KTXT-TV
Encyclopedia
KTXT-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) member Public television station broadcasting on digital channel 39. KTXT is owned by Texas Tech University
and housed on its campus in Lubbock, Texas
.
The station is located on the southwestern part of campus of Texas Tech University, near the 817-foot broadcast tower. Its mission is "to serve the public interest, convenience and necessity, and satisfy all federal regulations relating to its staffing, operation, and funding; to support all aspects of the University, with special emphasis given to curricula and cultural contributions; and to make a positive contribution to University-community relations throughout the South Plains". KTXT-TV, also referred to as South Plains Public Television, began digital transmission in the fall of 2002.
KTXT has broadcast solely digitally since 4:30 pm February 5, 2009; as the Channel 5 analog transmitter had failed less than two weeks before the scheduled end of analogue broadcasting, the approximately $25,000 cost of repair could not be justified.
The station's former analog channel 5 was added to the FCC table of allotments in 1952 as a commercial channel. Plains Broadcasting Company (newspaper interests behind Amarillos Globe and News newspapers and KGNC A/F/T and The Lubbock, Texas Avalanche and Journal and KFYO/A/F) received a construction permit for channel fibe in 1953. The station planned to locate on then rural land at 74th street and college (now University avenue). That site is today used for KLBK-TV and virtual sister station KAMC (TV).
The KFYO-TV owners had their hands full with their first station in Amarillo KGNC-TV (now KAMR) on channel 4. By 1957 Amarillo had three operating TV stations. KFYO realized the difficulty of making money with a third station in a city then smaller and younger than Amarillo. They allowed the KFYO-TV cp to 'go to seed'.
In the late fifties and early sixties, there were occasional rumbles that someone would file for channel five on a commercial basis. The locally based owners of Lubbock stations KCBD-TV (Joe Bryant) and KDUB-TV (Dub Rogers) stepped in and offered to assist Texas Tech College with starting a station to operate on a non commercial basis. Each pledged 25,000 dollars and the donation of various equipment.
KTXT-TV signed on from a converted building (the former Agriculture Pavilion) and a 452 foot tower located at the new studios. The station installed a six bay RCA antenna, used dual 1 5/8" feed lines, and a 500 watt RCA TT-500BL transmitter for an ERP of about 5,000 watts visual. In 1966 a grant bought the station a TT-6EL transmitter which raised power to 25,700 watts. In 1982-83 the station received a donated 817 foot tower (former KAMR-TV Amarillo tower) and 12 bay antenna. This allowed the station to raise power to 100,000 visual. A Harris transmitter was installed in 1984 and the station converted to BTSC (stereo TV audio) operation.
for the first season of its original series, StoryTellers & MusicMakers. The 13-part music interview show is hosted by Lubbock native singer and songwriter Kenny Maines, member of The Maines Brothers Band
and uncle to Dixie Chicks
lead singer Natalie Maines
. It features various regional musicians and industry insiders talking about West Texas
' musical influence on the rest of the world.
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 broadcasting on digital channel 39. KTXT is owned by Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
and housed on its campus in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
.
History and facilities
An open circuit, noncommercial, educational television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, KTXT-TV began broadcasting on October 16, 1962.The station is located on the southwestern part of campus of Texas Tech University, near the 817-foot broadcast tower. Its mission is "to serve the public interest, convenience and necessity, and satisfy all federal regulations relating to its staffing, operation, and funding; to support all aspects of the University, with special emphasis given to curricula and cultural contributions; and to make a positive contribution to University-community relations throughout the South Plains". KTXT-TV, also referred to as South Plains Public Television, began digital transmission in the fall of 2002.
KTXT has broadcast solely digitally since 4:30 pm February 5, 2009; as the Channel 5 analog transmitter had failed less than two weeks before the scheduled end of analogue broadcasting, the approximately $25,000 cost of repair could not be justified.
The station's former analog channel 5 was added to the FCC table of allotments in 1952 as a commercial channel. Plains Broadcasting Company (newspaper interests behind Amarillos Globe and News newspapers and KGNC A/F/T and The Lubbock, Texas Avalanche and Journal and KFYO/A/F) received a construction permit for channel fibe in 1953. The station planned to locate on then rural land at 74th street and college (now University avenue). That site is today used for KLBK-TV and virtual sister station KAMC (TV).
The KFYO-TV owners had their hands full with their first station in Amarillo KGNC-TV (now KAMR) on channel 4. By 1957 Amarillo had three operating TV stations. KFYO realized the difficulty of making money with a third station in a city then smaller and younger than Amarillo. They allowed the KFYO-TV cp to 'go to seed'.
In the late fifties and early sixties, there were occasional rumbles that someone would file for channel five on a commercial basis. The locally based owners of Lubbock stations KCBD-TV (Joe Bryant) and KDUB-TV (Dub Rogers) stepped in and offered to assist Texas Tech College with starting a station to operate on a non commercial basis. Each pledged 25,000 dollars and the donation of various equipment.
KTXT-TV signed on from a converted building (the former Agriculture Pavilion) and a 452 foot tower located at the new studios. The station installed a six bay RCA antenna, used dual 1 5/8" feed lines, and a 500 watt RCA TT-500BL transmitter for an ERP of about 5,000 watts visual. In 1966 a grant bought the station a TT-6EL transmitter which raised power to 25,700 watts. In 1982-83 the station received a donated 817 foot tower (former KAMR-TV Amarillo tower) and 12 bay antenna. This allowed the station to raise power to 100,000 visual. A Harris transmitter was installed in 1984 and the station converted to BTSC (stereo TV audio) operation.
Honors
In 2007, KTXT was awarded a Silver Telly AwardTelly Awards
The Telly Award is an award presented by the namesake, New York City-based organization. The stated purpose of the award is to "honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web." The...
for the first season of its original series, StoryTellers & MusicMakers. The 13-part music interview show is hosted by Lubbock native singer and songwriter Kenny Maines, member of The Maines Brothers Band
The Maines Brothers Band
The Maines Brothers Band is a Texas-based country music band. The Maines Brothers for which the band was named are Lloyd Maines , Donnie Maines , Kenny Maines , and Steve Maines...
and uncle to Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
lead singer Natalie Maines
Natalie Maines
Natalie Louise Maines Pasdar is an American singer-songwriter who achieved success as the lead vocalist for the female alternative country band, the Dixie Chicks...
. It features various regional musicians and industry insiders talking about West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
' musical influence on the rest of the world.