victoria
areas.
On December 6, 2010, KBTC added TVW
as a subchannel.
, and the Pacific Rim bonsai collection, and has featured many other stories, including a 2006 interview with Sesame Street's Bob McGrath.
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service
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). It broadcasts on digital channel 27, and Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
cable channel 12. Its offices and broadcasting center are located on the campus of owner Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College, located in Tacoma, Washington, is the state’s largest public technical college. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, it offers two-year Associate of Technology degrees, academic certificates, and industry certifications, and maintains...
. The property was purchased from KSTW
KSTW
KSTW is a television station serving the Seattle, Washington media market. It is owned by CBS Corporation, and is a part of The CW Television Network. It broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 11...
when that station moved to Renton
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
in 2001.
Bates Technical College also owns KCKA analog channel 15 which signed on the air October 2, 1982 and digital channel 19 in Centralia
Centralia, Washington
Centralia is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 16,336 at the 2010 census.-History:In pioneer days, Centralia was the halfway stopover point for stagecoaches operating between the Columbia River and Seattle. In 1850, J. G. Cochran came from Missouri with his...
, where it repeats KBTC's programming, and owned public radio station KBTC-FM 91.7 until 2004, when it was sold to Public Radio Capital and became KXOT.
In addition to reaching a local over-the-air audience, KBTC is transmitted to Comcast Cable viewers in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Bellevue
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
, Everett
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, and many areas of southwest Washington.
The station originally signed on the air September 25, 1961 as KTPS-TV and licensed to Tacoma School District No. 10, owned by the Tacoma Public Schools
Tacoma Public Schools
Tacoma Public Schools is the main school district for Tacoma, Washington, USA.-District facts:-2004-2005 Budget:-School board:*Kurt Miller, President, Term expires: November, 2009*Connie Rickman, Vice President, Term expires: November, 2009...
. Previous to that time, KTPS had operated on Channel 62. Bates took over in 1992 and changed the calls to KBTC on October 12, 1992.
KBTC's scheduled programming is digital-only, effective June 12, 2009. However KBTC-TV has continued its analog signal as part of the FCC's "Nightlight" program, running a DTV transition guide.
On November 1, 2009, KBTC began broadcasting in 1080i HD on 28.1. MHZ Worldview
MHz Worldview
MHz WorldView is an independent, non-commercial Public television network that broadcasts newscasts and other programs from around the world. It is owned and operated by Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation who also run MHz Networks....
appears on subchannel 28.2. Due to the increased bandwidth required for the HD broadcast, 28.3 Docs and 28.4 Create are no longer being broadcast.
On May 15, 2010, KBTC began broadcasting in 1080i HD from an additional transmitter location on channel 24 (remapping to channel 28) from Mount Constitution
Mount Constitution
Mount Constitution is a mountain on Orcas Island, and the highest point in the San Juan Islands. A stone observation tower patterned after a medieval watch tower stands at the summit. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding...
to the Bellingham
Bellingham
- Places :Australia:* Bellingham, Tasmania, coastal hamlet in Northern TasmaniaEngland:* Bellingham, London, neighbourhood and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham* Bellingham, Northumberland, villageUnited States:* Bellingham, Washington...
, Vancouver, BC
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
areas.
On December 6, 2010, KBTC added TVW
TVW (Washington)
TVW is Washington's public affairs network, providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of Washington State Legislature sessions and coverage of the Washington State Supreme Court and public affairs events. It is widely considered the model state level equivalent of C-SPAN. TVW was founded in 1993 by...
as a subchannel.
Local production
KBTC's local production Full Focus is a half-hour documentary-style show that looks at some of the people, places, and historical events that have helped shape western Washington. The show has profiled the artist Trimpin, baseball legend Fred HutchinsonFred Hutchinson
Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
, and the Pacific Rim bonsai collection, and has featured many other stories, including a 2006 interview with Sesame Street's Bob McGrath.