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==History== |
==History== |
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===Early years=== |
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In 1959, the board of trustees of [[San Bernardino Valley College]] gave approval for an exploratory study on activating [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) channel 24, which had been allocated for educational television use by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) in 1952 but was never assigned; recent changes in state law had allowed the community college to set up and finance its own TV station.<ref name="SanB590117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-investigat/126710879/|date=January 17, 1959|pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-college-ma/126710905/ B-5]|title=Investigation Approved: College May Try For TV Channel|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The college applied for a [[construction permit]] on August 12, 1960.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/07738948-4a5d-0f7d-5ea9-fe8ab2d173cb|title=History Cards for KVCR-DT|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> even though trustees were at first lukewarm about the concept. One trustee wanted to merely apply for the permit to keep the college's hold on the channel.<ref name="SanB610617">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-valley-col/126710933/|date=June 17, 1961|page=B-1|title=Valley College To Apply for TV License|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The FCC granted the permit on July 6, 1961,{{r|hc}} but trustees initially rejected funds to build the station in a 3–2 vote. The chairman of the board of trustees, in casting the deciding vote, stated, "I personally believe it is not our function to take education beyond the campus, here."<ref name="SanB610812">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-valley-col/126711008/|date=August 12, 1961|pages=1-B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-tv-station/126711025/ 5-B]|first=Al|last=Bruton|title=Valley College Board Rejects TV Station: Chairman Casts Deciding Vote As Trustees Split|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
In 1959, the board of trustees of [[San Bernardino Valley College]] gave approval for an exploratory study on activating [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) channel 24, which had been allocated for educational television use by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) in 1952 but was never assigned; recent changes in state law had allowed the community college to set up and finance its own TV station.<ref name="SanB590117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-investigat/126710879/|date=January 17, 1959|pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-college-ma/126710905/ B-5]|title=Investigation Approved: College May Try For TV Channel|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The college applied for a [[construction permit]] on August 12, 1960.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/07738948-4a5d-0f7d-5ea9-fe8ab2d173cb|title=History Cards for KVCR-DT|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> even though trustees were at first lukewarm about the concept. One trustee wanted to merely apply for the permit to keep the college's hold on the channel.<ref name="SanB610617">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-valley-col/126710933/|date=June 17, 1961|page=B-1|title=Valley College To Apply for TV License|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The FCC granted the permit on July 6, 1961,{{r|hc}} but trustees initially rejected funds to build the station in a 3–2 vote. The chairman of the board of trustees, in casting the deciding vote, stated, "I personally believe it is not our function to take education beyond the campus, here."<ref name="SanB610812">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-valley-col/126711008/|date=August 12, 1961|pages=1-B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-tv-station/126711025/ 5-B]|first=Al|last=Bruton|title=Valley College Board Rejects TV Station: Chairman Casts Deciding Vote As Trustees Split|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
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Less than a month after that vote, with high community interest in the project, trustees changed their minds and unanimously voted to build out KVCR-TV, which would be the first educational television station in the state to be run by a junior college.<ref name="Redl610906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-valley-college-plan/126711055/|date=September 6, 1961|page=5|title=Valley College plans educational TV channel|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> It was seen as more cost-effective to broadcast on campus than to wire campus buildings for a closed-circuit system.<ref name="Colt611106">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-colton-courier-valley-college-will-u/126711095/|date=November 6, 1961|page=2|title=Valley College Will Use Closed, Open Circuit ETV|newspaper=The Colton Courier|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Construction of the facility was complete by June 12, 1962, when the first [[test pattern]] was sent out,<ref name="Redl620613">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-sbvc-tv-station-ope/126711133/|date=June 13, 1962|page=6|title=SBVC TV station opens with Channel 24|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> but the first program was not broadcast until September 11. KVCR-TV was the only educational station to broadcast in Southern California at the time of its creation. In addition to educational programs for schools and college telecourses, the station also presented educational programs from [[National Educational Television]], forerunner to PBS.<ref name="SanB620911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-channel-24/126711194/|date=September 11, 1962|page=15|title=Channel 24 Inaugural: Valley College's UHF-TV Goes on Air at 7 p.m.|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> |
Less than a month after that vote, with high community interest in the project, trustees changed their minds and unanimously voted to build out KVCR-TV, which would be the first educational television station in the state to be run by a junior college.<ref name="Redl610906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-valley-college-plan/126711055/|date=September 6, 1961|page=5|title=Valley College plans educational TV channel|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> It was seen as more cost-effective to broadcast on campus than to wire campus buildings for a closed-circuit system.<ref name="Colt611106">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-colton-courier-valley-college-will-u/126711095/|date=November 6, 1961|page=2|title=Valley College Will Use Closed, Open Circuit ETV|newspaper=The Colton Courier|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Construction of the facility was complete by June 12, 1962, when the first [[test pattern]] was sent out,<ref name="Redl620613">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-sbvc-tv-station-ope/126711133/|date=June 13, 1962|page=6|title=SBVC TV station opens with Channel 24|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> but the first program was not broadcast until September 11. That night, after 15 minutes, the station went off the air because a capacitor failed in the transmitter.<ref name="SanB870908">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-silver-lin/126713046/|date=September 8, 1987|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-stat/126713063/ D2]|first=Betty|last=Shimabukuro|title=Silver linings: KVCR-TV to celebrate 25 years of broadcasting|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> KVCR-TV was the only educational station to broadcast in Southern California at the time of its creation. In addition to educational programs for schools and college telecourses, the station also presented educational programs from [[National Educational Television]], forerunner to PBS.<ref name="SanB620911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-channel-24/126711194/|date=September 11, 1962|page=15|title=Channel 24 Inaugural: Valley College's UHF-TV Goes on Air at 7 p.m.|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> |
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The station grew quickly. Originally broadcasting 10 to 15 hours a week, it doubled its output to 30 hours in 1963.{{r|SanB620911}}<ref name="LosA630730">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-no-sell-but-chann/126711314/|date=July 30, 1963|page=IV:11|first=Addie|last=Greene|title=No Sell, But Channel 24 Still Grows|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> By 1965, KVCR-TV was broadcasting daytime instructional television for 23 school districts in [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]], including on translators to rebroadcast its signal.<ref name="SanB650502">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-follis-hea/126711576/|date=May 2, 1965|page=C-2|title=Follis Heads Educational TV Inland Group|newspaper=The Sun-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> KVCR-TV also served as an extension of the broadcasting program at Valley College. The station was entirely student-operated and aired 10 to 15 hours a week of local programs, including a weekly public affairs program as well as a daily newscast during the school year.<ref name="SanB670909">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-tv-is/126712064/|date=September 9, 1967|pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-tv-d/126712046/ B-5]|first=Carl|last=Yetzer|title=KVCR-TV Is Discriminating Viewer's 'Alternative'|newspaper=Sun-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Even though National Educational Television began feeding programs on network lines to stations in 1967, KVCR-TV continued to receive all its NET and PBS programming through [[KCET]] in Los Angeles until it was directly connected to the network in June 1972.<ref name="SanB720629">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-sbvc-tv-no/126712264/|date=June 29, 1972|page=B-5|title=SBVC TV Now Linked With PBS|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
The station grew quickly. Originally broadcasting 10 to 15 hours a week, it doubled its output to 30 hours in 1963.{{r|SanB620911}}<ref name="LosA630730">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-no-sell-but-chann/126711314/|date=July 30, 1963|page=IV:11|first=Addie|last=Greene|title=No Sell, But Channel 24 Still Grows|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> By 1965, KVCR-TV was broadcasting daytime instructional television for 23 school districts in [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]], including on translators to rebroadcast its signal.<ref name="SanB650502">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-follis-hea/126711576/|date=May 2, 1965|page=C-2|title=Follis Heads Educational TV Inland Group|newspaper=The Sun-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> KVCR-TV also served as an extension of the broadcasting program at Valley College. The station was entirely student-operated and by 1967 aired 10 to 15 hours a week of local programs, including a weekly public affairs program as well as a daily newscast during the school year.<ref name="SanB670909">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-tv-is/126712064/|date=September 9, 1967|pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-tv-d/126712046/ B-5]|first=Carl|last=Yetzer|title=KVCR-TV Is Discriminating Viewer's 'Alternative'|newspaper=Sun-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Even though National Educational Television began feeding programs on network lines to stations in 1967, KVCR-TV continued to receive all its NET and PBS programming through [[KCET]] in Los Angeles until it was directly connected to the network in June 1972.<ref name="SanB720629">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-sbvc-tv-no/126712264/|date=June 29, 1972|page=B-5|title=SBVC TV Now Linked With PBS|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
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With a small signal originating from the Valley College campus, the station's coverage was limited for most of the first 20 years of its history. In 1973, a translator was activated near the campus of the [[University of California, Riverside]]; this expanded KVCR-TV coverage to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]], which was blocked from the main San Bernardino signal by terrain. The university also had television production capabilities and could produce programs for air on the station.<ref name="Redl731103">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-translator-station/126712419/|date=November 3, 1973|page=6|title=Translator station: Valley College TV linked to UCR|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> A volunteer support group for KVCR radio and television, Friends of KVCR, was formed in 1973;<ref name="Redl731208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-valley-board-member/126712445/|date=December 8, 1973|page=3|title=Valley Board members delay action on accepting pay|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> the next year, the station received a federal grant that allowed it to upgrade to all-color broadcasting.<ref name="SanB770911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-tv-ce/126712520/|date=September 11, 1977|pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-celeb/126712540/ D-2]|title=KVCR-TV celebrates its 15th year of broadcasting|newspaper=Sun-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
With a small signal originating from the Valley College campus, the station's coverage was limited for most of the first 20 years of its history. In 1973, a translator was activated near the campus of the [[University of California, Riverside]]; this expanded KVCR-TV coverage to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]], which was blocked from the main San Bernardino signal by terrain. The university also had television production capabilities and could produce programs for air on the station.<ref name="Redl731103">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-translator-station/126712419/|date=November 3, 1973|page=6|title=Translator station: Valley College TV linked to UCR|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> A volunteer support group for KVCR radio and television, Friends of KVCR, was formed in 1973;<ref name="Redl731208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-valley-board-member/126712445/|date=December 8, 1973|page=3|title=Valley Board members delay action on accepting pay|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> the next year, the station received a federal grant that allowed it to upgrade to all-color broadcasting.<ref name="SanB770911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-tv-ce/126712520/|date=September 11, 1977|pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-celeb/126712540/ D-2]|title=KVCR-TV celebrates its 15th year of broadcasting|newspaper=Sun-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
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===Regional growth=== |
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[[File:'M' from RCC (cropped).JPG|right|thumb|alt=A mountain with a large painted M and several telecommunications towers on top|KVCR-TV moved its transmitter to [[Box Springs Mountain]] in 1983, greatly increasing its coverage area]] |
[[File:'M' from RCC (cropped).JPG|right|thumb|alt=A mountain with a large painted M and several telecommunications towers on top|KVCR-TV moved its transmitter to [[Box Springs Mountain]] in 1983, greatly increasing its coverage area]] |
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In 1980, KVCR-TV began planning for a major power increase and transmitter site relocation. This would replace the original facility, which used a transmitter 10 years older than KVCR-TV itself, with a site on higher terrain. Several sites, including Sunset Ridge (used by [[KHOF-TV]]), were analyzed,<ref name="SanB800518">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-seeki/126712586/|date=May 18, 1980|page=B-4|first=Carl|last=Yetzer|title=KVCR seeking lots more watts|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> but planning soon focused on [[Box Springs Mountain]] near the University of California, Riverside campus.<ref name="HiDe800806">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hi-desert-star-kvcr-is-trying-public-tv/126712628/|date=August 6, 1980|page=12|first=Lyn|last=Cothren|title=KVCR is trying: Public TV in future?|newspaper=Hi-Desert Star|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> After receiving a $650,000 federal grant in December 1981<ref name="SanB811203">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-college-di/126712674/|date=December 3, 1981|page=B-7|title=College district received grant for TV transmitter|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and awarding contracts for construction work in September 1982,<ref name="SanB820924">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-college-bo/126712702/|date=September 24, 1982|page=B-5|first=Barbara|last=Anderson|title=College board OKs bids on TV facilities|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> the new facility came into use on December 5, 1983, adding an expected 1 million viewers to the station's coverage area.<ref name="SanB831206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-channel-24/126712742/|date=December 6, 1983|page=B-7|title=Channel 24 begins serving huge area|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> With the new coverage area, KVCR also began increasing its on- and off-air fundraising activities, hiring its first development director and campaigning for donations on the air.<ref name="LosA831117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-inside-tv-pbs-sta/126711699/|date=November 17, 1983|page=VI:12|first=Lee|last=Margulies|title=Inside TV: PBS Station Boosting Power|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
In 1980, KVCR-TV began planning for a major power increase and transmitter site relocation. This would replace the original facility, which used a transmitter 10 years older than KVCR-TV itself, with a site on higher terrain. Several sites, including Sunset Ridge (used by [[KHOF-TV]]), were analyzed,<ref name="SanB800518">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-seeki/126712586/|date=May 18, 1980|page=B-4|first=Carl|last=Yetzer|title=KVCR seeking lots more watts|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> but planning soon focused on [[Box Springs Mountain]] near the University of California, Riverside campus.<ref name="HiDe800806">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hi-desert-star-kvcr-is-trying-public-tv/126712628/|date=August 6, 1980|page=12|first=Lyn|last=Cothren|title=KVCR is trying: Public TV in future?|newspaper=Hi-Desert Star|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> After receiving a $650,000 federal grant in December 1981<ref name="SanB811203">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-college-di/126712674/|date=December 3, 1981|page=B-7|title=College district received grant for TV transmitter|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and awarding contracts for construction work in September 1982,<ref name="SanB820924">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-college-bo/126712702/|date=September 24, 1982|page=B-5|first=Barbara|last=Anderson|title=College board OKs bids on TV facilities|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> the new facility came into use on December 5, 1983, adding an expected 1 million viewers to the station's coverage area.<ref name="SanB831206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-channel-24/126712742/|date=December 6, 1983|page=B-7|title=Channel 24 begins serving huge area|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> With the new coverage area, KVCR also began increasing its on- and off-air fundraising activities, hiring its first development director and campaigning for donations on the air.<ref name="LosA831117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-inside-tv-pbs-sta/126711699/|date=November 17, 1983|page=VI:12|first=Lee|last=Margulies|title=Inside TV: PBS Station Boosting Power|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> By 1997, when general manager Thomas Little retired after 20 years running KVCR radio and television, the stations had more than 12,700 paid members.<ref name="SanB970702">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-tv-r/126713338/|date=July 2, 1997|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr/126713321/ B3]|first=Beth|last=Szymkowski|title=KVCR-TV, radio chief will retire|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> |
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In the 1980s and 1990s, KVCR produced an array of public affairs series covering the [[Inland Empire]] region. These included ''On Call'', ''Dialogues'', ''Impacto'', and ''Ebony Issues''.<ref name="SanB930921">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-inland-are/126713307/|date=September 21, 1993|page=B1|first=Rebecca|last=Fairley Raney|title=Inland area TV station gets $295,000 grant|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In 1986, the station debuted the weekly ''I Remember Television'', which presented programs from the first decade of American television history with historical context<ref name="SanB860107">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-kvcr-serie/126798738/|date=January 7, 1986|page=B-9|title=KVCR series features early television|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> but later broadened to cover the 1950s and 1960s. The program remained in production for 22 years.<ref>{{Cite news|title=San Bernardino public TV broadcaster dies|work=The Sun|date=February 14, 2011|first=Ryan|last=Carter}}</ref> Local dining program ''Table for Two'', hosted by food critic Allan Borgen, aired from 1990 to 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Party of Four: Search for fine dining is 'Two' delicious|date=January 14, 1998|work=[[The Press-Enterprise]]|first=Sean Monique|last=Faustina|page=E1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TV food critic jumps to radio|first=Joseph|last=Ascenzi|work=The Business Press|page=14|date=July 2, 2007}}</ref> |
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During the summers of 2005 and 2006, separate [[transmitter]] failures knocked both the KVCR television and radio stations off the air for extended periods. |
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===Digitalization and budget woes=== |
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After Little's retirement, Lew Warren became the station's general manager. Motivated by complaints from viewers, he had KVCR-TV switch from being a secondary PBS station in the Program Differentiation Plan—airing 25 percent of the network's output after a minimum eight-day delay—to a primary station. This meant that the full PBS lineup aired on KVCR-TV for the first time in its history. It also was a major expense. In 1997, the station paid PBS approximately $224,000; those payments were set to increase to $544,000 in 1998. However, KCET protested that KVCR should be required to pay the full per-household-covered rate for programs, not a discounted rate like PBS often permitted secondary stations in large markets to pay.<ref>{{Cite news|title=New manager makes KVCR ready for prime time |page=6|first=Joseph|last=Ascenzi|work=The Business Press|date=October 26, 1998}}</ref> The PBS directors agreed with KCET and increased the total bill to about $800,000 a year.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 2, 1998|title=KVCR to pay for programs in prime time|page=46|first=Joseph|last=Ascenzi|work=The Business Press}}</ref> |
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Another major task for Norton was relocating the station out of the only home it had ever known, North Hall on the Valley College campus. North Hall had been slated for demolition for some time.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Matt|last=Bender|work=The Sun|date=May 16, 2002|title=KVCR-TV focuses on starting digital broadcasting}}</ref> The relocation would help allow the station to meet the FCC-mandated technological upgrade to digital broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lew Warren: After 25 years at KVCR-TV, he's taking public television into digital age and a new facility |page=14|date=March 6, 2000|first=Joseph|last=Ascenzi|work=The Business Press}}</ref> |
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While that was under way, KVCR experienced two major transmitter faults in late 2002. A heat wave in the Inland Empire caused a tube in the transmitter to blow on August 31, 2002;<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 6, 2002|title=KVCR-TV dials in transmitter - PBS station has been out of service since tube overheated, blew Aug. 31 |first=Joe|last=Nelson|work=Inland Valley Daily Bulletin}}</ref> the station was off air until September 18.<ref>{{cite news|title=Finally back on the air, KVCR hopes to get back to business |date=September 19, 2002|first=Mark|last=Muckenfuss|work=The Press-Enterprise}}</ref> The transmitter then failed again in a rainstorm in early November;<ref>{{Cite news|title=KVCR-TV looks for solutions: OFF THE AIR: A temporary transmitter should bring the station back soon, says its manager. |page=D12|date=November 14, 2002|first=Mark|last=Muckenfuss|work=The Press-Enterprise}}</ref> it was out for 23 days until a temporary transmitter could be installed and put in service on November 30.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Steven|last=Frasher|title=KVCR rolls with static from broadcast outages |work=The Business Press|date=December 23, 2002|page=3}}</ref> The station missed broadcasting PBS programs during this time as well as 20 college telecourses.<ref name="LosA020909">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-kvcr-tv-aims-to-be/126711744/|date=September 9, 2002|page=Inland Valley Voice A3|first=David|last=Hermann|title=KVCR-TV aims to be back on air soon|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The temporary equipment was used until a new antenna and digital-capable transmitter were installed in June 2004,<ref>{{Cite news|title=KVCR gets full power // TV STATION: Only a few glitches remain before Inland viewers can tune in to an improved signal. |first=Richard K.|last=de Atley|date=May 29, 2004|page=C10|work=The Press-Enterprise}}</ref> |
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KVCR-TV's carriage of all PBS programming ended in 2003 in response to state-mandated budget cuts. The community college was forced to cut $10 million of its $70 million budget; returning to the Program Differentiation Plan saved the station $600,000.<ref>{{Cite news|page=2|title=Budget woes cause static, painful cuts for KVCR-TV |date=March 3, 2003|first=Joseph|last=Ascenzi|work=The Business Press}}</ref> Whereas viewers had once complained that KVCR didn't have every PBS show, now they were complaining that it heavily duplicated KCET.<ref>{{Cite news|page=C10|date=June 26, 2003|title=KVCR pares back PBS programming: TV: Financial issues and viewership lead the San Bernardino station to make the changes.|first=Mark|last=Muckenfuss|work=The Press-Enterprise}}</ref> One new addition came in November 2003 when KVCR-TV began carrying a newscast produced by the Inland California Television Network (ICTN), a venture of [[Cal State San Bernardino]], the city, and the [[Southern California News Group|Los Angeles News Group]].<ref>{{cite news|page=B3|date=October 10, 2003|title=Inland news will air on TV // BROADCAST: The half-hour show will be shown on KVCR starting Nov. 3. |first=Mark|last=Muckenfuss|work=The Press-Enterprise}}</ref> ICTN continued to air on the station until it shut down in February 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Richard K.|last=de Atley|work=The Press-Enterprise|date=D3|title=Local TV network shuts down}}</ref> |
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===Rebrand=== |
===Rebrand=== |
Revision as of 18:44, 20 June 2023
| |
---|---|
City | San Bernardino, California |
Channels | |
Branding | KVCR PBS |
Programming | |
Affiliations | |
Ownership | |
Owner | San Bernardino Community College District |
KVCR | |
History | |
First air date | September 11, 1962 |
Former call signs | KVCR-TV (1962–2009) |
Former channel number(s) |
|
NET (1962–1970) | |
Call sign meaning | Valley College Radio (nothing to do with the videocassette recorder) |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 58795 |
ERP | 25.8 kW |
HAAT | 540 m (1,772 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 33°57′57.4″N 117°17′9.1″W / 33.965944°N 117.285861°W |
Translator(s) | K09XW-D Palm Springs KJHP-LD 22 Morongo Valley |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | www |
KVCR-DT (channel 24) is a PBS member television station in San Bernardino, California, United States. It is owned by the San Bernardino Community College District alongside NPR member KVCR (91.9 FM). The two stations share studios at the San Bernardino Valley College campus on North Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino; KVCR-DT's transmitter is located atop Box Springs Mountain.
In addition to its main programming, KVCR also programs an alternate feed specifically for the Coachella Valley area known as KVCR PBS Desert Cities. This alternate feed is seen over-the-air in the Palm Springs area on low-power stations K09XW-D (channel 9) and KJHP-LD (channel 22),[2] and is carried on KVCR's third digital subchannel.
History
Early years
In 1959, the board of trustees of San Bernardino Valley College gave approval for an exploratory study on activating ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 24, which had been allocated for educational television use by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1952 but was never assigned; recent changes in state law had allowed the community college to set up and finance its own TV station.[3] The college applied for a construction permit on August 12, 1960.[4] even though trustees were at first lukewarm about the concept. One trustee wanted to merely apply for the permit to keep the college's hold on the channel.[5] The FCC granted the permit on July 6, 1961,[4] but trustees initially rejected funds to build the station in a 3–2 vote. The chairman of the board of trustees, in casting the deciding vote, stated, "I personally believe it is not our function to take education beyond the campus, here."[6]
Less than a month after that vote, with high community interest in the project, trustees changed their minds and unanimously voted to build out KVCR-TV, which would be the first educational television station in the state to be run by a junior college.[7] It was seen as more cost-effective to broadcast on campus than to wire campus buildings for a closed-circuit system.[8] Construction of the facility was complete by June 12, 1962, when the first test pattern was sent out,[9] but the first program was not broadcast until September 11. That night, after 15 minutes, the station went off the air because a capacitor failed in the transmitter.[10] KVCR-TV was the only educational station to broadcast in Southern California at the time of its creation. In addition to educational programs for schools and college telecourses, the station also presented educational programs from National Educational Television, forerunner to PBS.[11]
The station grew quickly. Originally broadcasting 10 to 15 hours a week, it doubled its output to 30 hours in 1963.[11][12] By 1965, KVCR-TV was broadcasting daytime instructional television for 23 school districts in San Bernardino County, including on translators to rebroadcast its signal.[13] KVCR-TV also served as an extension of the broadcasting program at Valley College. The station was entirely student-operated and by 1967 aired 10 to 15 hours a week of local programs, including a weekly public affairs program as well as a daily newscast during the school year.[14] Even though National Educational Television began feeding programs on network lines to stations in 1967, KVCR-TV continued to receive all its NET and PBS programming through KCET in Los Angeles until it was directly connected to the network in June 1972.[15]
With a small signal originating from the Valley College campus, the station's coverage was limited for most of the first 20 years of its history. In 1973, a translator was activated near the campus of the University of California, Riverside; this expanded KVCR-TV coverage to Riverside, which was blocked from the main San Bernardino signal by terrain. The university also had television production capabilities and could produce programs for air on the station.[16] A volunteer support group for KVCR radio and television, Friends of KVCR, was formed in 1973;[17] the next year, the station received a federal grant that allowed it to upgrade to all-color broadcasting.[18]
Regional growth
In 1980, KVCR-TV began planning for a major power increase and transmitter site relocation. This would replace the original facility, which used a transmitter 10 years older than KVCR-TV itself, with a site on higher terrain. Several sites, including Sunset Ridge (used by KHOF-TV), were analyzed,[19] but planning soon focused on Box Springs Mountain near the University of California, Riverside campus.[20] After receiving a $650,000 federal grant in December 1981[21] and awarding contracts for construction work in September 1982,[22] the new facility came into use on December 5, 1983, adding an expected 1 million viewers to the station's coverage area.[23] With the new coverage area, KVCR also began increasing its on- and off-air fundraising activities, hiring its first development director and campaigning for donations on the air.[24] By 1997, when general manager Thomas Little retired after 20 years running KVCR radio and television, the stations had more than 12,700 paid members.[25]
In the 1980s and 1990s, KVCR produced an array of public affairs series covering the Inland Empire region. These included On Call, Dialogues, Impacto, and Ebony Issues.[26] In 1986, the station debuted the weekly I Remember Television, which presented programs from the first decade of American television history with historical context[27] but later broadened to cover the 1950s and 1960s. The program remained in production for 22 years.[28] Local dining program Table for Two, hosted by food critic Allan Borgen, aired from 1990 to 2007.[29][30]
Digitalization and budget woes
After Little's retirement, Lew Warren became the station's general manager. Motivated by complaints from viewers, he had KVCR-TV switch from being a secondary PBS station in the Program Differentiation Plan—airing 25 percent of the network's output after a minimum eight-day delay—to a primary station. This meant that the full PBS lineup aired on KVCR-TV for the first time in its history. It also was a major expense. In 1997, the station paid PBS approximately $224,000; those payments were set to increase to $544,000 in 1998. However, KCET protested that KVCR should be required to pay the full per-household-covered rate for programs, not a discounted rate like PBS often permitted secondary stations in large markets to pay.[31] The PBS directors agreed with KCET and increased the total bill to about $800,000 a year.[32]
Another major task for Norton was relocating the station out of the only home it had ever known, North Hall on the Valley College campus. North Hall had been slated for demolition for some time.[33] The relocation would help allow the station to meet the FCC-mandated technological upgrade to digital broadcasting.[34]
While that was under way, KVCR experienced two major transmitter faults in late 2002. A heat wave in the Inland Empire caused a tube in the transmitter to blow on August 31, 2002;[35] the station was off air until September 18.[36] The transmitter then failed again in a rainstorm in early November;[37] it was out for 23 days until a temporary transmitter could be installed and put in service on November 30.[38] The station missed broadcasting PBS programs during this time as well as 20 college telecourses.[39] The temporary equipment was used until a new antenna and digital-capable transmitter were installed in June 2004,[40]
KVCR-TV's carriage of all PBS programming ended in 2003 in response to state-mandated budget cuts. The community college was forced to cut $10 million of its $70 million budget; returning to the Program Differentiation Plan saved the station $600,000.[41] Whereas viewers had once complained that KVCR didn't have every PBS show, now they were complaining that it heavily duplicated KCET.[42] One new addition came in November 2003 when KVCR-TV began carrying a newscast produced by the Inland California Television Network (ICTN), a venture of Cal State San Bernardino, the city, and the Los Angeles News Group.[43] ICTN continued to air on the station until it shut down in February 2005.[44]
Rebrand
In October 2017, Keith Birkfeld was named Interim General Manager at KVCR.[45] KVCR has recently completed a rebrand of the station, becoming the "Empire Network PBS", in an effort to re-imagine KVCR in the digital age.[46] It later rebranded simply as KVCR PBS.
Technical information
Subchannels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
---|---|---|---|---|
24.1 | 720p | 16:9 | KVCR-HD | Main KVCR-DT programming / PBS |
24.2 | 480i | KVCRFNX | First Nations Experience | |
24.3 | KVCR-DC | KVCR Desert Cities | ||
24.4 | KVCRCRE | Create |
Translators
City of license | Callsign | Channel | ERP | HAAT | Facility ID | Transmitter coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morongo Valley | KJHP-LD | 22 | 15 kW | 182 m (597 ft) | 130845 | 33°51′56.7″N 116°26′1.2″W / 33.865750°N 116.433667°W |
Palm Desert, etc. | K09XW-D | 9 | 0.3 kW | 969 m (3,179 ft) | 12324 | 33°32′45.1″N 116°28′9″W / 33.545861°N 116.46917°W |
Analog-to-digital conversion
KVCR-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 24, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.[48] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 26, using PSIP to display KVCR-TV's virtual channel as 24 on digital television receivers. In 2019, UHF channel 26 was shut down and the digital signal was relocated once again to VHF channel 5.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KVCR-DT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "KVCR.org - Coverage Area".
- ^ "Investigation Approved: College May Try For TV Channel". The San Bernardino County Sun. January 17, 1959. pp. B-1, B-5. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "History Cards for KVCR-DT". Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Valley College To Apply for TV License". The San Bernardino County Sun. June 17, 1961. p. B-1. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bruton, Al (August 12, 1961). "Valley College Board Rejects TV Station: Chairman Casts Deciding Vote As Trustees Split". The San Bernardino County Sun. pp. 1-B, 5-B. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Valley College plans educational TV channel". Redlands Daily Facts. September 6, 1961. p. 5. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Valley College Will Use Closed, Open Circuit ETV". The Colton Courier. November 6, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "SBVC TV station opens with Channel 24". Redlands Daily Facts. June 13, 1962. p. 6. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Shimabukuro, Betty (September 8, 1987). "Silver linings: KVCR-TV to celebrate 25 years of broadcasting". The San Bernardino County Sun. pp. D1, D2. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Channel 24 Inaugural: Valley College's UHF-TV Goes on Air at 7 p.m." The San Bernardino County Sun. September 11, 1962. p. 15. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Greene, Addie (July 30, 1963). "No Sell, But Channel 24 Still Grows". The Los Angeles Times. p. IV:11. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Follis Heads Educational TV Inland Group". The Sun-Telegram. May 2, 1965. p. C-2. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Yetzer, Carl (September 9, 1967). "KVCR-TV Is Discriminating Viewer's 'Alternative'". Sun-Telegram. pp. B-1, B-5. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "SBVC TV Now Linked With PBS". The San Bernardino County Sun. June 29, 1972. p. B-5. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Translator station: Valley College TV linked to UCR". Redlands Daily Facts. November 3, 1973. p. 6. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Valley Board members delay action on accepting pay". Redlands Daily Facts. December 8, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "KVCR-TV celebrates its 15th year of broadcasting". Sun-Telegram. September 11, 1977. pp. D-1, D-2. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Yetzer, Carl (May 18, 1980). "KVCR seeking lots more watts". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. B-4. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cothren, Lyn (August 6, 1980). "KVCR is trying: Public TV in future?". Hi-Desert Star. p. 12. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "College district received grant for TV transmitter". The San Bernardino County Sun. December 3, 1981. p. B-7. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Anderson, Barbara (September 24, 1982). "College board OKs bids on TV facilities". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. B-5. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Channel 24 begins serving huge area". The San Bernardino County Sun. December 6, 1983. p. B-7. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Margulies, Lee (November 17, 1983). "Inside TV: PBS Station Boosting Power". The Los Angeles Times. p. VI:12. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Szymkowski, Beth (July 2, 1997). "KVCR-TV, radio chief will retire". The San Bernardino County Sun. pp. B1, B3. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fairley Raney, Rebecca (September 21, 1993). "Inland area TV station gets $295,000 grant". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. B1. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "KVCR series features early television". The San Bernardino County Sun. January 7, 1986. p. B-9. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Carter, Ryan (February 14, 2011). "San Bernardino public TV broadcaster dies". The Sun.
- ^ Faustina, Sean Monique (January 14, 1998). "Party of Four: Search for fine dining is 'Two' delicious". The Press-Enterprise. p. E1.
- ^ Ascenzi, Joseph (July 2, 2007). "TV food critic jumps to radio". The Business Press. p. 14.
- ^ Ascenzi, Joseph (October 26, 1998). "New manager makes KVCR ready for prime time". The Business Press. p. 6.
- ^ Ascenzi, Joseph (November 2, 1998). "KVCR to pay for programs in prime time". The Business Press. p. 46.
- ^ Bender, Matt (May 16, 2002). "KVCR-TV focuses on starting digital broadcasting". The Sun.
- ^ Ascenzi, Joseph (March 6, 2000). "Lew Warren: After 25 years at KVCR-TV, he's taking public television into digital age and a new facility". The Business Press. p. 14.
- ^ Nelson, Joe (September 6, 2002). "KVCR-TV dials in transmitter - PBS station has been out of service since tube overheated, blew Aug. 31". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
- ^ Muckenfuss, Mark (September 19, 2002). "Finally back on the air, KVCR hopes to get back to business". The Press-Enterprise.
- ^ Muckenfuss, Mark (November 14, 2002). "KVCR-TV looks for solutions: OFF THE AIR: A temporary transmitter should bring the station back soon, says its manager". The Press-Enterprise. p. D12.
- ^ Frasher, Steven (December 23, 2002). "KVCR rolls with static from broadcast outages". The Business Press. p. 3.
- ^ Hermann, David (September 9, 2002). "KVCR-TV aims to be back on air soon". The Los Angeles Times. p. Inland Valley Voice A3. Retrieved June 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ de Atley, Richard K. (May 29, 2004). "KVCR gets full power // TV STATION: Only a few glitches remain before Inland viewers can tune in to an improved signal". The Press-Enterprise. p. C10.
- ^ Ascenzi, Joseph (March 3, 2003). "Budget woes cause static, painful cuts for KVCR-TV". The Business Press. p. 2.
- ^ Muckenfuss, Mark (June 26, 2003). "KVCR pares back PBS programming: TV: Financial issues and viewership lead the San Bernardino station to make the changes". The Press-Enterprise. p. C10.
- ^ Muckenfuss, Mark (October 10, 2003). "Inland news will air on TV // BROADCAST: The half-hour show will be shown on KVCR starting Nov. 3". The Press-Enterprise. p. B3.
- ^ de Atley, Richard K. (D3). "Local TV network shuts down". The Press-Enterprise.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "KVCR names Keith Birkfeld interim general manager". October 21, 2017.
- ^ "Rebrand". Empire Network.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KVCR". www.rabbitears.info.
- ^ "List of Digital Full-Power Stations" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013.