West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Public Broadcasting is the statewide public television and radio network serving West Virginia in the United States. The organization operates under the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Authority, a state government agency that holds the licenses for the public television and radio stations serving the state. Its television operations are PBS member stations, while its radio operations are NPR member stations. The network is headquartered in Charleston and maintains production or studio facilities in Morgantown and Beckley. The television service traces its operational history to July 14, 1969, when the first public television station in West Virginia began broadcasting from Marshall University in Huntington under the call sign WMUL-TV. The station later became WPBY-TV. A second public television operation associated with West Virginia University in Morgantown originally used the call sign WWVU-TV and was renamed WNPB-TV in 1983. These call-sign changes reflected the movement of the stations from university-centered identities toward management by the state's educational broadcasting authority. The third full-power television station, WSWP-TV in Grandview, was subsequently incorporated into the statewide system. In 1992, completion of a statewide microwave link enabled WNPB-TV and WSWP-TV to operate as repeaters of the Huntington station, creating a connected public television network. The television footprint now reaches nearly all of West Virginia and extends into parts of Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. A group of lower-power translators supplements the three principal full-power stations, particularly in communities outside their direct signal coverage. The network's television service is carried on the basic tier of cable systems throughout West Virginia. West Virginia Public Broadcasting's television programming combines national PBS content with locally produced news, public affairs, documentary and cultural programs. Local output has included daily coverage of the state legislative session, medical programming produced with West Virginia University's medical school, student journalism and news features from Marshall University and West Virginia State University, and documentaries about West Virginia history and culture. The television service has also carried live music and cultural events, including performances associated with Mountain Stage and the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Earlier in its history, the stations carried selected Marshall University and West Virginia University sports programming, but those broadcasts were discontinued as conference and distribution agreements increasingly gave commercial and cable outlets exclusive rights. The radio network consists of eleven full-power FM stations, together with translators and boosters that extend coverage across the state. It distributes programs from NPR, Public Radio International and other public media suppliers, alongside classical, folk and other music programming. West Virginia Public Broadcasting also produces original radio programs, including Inside Appalachia, EclecTopia, A Change of Tune, Sidetracks and the nationally distributed Mountain Stage. Before 2015, the radio operation was generally identified as West Virginia Public Radio, while the television service was branded West Virginia PBS. On January 1, 2015, the radio and television operations adopted the unified West Virginia Public Broadcasting name. The television stations completed associated call-sign changes on January 5, 2015, when WPBY-TV became WVPB-TV. This rebranding was intended to present the television, radio and digital services as one statewide public media organization rather than as separate radio and television brands. The organization also provides digital access to West Virginia news, original audio and video, and selected programming through its website and online video channels. Its educational services include West Virginia Lea…

West Virginia Public Broadcasting developed from a series of educational and public-service broadcast initiatives associated initially with the state's universities and later consolidated under a statewide public broadcasting authority. The first public television station in West Virginia began broadcasting on July 14, 1969, from Marshall University in Huntington as WMUL-TV. In 1981, it adopted the WPBY-TV call sign. The public television operation connected with West Virginia University in Morgantown originally operated as WWVU-TV and changed to WNPB-TV in 1983. The revised call signs helped distinguish the stations from their university origins and emphasized administration by the state educational broadcasting system. A third full-power public television station, WSWP-TV in Grandview, became part of the developing statewide network. In 1992, a microwave distribution link allowed the stations to operate as a coordinated network, with WNPB-TV and WSWP-TV functioning as repeaters of the Huntington service. Additional low-power translators expanded reception in areas where the full-power signals were difficult to receive. The resulting television footprint covers nearly the entire state and reaches portions of neighboring states. West Virginia cable systems generally carry the public television network on their basic tiers. The television operation has combined PBS programs with original West Virginia productions. Its local schedule has included state legislative-session recaps, health and medical programming, student-produced journalism, historical and cultural documentaries, and live musical performances. The network has also carried Mountain Stage and events connected with the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. University sports programming appeared at earlier stages but was later discontinued because conference media agreements and commercial distribution arrangements limited the availability of those rights. The radio system developed as West Virginia Public Radio and became a statewide FM network with eleven full-power stations, translators and boosters. It carries NPR and other public media programs, as well as classical, folk and locally produced programming. Original radio output has included Inside Appalachia, EclecTopia, A Change of Tune, Sidetracks and Mountain Stage, the latter also receiving national distribution. A major organizational change occurred at the beginning of 2015. On January 1, the separate radio and television identities were replaced by the single West Virginia Public Broadcasting brand. WPBY-TV changed its call sign to WVPB-TV on January 5. The unified identity reflected the organization's effort to coordinate television, radio and online services as one statewide public media network. The network completed the federally required transition from analog to digital television on June 12, 2009. Its digital infrastructure subsequently continued to rely on the three full-power television stations and a network of translators. In 2016, financial pressure from state budget reductions and changes in audience behavior led the organization to announce a temporary shutdown plan for five translators. W08EE-D in Martinsburg and W30CO-D in Wheeling resumed operations in August 2016. The licenses for W07DN-D, W09CT-D and W41AO were surrendered to the Federal Communications Commission in May 2017. In addition to broadcast services, West Virginia Public Broadcasting maintains an online news and programming operation. Its website offers original reporting and free access to selected audio and video, while online video distribution extends the reach of its productions. West Virginia LearningMedia provides educational videos and games for teachers, parents and students through the PBS LearningMedia framework. The organization remains the principal statewide public media provider for West Virginia, combining national public media distribution with local civic, educational and cultural coverage.

1. 2017Three translator licenses surrendered

   Licenses for translators serving Wardensville, Mathias and Hampshire were surrendered for cancellation.

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2. 2016Translator shutdown plan announced

   Five low-power translators were targeted for a temporary shutdown because of state budget reductions and changing viewing patterns.

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3. 2015Radio and television brands merge

   West Virginia PBS and West Virginia Public Radio began operating publicly under the unified West Virginia Public Broadcasting name.

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4. 2009Television stations complete digital transition

   The network's full-power television stations ended analog transmissions on June 12 as part of the United States digital television transition.

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5. 1992Statewide television network is linked

   Completion of a microwave link enabled WNPB-TV and WSWP-TV to operate as repeaters of WPBY-TV, forming a connected state network.

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6. 1983WWVU-TV becomes WNPB-TV

   The Morgantown station changed its call sign as the public television operations became more clearly associated with the state educational broadcasting authority.

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7. 1981WMUL-TV becomes WPBY-TV

   The Huntington public television station adopted the WPBY-TV call sign.

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8. 1969First West Virginia public television station signs on

   WMUL-TV began broadcasting from Marshall University in Huntington on July 14, establishing the first public television service in the state.

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A statewide, publicly funded media service focused on trusted news, education, Appalachian culture, civic information and access to PBS and NPR programming.

• West Virginia Public Broadcasting TelevisionPublic television network1969

  The television service consists of three full-power stations and a supporting translator network. It carries PBS programming alongside West Virginia news, legislative coverage, documentaries, educational productions, student journalism and cultural performances. Its broadcast reach covers most of West Virginia and extends into portions of surrounding states.

• West Virginia Public Broadcasting RadioPublic radio network

  The radio network operates eleven full-power FM stations with additional translators and boosters. Its schedule combines NPR and other public-media programs with classical, folk and locally produced content, including Inside Appalachia, EclecTopia, A Change of Tune, Sidetracks and Mountain Stage.

• Mountain StageMusic program

  Mountain Stage is a live music performance program produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. It has been presented through the network's radio and television services and distributed nationally, connecting West Virginia's public media operation with performers and audiences beyond the state.

• West Virginia LearningMediaEducational digital service

  West Virginia LearningMedia is an online educational resource offering videos and games for teachers, parents and students. It extends the network's public-service mission into digital learning and operates within the PBS LearningMedia ecosystem.

• 2016Reduce selected translator operationsStrategy

  State budget reductions and changes in viewing habits created pressure to review the costs and usefulness of several low-power television translators.

  What changed. The network announced that five translators would be taken silent for a year while their long-term future was assessed.

  Aftermath. Two translators resumed service in August 2016, while three translator licenses were surrendered for cancellation in May 2017.

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• 2015Unify radio and television under one brandStrategy

  The organization had been presenting its radio and television services under separate identities, West Virginia Public Radio and West Virginia PBS.

  What changed. Beginning January 1, 2015, the services adopted the West Virginia Public Broadcasting name. The principal television station also changed from WPBY-TV to WVPB-TV on January 5.

  Aftermath. The unified identity positioned the broadcast and digital operations as one statewide public media organization.

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• 2016West Virginia Public Broadcasting announces translator reductions

  The network announced plans to take five low-power translators silent for a year in response to state budget cuts and changing viewing habits. Two later resumed operations, while three licenses were surrendered for cancellation in 2017.

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• 2015West Virginia PBS and West Virginia Public Radio adopt one statewide brand

  The organization's television and radio services were unified under the West Virginia Public Broadcasting name, replacing the previously separate West Virginia PBS and West Virginia Public Radio brand identities.

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1. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
2. West Virginia Public Broadcasting official website