WGBX-TV
Encyclopedia
WGBX-TV is a public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a sister station to PBS
member station WGBH-TV
, airing PBS programming not aired by WGBH as well as additional supplemental programming. Reruns of the previous night's programming either from WGBH-TV or from WGBX-TV itself also makes up a part of this station's programming. WGBX also carries the digital subchannels owned by the WGBH Educational Foundation; this enables WGBH to maintain a full 1080i
transmission on their main Channel 2 service without any loss in visual quality.
The X in its callsign stands for "Experimental", as WGBX (more primarily in the 1970s) was home to programming that was given a trial on the smaller-audience UHF signal before possibly moving onto the more-established WGBH-TV. Such Eastern Educational Network imports from the United Kingdom
as Doctor Who
were seen first or more frequently on WGBX, and one late-1970s local "nightclub"-style variety show, Club 44, proved popular enough to be moved over to WGBH and retitled The Club.
and his business partner, Maria Helen Alvarez. In 1965, Wrather and Alvarez donated the license to WGBH Educational Foundation, in which WGBH used to launch its secondary educational station, WGBX-TV.
Digital channels>
Channel
Programming
44.1
Main WGBX Programming / PBS
44.2
PBS World
44.3
Create
44.4
PBS Kids
WGBX terminated analog services on April 23, 2009.
For the time being, WGBX is keeping the Channel 44 branding and virtual channel
number, even though the actual broadcast channel being used for the digital signals is 43. RF channel 44 frequency is not currently in use in Boston.
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....
member station WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
, airing PBS programming not aired by WGBH as well as additional supplemental programming. Reruns of the previous night's programming either from WGBH-TV or from WGBX-TV itself also makes up a part of this station's programming. WGBX also carries the digital subchannels owned by the WGBH Educational Foundation; this enables WGBH to maintain a full 1080i
1080i
1080i is the shorthand name for a high-definition television mode. The i means interlaced video; 1080i differs from 1080p, in which the p stands for progressive scan. The term 1080i assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a frame size of 1920×1080 pixels...
transmission on their main Channel 2 service without any loss in visual quality.
The X in its callsign stands for "Experimental", as WGBX (more primarily in the 1970s) was home to programming that was given a trial on the smaller-audience UHF signal before possibly moving onto the more-established WGBH-TV. Such Eastern Educational Network imports from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
were seen first or more frequently on WGBX, and one late-1970s local "nightclub"-style variety show, Club 44, proved popular enough to be moved over to WGBH and retitled The Club.
History
The station initially existed as a construction permit for WJDW-TV, a commercial station co-owned by television producer Jack WratherJack Wrather
John Devereaux "Jack" Wrather, Jr. , was a petroleum millionaire who became a television producer and later diversified by investing in broadcast stations and resort properties...
and his business partner, Maria Helen Alvarez. In 1965, Wrather and Alvarez donated the license to WGBH Educational Foundation, in which WGBH used to launch its secondary educational station, WGBX-TV.
Digital television
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:PBS World
PBS World is a 24-hour United States over-the-air digital subchannel showing public TV non-fiction, science, nature, news, public affairs and documentaries...
PBS Kids
PBS Kids is the brand for children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States founded in 1993. As with all PBS programming, PBS Kids programming is non-commercial. It is aimed at children ages 2 to 10...
WGBX terminated analog services on April 23, 2009.
For the time being, WGBX is keeping the Channel 44 branding and virtual channel
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
number, even though the actual broadcast channel being used for the digital signals is 43. RF channel 44 frequency is not currently in use in Boston.