View source for WPBS-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Watertown, New York}}
{{About|the public television station|other uses|WPBS (disambiguation){{!}}WPBS}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station dual
| name1 = WPBS-TV
| city1 = [[Watertown, New York]]
| logo = WPBS 2019.svg
| branding = WPBS PBS
| digital1 = 26 ([[UHF]])
| virtual1 = 16
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''16.1/18.1:''' [[PBS]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate1 = {{start date and age|1971|8|20|p=y}}<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=84309 |title= History Cards for WPBS|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}} ([[Wikipedia:WikiProject Radio Stations/History Cards|Guide to reading History Cards]])<!--Converted from {{FCC letter}}--></ref>
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning1 = Public Broadcasting Service
| former_callsigns1 = {{ubl|WNPE-TV (1971–1998)|WPBS-DT (2009–2020)}}
| former_channel_numbers1 = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 16 (UHF, 1971–2009)|'''Digital:''' 41 (UHF, 2005–2019)}}
| owner = St. Lawrence Valley Educational TV Council, Inc.
| erp1 = 98 kW
| haat1 = {{convert|373.3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id1 = 62136
| coordinates1 = {{Coord|43|51|46|N|75|43|38|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WPBS-TV}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.wpbstv.org/}}
| name2 = WNPI-DT
| city2 = [[Norwood, New York]]
| digital2 = 23 (UHF)
| virtual2 = 18
| airdate2 = {{start date and age|1971|9|5|p=y}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=84310 |access-date=September 20, 2023| title=Broadcasting System License Record}}</ref>
| former_callsigns2 = WNPI-TV (1971−2009)
| former_channel_numbers2 = '''Analog:''' 18 (UHF, 1971–2009)
| erp2 = 40 kW
| haat2 = {{convert|241.63|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id2 = 62137
| coordinates2 = {{Coord|44|29|29|N|74|51|26|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WNPI-DT}}
}}

'''WPBS-TV''' (channel 16) and '''WNPI-DT''' (channel 18) are [[PBS]] member [[television station]]s licensed respectively to [[Watertown, New York|Watertown]] and [[Norwood, New York]], United States. Owned by the St. Lawrence Valley Educational TV Council, the stations maintain studios on Arsenal Street in Watertown. WPBS-TV's transmitter is located on Lewis County Route 194  in [[Denmark, New York]], while WNPI's tower is in [[Colton, New York|South Colton]].

WNPI operates as a full-time [[broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|satellite]] of WPBS; its existence is only acknowledged in [[station identification]]s. Aside from the transmitter, WNPI does not maintain any physical presence locally in Norwood.

The two stations service most of northeastern [[New York (state)|New York]] as well as [[Ottawa]] and [[Kingston, Ontario]], Canada; their slogan "Your Two-Nation Station" reflects this Canadian audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://help.pbs.org/support/solutions/articles/5000672982-how-do-i-find-my-local-station-in-canada-|title=How do I find my local station in Canada?|website=PBS Help|accessdate=December 28, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
The St. Lawrence Valley Educational Television Council, which was organized in 1958, originally produced [[educational television]] programming to be carried by local [[CBS]] affiliate [[WWNY-TV]] (channel 7). In 1971, it established a free-standing PBS station, WNPE-TV, using WWNY's original studios on Champion Hill as the commercial station had already relocated to a larger facility in Watertown. Full-time satellite WNPI-TV signed on a few weeks later. Outgrowing the Champion Hill location itself, WNPE moved to a new building in Watertown in 1978.

Because of its large Canadian viewership, WNPE was one of the more successful PBS stations, with fundraising totals often exceeding those of stations in much larger markets.

For a minor sum, the rights to use the WPBS [[call signs in North America|call letters]] were purchased from [[WPBS (AM)|a small radio station]] in [[Conyers, Georgia]], in the late 1990s; the call sign change to WPBS-TV took effect on September 1, 1998. Following the shutdown of analog television signals, WPBS switched to a "-DT" suffix on July 2, 2009,<ref name="fcc-wpbscallsigns">{{cite web |title=Call Sign History (WPBS-TV) |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=62136&Callsign=WPBS-TV |website=CDBS Public Access |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> as did WNPI;<ref name="fcc-wnpicallsigns">{{cite web |title=Call Sign History (WNPI-DT) |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=62137&Callsign=WNPI-DT |website=CDBS Public Access |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> WPBS returned to the "-TV" suffix on March 11, 2020.<ref name="fcc-wpbscallsigns"/> Despite the calls, which mimic the callsign schemes used by stations owned by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[NBC]] and CBS in New York City and Los Angeles, WPBS-TV is not an [[owned-and-operated station]] (nor is similarly named [[KPBS (TV)|KPBS]] in [[San Diego]]), as PBS cannot own or operate any of its member stations due to the network's local and non-profit nature; the WPBS callsign reflects the station's affiliation and programming, but not any special status within PBS.

Despite its strong viewership in Canada, [[Rogers Cable]], the main cable provider in Ottawa, announced in July 2009 that it would replace WPBS on its systems with Detroit's [[WTVS]] by mid-August to provide a higher-quality PBS feed, as WTVS could be fed via [[Fiber-optic communication|fiber optic cable]] rather than from over-the-air signals.<ref name="CBC">{{cite news |title=WPBS of New York to disappear from Ottawa TV |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/wpbs-of-new-york-to-disappear-from-ottawa-tv-1.818762 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=July 16, 2009 |access-date=July 20, 2009}}</ref> Shortly after receiving this news, a Facebook campaign called 'Save WPBS in Ottawa' (later renamed 'Ottawa Loves WPBS') urging Rogers to reconsider its decision to pull the station was launched, attracting hundreds of supporters, as well as local Ottawa politicians. On July 30, 2009, it was announced that WPBS would offer a fiber-optic feed of the station for Rogers transmitted from [[Buffalo, New York]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090731/NEWS03/307319981 |title=WPBS to stay on in Ottawa |work=Watertown Daily Times |access-date=September 4, 2015 |archive-date=August 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804113729/http://watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090731/NEWS03/307319981 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://wpbstv.org/RogersCableUPDATE-7-30-09.htm |title= WPBS-TV Press Release - Rogers Cable|website=wpbstv.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802140826/http://wpbstv.org/RogersCableUPDATE-7-30-09.htm |archive-date=August 2, 2009}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090731191654/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Watertown+wins+reprieve+from+Rogers/1844781/story.html Ottawa Citizen: "PBS Watertown wins reprieve from Rogers", 7/30/2009.]</ref>

[[Erie, Pennsylvania]]'s [[WQLN (TV)|WQLN]], which serves viewers in the [[London, Ontario]] area through Rogers, was also threatened with removal from the Rogers system;<ref>[http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/07/22/10215191-sun.html London Free Press: "Loss of London viewers could sink Erie station", 7/22/2009.]</ref> as with WPBS, WQLN offered a fiber connection with Rogers.<ref>[http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/07/31/10322201-sun.html London Free Press: "Rogers retains PBS affiliate WQLN", 7/31/2009.]</ref>

==Programming==
WPBS produces a variety of programming for both local and national distribution. For many outside New York and the surrounding region, WPBS is synonymous with programming ranging from ''Rod and Reel'' and ''Streamside'' (distributed to PBS member stations nationally from 1985 to 2006).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080607/CURR04/158301799 |title=Public TV station evolves from using donated air time to entering the digital age, Chris Brock, Watertown NY Times, June 7, 2008 |access-date=November 21, 2008 |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211125326/http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080607/CURR04/158301799 |url-status=dead }}</ref> to ''Classical Stretch'' (distributed nationally since 1999 by [[American Public Television|APT]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.classicalstretch.com/gazette.htm |title=All the right moves: Classical-Stretch class builds flexibility and self-confidence, Susan Schwartz, Montréal Gazette, April 10 2000 |access-date=June 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118071434/http://www.classicalstretch.com/gazette.htm |archive-date=January 18, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They also carry other nationally distributed programs from PBS and American Public Television.

===WPBS-produced TV series===
* ''Bill Saiff's Rod & Reel'' (1985–2001, nationally distributed by PBS)
* ''Cabin Country''
* ''Camp Willie''
* ''Discovering [[Jefferson County, New York|Jefferson County]]''
* ''Discovering Pets''
* ''Energy Efficiency: Enhancing Home Performance''
* ''The Gardener'' (2001, a thirteen-part series).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gardeningwithed.com/abouted.php |title=Bio of Ed Lawrence, ''The Gardner'' |access-date=November 21, 2008 |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724165606/http://www.gardeningwithed.com/abouted.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/corporate/media_room/news_releases/details_e.asp?ArticleID=802&CatId=16&archive=y |title=National Capital Commission, Ottawa-Hull, Canada |access-date=November 21, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040828171342/http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/corporate/media_room/news_releases/details_e.asp?CatID=16&ArticleId=802&archive=y |archive-date=August 28, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''Journeys of an Artist'' (2006, national) a thirteen-episode series combining art and travel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnbanovich.com/banovich/WPBSFilm/go |title= John Banovich|website=johnbanovich.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827193117/http://www.johnbanovich.com/banovich/WPBSFilm/go |archive-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref>
* ''Park It''
* ''Streamside with Don Meissner''<ref>[http://fishingwithdonmeissner.com/index.php Fishing with Don Meissner, host of Streamside]</ref>
* ''WPBS Weekly: Inside the Stories''

===National programming===
WPBS-originated programming distributed to public television stations nationally by American Public Television<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aptonline.org/aptweb.nsf/vPrograms/Index-Programs |title=APT Programs |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119085134/http://www.aptonline.org./aptweb.nsf/vPrograms/Index-Programs |archive-date=November 19, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> includes:
* ''The Artist's World''
* ''Artist's World Sketches''
* ''CD Highway''
* ''Classical Stretch''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wpbstv.org/classicalstretch/Classicalstretch1.htm |title= CS Home Page|website=wpbstv.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013062819/http://www.wpbstv.org/classicalstretch/Classicalstretch1.htm |archive-date=October 13, 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://working.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=b09ca894-b898-4c7a-8d51-a6995525b3fc&k=48817 Stretching for the next level] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524021304/http://working.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=b09ca894-b898-4c7a-8d51-a6995525b3fc&k=48817 |date=May 24, 2011 }}, LYNN MOORE, The Gazette (Montréal), January 5, 2008</ref> (1999–2005)
* ''Cottage Country''
* ''Flyfishing Destinations''
* ''From a Country Garden''<ref>Gardening Grief and Glory: Ed Lawrence Answers Your Gardening Questions, {{ISBN|978-0-9681210-1-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wpbstv.org/FACountryGarden.htm |title=From A Country Garden - The Show |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=wpbstv.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020118024956/http://www.wpbstv.org/FACountryGarden.htm |archive-date=January 18, 2002}}</ref>
* ''Rod & Reel Streamside'' (2001–2006)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wpbstv.org/Streamside.htm |title= WPBS-TV, Watertown NY|website=wpbstv.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312214226/http://www.wpbstv.org/Streamside.htm |archive-date=March 12, 2008}}</ref>

WPBS-originated programming distributed to public television stations by the National Educational Telecommunications Association<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.netaonline.org/programming.htm |title=NETA programming |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305170523/http://www.netaonline.org/programming.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> includes:
* ''Fishing Behind the Lines''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpbstv.org/cms-display/Fishing_Behind_The_Lines-Series.html|title=Fishing Behind The Lines|website=wpbstv.org|access-date=August 11, 2016}}</ref>
* ''[[The New Fly Fisher]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netaonline.org/search/ProgramDetails.cfm?ID=2016 |title=Unknown}} {{dead link|date=September 2015|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenewflyfisher.com/guide.htm |title= The New Fly Fisher // JenCor Entertainment Inc|website=thenewflyfisher.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403085506/http://www.thenewflyfisher.com/guide.htm |archive-date=April 3, 2009}}</ref>
* ''Painting with Wilson Bickford''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpbstv.org/cms-display/painting-with-wilson-bickford.html|title=WPBSTV.org {{!}} Painting With Wilson Bickford|website=www.wpbstv.org|access-date=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

===WPBS local and regional television series===
* ''[[Jefferson Community College (New York)|Jefferson's Table]]'', local wines, history and cuisine.
* ''[[Whiz Quiz]]'', a [[quizbowl]]-style competition.
** ''Whiz Quiz Canada'', Canadian version of ''Whiz Quiz''.
* ''WPBS-LIVE!'', a live call-in show presenting topics of local interest to both nations.

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The stations' signals are [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WPBS-TV<ref>{{Cite web |title=RabbitEars TV Query for WPBS |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=62136 |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=[[RabbitEars.info]]}}</ref> and WNPI-DT<ref>{{Cite web |title=RabbitEars TV Query for WNPI |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=62137#station |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=[[RabbitEars.info]]}}</ref>
! scope = "col" colspan=2 | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" rowspan=2 | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" rowspan=2 | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" colspan=2 | Short name
! scope = "col" rowspan=2 | Programming
|-
! scope = "col" | {{small|WPBS-TV}} || {{small|WNPI-DT}} || scope = "col" | {{small|WPBS-TV}} || {{small|WNPI-DT}} 
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.1 || 18.1 
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=4|[[16:9]] || WPBS-HD || WNPI-HD || [[PBS]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.2 || 18.2 
| rowspan=3|[[480i]] || WPBS-2 || WNPI-2 || [[Create (TV network)|Create]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.3 || 18.3 
| WPBS-3 || WNPI-3 || [[World Channel|World]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.4 || 18.4 
| WPBS-4 || WNPI-4 || [[PBS Kids]]
|}

The four digital subchannels are identical for both WPBS-TV and WNPI-DT.

The station had requested an increase in power from 40&nbsp;kW to 60&nbsp;kW for each digital transmitter. While this request had not been addressed by the U.S. [[Federal Communications Commission]] in time for WPBS/WNPI's April 12, 2009, analog shutoff date, which was sooner than the June 12, 2009, date for American analog stations to end, a [[construction permit]] was issued later that year for the increased-power digital facilities.

WPBS-TV's former analog channel number (UHF 16) was in use by [[WXXI-TV]] in [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] from 2003 until 2019. WNPI-TV's former analog channel number (UHF 18) and antenna location has been reassigned to WWNY-CD, a [[Massena, New York|Massena]] rebroadcaster of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[WNYF-CD]].

==Coverage area==
WPBS-TV can be seen by a total of 2.2&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031205220837/http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/aboutpbs_sponsor_auction.html About PBS: List of on-air auctions by state and market size]</ref> This is despite the fact it is the smallest PBS member in New York State; there are only 252,000 people in its American viewing area. However, the signal from its two [[Radio masts and towers|tower]]s reaches far enough to serve the [[Ottawa Valley]] region via [[cable television|cable]]. This market, with over 1.5&nbsp;million people–almost six times the population of WPBS' American viewing area–is the fourth-largest in Canada. Much of WPBS' viewer support has also come from Canadian viewers, as 70% of donations during recent pledge drives came from viewers in Ottawa.<ref name="CBC"/> The station also maintains a mailing address in [[Gananoque, Ontario]] to service its Canadian donors.

WPBS' service area comprises mostly rural areas and small towns. The only major urban areas in its service area are Ottawa and Kingston.

In the past, reflecting its two-nation audience, the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|U.S.]] and [[O Canada|Canadian]] [[national anthem]]s were played on station sign-on and sign-off.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.wpbstv.org}}

{{Watertown TV}}
{{Champlain Valley TV}}
{{Syracuse TV}}
{{New York (state) TV}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wpbs-Tv}}
[[Category:1971 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:First Nations Experience affiliates]]
[[Category:PBS member stations]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1971]]
[[Category:Television stations in Watertown, New York|PBS-TV]]