South Dakota Public Broadcasting

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South Dakota Public Broadcasting
SDPB Logo adopted February 29, 2024
Channels
BrandingSDPB
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications
  • (South Dakota Board of Directors for Educational Telecommunications)
History
First air date
  • Radio: May 29, 1922 (101 years ago) (1922-05-29)
  • Television: July 5, 1961 (62 years ago) (1961-07-05)
NET (1961–1970)
Call sign meaning
See below
Links
Websitewww.sdpb.org

South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) is a network of non-commercial educational television and radio stations serving the U.S. state of South Dakota. The stations are operated by the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunication, an agency of the state government which holds the licenses for all of the PBS and NPR member stations licensed in South Dakota except KRSD in Sioux Falls, which is owned and run by Minnesota Public Radio, and KAUR in Sioux Falls, which is owned by Augustana University and operated by MPR. SDPB has studios and offices in Rapid City and Sioux Falls with headquarters being located in the Al Neuharth Media Center on the campus of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

History[edit]

Educational broadcasting in South Dakota began in 1919 with experimental broadcasts at USD's College of Engineering. USD was granted a full license in 1922, and went on the air that May 29 as WEAJ. It became KUSD in 1925. By 1952, the station settled at 690 AM at 1,000 watts, operating only during daylight hours to protect CBF in Montreal. In 1967, it acquired an FM sister station, KUSD-FM at 89.7. Also in 1967, South Dakota State University in Brookings signed on KESD-FM. The three stations merged in 1982 as South Dakota Public Radio.

On July 5, 1961, KUSD-TV signed on the air as the state's first educational television station. Seven more stations signed on from 1967 to 1975, extending its reach to parts of Minnesota and Iowa.

South Dakota Public Radio merged with South Dakota Public Television, which operated the television network, and ownership of the licenses was transferred from the individual universities to the State Board of Directors for Educational Telecommunications (ET Board), in 1985 to form South Dakota Public Broadcasting. As a part of state government SDPB operates within the Bureau of Information and Telecommunication. Between 1985 and 1991, five other stations joined the radio network. One of them was KCSD, which signed on in 1985 as part of a partnership between Sioux Falls College (now the University of Sioux Falls) and the ET Board in to improve the network's reception in South Dakota's largest city. Until 2013, KCSD's license was held by the University of Sioux Falls and operated by the state network under a management agreement.[1] The network bought KCSD outright in 2013.

In 1992, a Chevrolet Suburban was taken on a joyride through the Vermillion Golf Course, where KUSD (AM)'s towers were located. The Suburban crashed into one of the AM station's towers and knocked it down.[2] While a judge ordered the suspect to pay $48,000,[3] the insurance settlement was not large enough to restore full operations, and KUSD (AM) went off the air for good in 1994.

KUSD-TV's signal had long been spotty in parts of Sioux Falls, even though the channel 2 analog signal traveled a very long distance under normal conditions. Some parts of the area didn't get a clear signal from KUSD-TV until cable gained more penetration in the 1980s. To solve this problem, KCSD-TV signed on in 1995, significantly improving coverage in the state's largest city.[4]

As of February 2017, SDPR now broadcasts the main network over the fifth digital subchannel of the SDPB Television stations, and classical music (which airs on the radio stations' second HD channel) on the television stations' sixth digital subchannel.

Radio stations[edit]

South Dakota Public Radio airs a mix of news and talk from NPR, Public Radio Exchange (PRX), American Public Media (APM), the BBC World Service and other sources. Stations in the lineup include:

Call sign Frequency City of license Facility ID ERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
KESD 88.3 FM Brookings, South Dakota 58359 50,000 190 m (620 ft)
KPSD-FM 97.1 FM Faith, South Dakota 62385 100,000 465 m (1,526 ft)
KQSD-FM 91.9 FM Lowry, South Dakota 58325 100,000 270 m (890 ft)
KZSD-FM 102.5 FM Martin, South Dakota 59466 100,000 230 m (750 ft)
KDSD-FM 90.9 FM Pierpont, South Dakota 58324 70,000 323.1 m (1,060 ft)
KBHE-FM 89.3 FM Rapid City, South Dakota 58327 9,800 125 m (410 ft)
KTSD-FM 91.1 FM Reliance, South Dakota 58326 100,000 451 m (1,480 ft)
KCSD 90.9 FM Sioux Falls, South Dakota 60485 6,000 80 m (260 ft)
KYSD 91.9 FM Spearfish, South Dakota 174496 6,000 −28.6 m (−94 ft)
KUSD[a] 89.7 FM Vermillion, South Dakota 58426 32,000 202 m (663 ft)
KJSD 90.3 FM Watertown, South Dakota 171810 10,500 175.2 m (575 ft)

Notes:

South Dakota Public Radio also rebroadcasts on the following translator stations:

Call sign Frequency
(MHz)
City of license Facility ID
K219CM 91.7 Aberdeen, South Dakota 58385
K201AP 88.1 Belle Fourche, South Dakota 62384
K214BN 90.7 Edgemont, South Dakota 62400
K201AQ 88.1 Hot Springs, South Dakota 62386
K217CE 91.3 Huron, South Dakota 58360
K204GC 88.7 Lead, South Dakota 62445
K215AI 90.9 Mitchell, South Dakota 62102
K242CH 96.3 Pierre, South Dakota 58386
K203BN 88.5 Pringle, South Dakota 62403

In March 2007, South Dakota Public Radio started broadcasting on HD Radio.

Television stations[edit]

Television stations included in the state network are:

Station City of license Channels First air date Call letters' meaning ERP HAAT FCC
Facility ID
Transmitter coordinates Public license information
KUSD-TV Vermillion (Yankton) Digital:
34 (UHF)
Virtual:
2
July 5, 1961 (62 years ago) (1961-07-05) University of South Dakota 236 kW 204 m (669 ft) 61072 43°3′1.4″N 96°47′2.3″W / 43.050389°N 96.783972°W / 43.050389; -96.783972 (KUSD-TV) Public file
LMS
KBHE-TV Rapid City Digital:
26 (UHF)
Virtual:
9
September 13, 1967 (56 years ago) (1967-09-13) Black Hills 76.3 kW 191.7 m (629 ft) 61068 44°3′6.5″N 103°14′38.9″W / 44.051806°N 103.244139°W / 44.051806; -103.244139 (KBHE-TV) Public file
LMS
KESD-TV Brookings (Watertown) Digital:
8 (VHF)
Virtual:
8
February 4, 1968 (56 years ago) (1968-02-04) 15 kW 229 m (751 ft) 61067 44°20′16.2″N 97°13′42.1″W / 44.337833°N 97.228361°W / 44.337833; -97.228361 (KESD-TV) Public file
LMS
KTSD-TV Pierre Digital:
10 (VHF)
Virtual:
10
August 1, 1970 (53 years ago) (1970-08-01) 54.7 kW 487.7 m (1,600 ft) 61066 43°58′6.3″N 99°35′41.3″W / 43.968417°N 99.594806°W / 43.968417; -99.594806 (KTSD-TV) Public file
LMS
KDSD-TV Aberdeen Digital:
17 (UHF)
Virtual:
16
January 1, 1972 (52 years ago) (1972-01-01) 19 kW 349 m (1,145 ft) 61064 45°29′54″N 97°40′28.9″W / 45.49833°N 97.674694°W / 45.49833; -97.674694 (KDSD-TV) Public file
LMS
KPSD-TV1 Eagle Butte (North Eagle ButteFaith) Digital:
13 (VHF)
Virtual:
13
September 16, 1973 (50 years ago) (1973-09-16) 27 kW 516 m (1,693 ft) 61071 45°3′13.6″N 102°15′48.6″W / 45.053778°N 102.263500°W / 45.053778; -102.263500 (KPSD-TV) Public file
LMS
KQSD-TV Lowry (SelbyJavaMobridge) Digital:
11 (VHF)
Virtual:
11
March 9, 1976 (48 years ago) (1976-03-09) 37 kW 312.7 m (1,026 ft) 61063 45°16′37.1″N 99°59′11.2″W / 45.276972°N 99.986444°W / 45.276972; -99.986444 (KQSD-TV) Public file
LMS
KZSD-TV Martin Digital:
8 (VHF)
Virtual:
8
February 9, 1978 (46 years ago) (1978-02-09) 44.7 kW 266 m (873 ft) 61062 43°25′59.7″N 101°33′19.1″W / 43.433250°N 101.555306°W / 43.433250; -101.555306 (KZSD-TV) Public file
LMS
KCSD-TV Sioux Falls Digital:
24 (UHF)
Virtual:
23
June 13, 1995 (28 years ago) (1995-06-13) 29 kW 75 m (246 ft) 60728 43°34′29.2″N 96°39′19.3″W / 43.574778°N 96.655361°W / 43.574778; -96.655361 (KCSD-TV) Public file
LMS

Notes:

  • 1. KPSD-TV used the callsign KLGC during its construction permit from April 25 to August 28, 1973.[5]

Translators[edit]

The television programming from SDPB is also rebroadcast on the following low-power translator stations:

City of license Callsign Translating Channel ERP HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates
Belle Fourche K19CG-D KPSD 13 19 0.007 kW 3 m (10 ft) 59462 44°39′23.9″N 103°50′50.7″W / 44.656639°N 103.847417°W / 44.656639; -103.847417 (K19CG-D)
Edgemont K15IZ-D KBHE 9 15 0.03 kW 155 m (509 ft) 187639 43°22′08.9″N 103°44′08.7″W / 43.369139°N 103.735750°W / 43.369139; -103.735750 (K15IZ-D)
Pine Ridge K10PS-D KZSD 8 10 0.03 kW −33 m (−108 ft) 168678 43°00′57.9″N 102°34′20.5″W / 43.016083°N 102.572361°W / 43.016083; -102.572361 (K10PS-D)
Pringle K36NX-D KBHE 9 36 4.346 kW 385 m (1,263 ft) 187640 43°44′43.0″N 103°28′52.0″W / 43.745278°N 103.481111°W / 43.745278; -103.481111 (K36NX-D)
Spearfish K04GW-D KPSD 13 4 0.028 kW 129 m (423 ft) 59455

44°29′33.0″N 103°50′07.0″W / 44.492500°N 103.835278°W / 44.492500; -103.835278 (K04GW-D)

Wagner K08PM-D KUSD 2 8 0.03 kW 132 m (433 ft) 187638 43°11′21″N 98°04′17.0″W / 43.18917°N 98.071389°W / 43.18917; -98.071389 (K08PM-D)

Digital television[edit]

Subchannels[edit]

The signals of SDPB's TV stations are multiplexed:

SDPB multiplex[6]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
x.1 1080i 16:9 SDPB 1 Main SDPB programming / PBS
x.2 480i SDPB 2 World
x.3 SDPB 3 Create
x.4 SDPB-4 PBS Kids
x.5 Audio only SDPB-5 SDPB Radio audio
x.6 SDPB-6 SDPB Classical HD2 network audio

Analog-to-digital conversion[edit]

During 2009, in the lead-up to the analog-to-digital television transition that would ultimately occur on June 12, SDPB shut down the analog transmitters of its stations on a staggered basis. Listed below are the dates each analog transmitter ceased operations as well as their post-transition channel allocations:[7]

  • KUSD-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 2, on February 17, 2009, the original date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009). The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 34, using virtual channel 2.
  • KBHE-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 9, on February 17, 2009. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 26, using virtual channel 9.
  • KCSD-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 23, on February 17, 2009. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 24, using virtual channel 23.
  • KDSD-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 16, on February 17, 2009. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 17, using virtual channel 16.
  • KESD-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 8, on February 17, 2009. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 18 to VHF channel 8 for post-transition operations.
  • KPSD-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 13, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 25 to VHF channel 13 for post-transition operations.
  • KQSD-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 11, on February 17, 2009. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 15 to VHF channel 11 for post-transition operations.
  • KTSD-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 10, on February 17, 2009. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 21 to VHF channel 10 for post-transition operations.
  • KZSD-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 8, on February 17, 2009. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 23 to VHF channel 8 for post-transition operations.

Programming[edit]

Although SDPB provides PBS programming, it also produces original programs such as:

  • Dakota Life — a magazine show focusing on South Dakota life.
  • A Falconer's Memoir (2000)
  • Images of the Past — a series about South Dakota's history as documented in photographs, film, and video.
  • Kids' Quest — an educational series for students.
  • Nature Adventures — a series about wildlife in South Dakota.
  • No Cover No Minimum — a series showing live performances of South Dakota music groups and solo acts such as Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Judd Hoos, and Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band.[8]
  • On Call Television — a show which discusses medical topics.
  • South Dakota Focus — a panel discussion show.
  • Statehouse — a show which focuses on the South Dakota State Legislature.

SDPB has also produced educational programs, such as:

  • The Badlands: Nature's Time Capsule — a multimedia project about Badlands National Park.
  • By The People, For The People — a series about government in South Dakota.
  • Dakota Pathways — a series about the history of South Dakota.
  • Draw With Me with Diana Tollefson — a South Dakota educational series about art.
  • Infinite Variety — a series about the geography and environment of South Dakota.
  • Our Statehouse: A Capitol Idea — a multimedia project about the history of the South Dakota Capitol.
  • South Dakota Adventure — a series about the history and culture of South Dakota.

SDPB has also syndicated educational programs, such as:

  • Once Upon a Time — a children's show produced by Nebraska ETV in the 1980s which focused on children's reading.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dakota Pathways Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  2. ^ "Accident collapses KUSD radio tower". Argus-Leader. December 22, 1992. p. 2B. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Student to pay for toppling tower". Argus-Leader. May 19, 1993. p. 2B. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "Transmitter to help public TV reception". Argus-Leader. June 12, 1995. p. 1D. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "FCC History Cards for KPSD-TV".
  6. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KUSD". Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  7. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  8. ^ "No Cover No Minimum". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  9. ^ "Once Upon a Time intro - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.

External links[edit]