KLSE (TV)
Encyclopedia
KLSE, channel 13, was an educational television
station in Monroe, Louisiana
. The station was owned by the Louisiana State Department of Education
, and operated by the Louisiana Educational Television Commission, an agency of the Department of Education.
allocated channels 8, 13, and 43 to Monroe and West Monroe
, with channel 13 reserved for non-commercial (educational) broadcasting. The State Department of Education signed KLSE on the air March 9, 1957, from a studio and transmitter facility on Forsythe Avenue. The facility was originally used by KFAZ-TV
Channel 43 until KFAZ went dark May 1, 1954. It was the fourth television station in the Monroe/El Dorado, Arkansas
area, after KFAZ-TV, KNOE-TV
, and KRBB-TV (now KTVE
), the 24th educational television station in the US, and the first educational television station in Louisiana, going on-the-air almost one month prior to WYES-TV
in New Orleans. KLSE's sign-on predates the debut of Louisiana Public Broadcasting
's first station, WLPB-TV in Baton Rouge
, by over 18 years.
KLSE was to be the first station in an intended statewide educational television network along the lines of Alabama Educational Television
, which had been created two years earlier. LSU
professor Lucille Woodward had urged Governor Robert Kennon to create the Educational Television Commission a few years earlier.
The state's limited budget meant the station signed on with a transmitter and antenna providing one tenth the maximum allowed effective radiated power for a station on channel 13. In addition, its tower was only half as tall as that of KNOE. This combination limited KLSE's viewing area to Monroe and West Monroe, with viewing in nearby towns difficult. In addition, the amount of educational television programming available to the state from National Educational Television
and other sources in the late 1950s and early 1960s was limited in comparison to the programming available to commercial stations. By 1964, the state decided to shut down KLSE. The Ark-La-Miss area would not receive another educational station until LPB went on-the-air in Monroe with KLTM Channel 13 on September 8, 1976. There is no record of any television station using the former KLSE facilities after its closure.
Educational television
Educational television is the use of television programs in the field of distance education. It may be in the form of individual television programs or dedicated specialty channels that is often associated with cable television in the United States as Public, educational, and government access ...
station in Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
. The station was owned by the Louisiana State Department of Education
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Department of Education is a state agency of Louisiana, United States. It manages the state's school districts. It is headquartered in the Claiborne Building at 1201 North 3rd Street in Baton Rouge. On a previous occasion the department was headquartered at 626 North 4th Street in Baton...
, and operated by the Louisiana Educational Television Commission, an agency of the Department of Education.
History
After lifting the 1948 TV allocation "freeze" with its Sixth Report and Order (1952), the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
allocated channels 8, 13, and 43 to Monroe and West Monroe
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, with channel 13 reserved for non-commercial (educational) broadcasting. The State Department of Education signed KLSE on the air March 9, 1957, from a studio and transmitter facility on Forsythe Avenue. The facility was originally used by KFAZ-TV
KFAZ (defunct)
KFAZ-TV, channel 43, was a television station in Monroe, Louisiana. The station was owned by J. O. "Red" Willett, owner of a natural gas pipeline stringing company. and Howard E. Griffith...
Channel 43 until KFAZ went dark May 1, 1954. It was the fourth television station in the Monroe/El Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado , a multi-cultural arts center: South Arkansas Arts Center , an award-winning renovated downtown, and numerous sporting, shopping, and dining opportunities. El Dorado is the population, cultural, and business center of the 7,300 mi² regional area...
area, after KFAZ-TV, KNOE-TV
KNOE-TV
KNOE-TV, Channel 8, is the CBS affiliate television station for Monroe, Louisiana. The station is owned by Hoak Media Corporation, which also controls ABC affiliate KAQY, Channel 11 through a local marketing agreement.-History:KNOE-TV went on the air in 1953...
, and KRBB-TV (now KTVE
KTVE
KTVE, Channel 10, is the NBC affiliate television station for the El Dorado, Arkansas–Monroe, Louisiana DMA. The station is licensed to El Dorado, but its main studio is located in West Monroe, Louisiana. KTVE is owned by Mission Broadcasting, and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting...
), the 24th educational television station in the US, and the first educational television station in Louisiana, going on-the-air almost one month prior to WYES-TV
WYES-TV
WYES-TV is the primary Public Broadcasting Service member public television station in New Orleans, Louisiana, owned by the Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation. It broadcasts on virtual channel 12.-History:...
in New Orleans. KLSE's sign-on predates the debut of Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Louisiana Public Broadcasting is a state-run, viewer-supported state network of Public Broadcasting Service non-commercial educational Public television member stations serving the state of Louisiana outside Greater New Orleans. The stations are operated by the Louisiana Educational Television...
's first station, WLPB-TV in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, by over 18 years.
KLSE was to be the first station in an intended statewide educational television network along the lines of Alabama Educational Television
Alabama Public Television
Alabama Public Television is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member non-commercial educational Public television stations serving the US state of Alabama. The television stations are licensed by the Alabama Educational Television Commission, which was created by the Alabama state...
, which had been created two years earlier. LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
professor Lucille Woodward had urged Governor Robert Kennon to create the Educational Television Commission a few years earlier.
The state's limited budget meant the station signed on with a transmitter and antenna providing one tenth the maximum allowed effective radiated power for a station on channel 13. In addition, its tower was only half as tall as that of KNOE. This combination limited KLSE's viewing area to Monroe and West Monroe, with viewing in nearby towns difficult. In addition, the amount of educational television programming available to the state from National Educational Television
National Educational Television
National Educational Television was an American non-commercial educational public television network in the United States from May 16, 1954 to October 4, 1970...
and other sources in the late 1950s and early 1960s was limited in comparison to the programming available to commercial stations. By 1964, the state decided to shut down KLSE. The Ark-La-Miss area would not receive another educational station until LPB went on-the-air in Monroe with KLTM Channel 13 on September 8, 1976. There is no record of any television station using the former KLSE facilities after its closure.