WETA-TV
Encyclopedia
WETA-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) member public television
station for the Washington, D.C.
, area. Its studios are in nearby Arlington, Virginia. Among WETA's nationally-broadcast programs are PBS Newshour and Washington Week
and several nationally-broadcast cultural and documentary programs, such as the Ken Burns
' documentaries and A Capitol Fourth
.
(FCC) allocated 242 channels for non-commercial use across the U.S.
. Channel 26 was allocated for use in Washington, D.C.
In 1953, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association was formed to develop programming for channel 26. GWETA credits Elizabeth Campbell
with having founded the organization.
In the early days, before it was granted a license for its own channel, the GWETA produced educational programming for WTTG
.
Finally, on 2 October 1961, the GWETA was granted a license by the FCC to activate channel 26. Until WETA moved to Howard University
in 1964, WETA operated from Yorktown High School.
In 1967, WETA produced Washington Week in Review, its first nationally syndicated program for non-commercial educational stations.
Around 1970, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association changed their name to the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association to reflect the oversight of the new WETA-FM.
In 1992, WETA broadcast the first over-the-air HDTV
signal in the U.S.
In 1995, WETA acquired CapAccess, an interactive computer network. From that acquisition, WETA helped connect public schools, public libraries and local government agencies to the Internet.
In 1996, WETA launched its first national educational project, LD Online, a web site that seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD. It was joined in 2001 by Reading Rockets, a multimedia
project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. In 2003, Reading Rockets spun off Colorín Colorado, a free, web-based, service that provides information, activities, and advice for educators, and Spanish-speaking
families of English language learners (ELLs)
. To support the parents and educators of older students who struggle with reading, WETA launched Adlit.org in 2007. AdLit.org is a multimedia educational initiative offering research,[articles, instructional strategies, school-based outreach events, professional development
webcasts, and book recommendation] to develop teens' literacy skills, prevent school dropouts, and prepare students for the demands of college. Seeing a need to educate the public about brain injuries, in 2008 WETA, in partnership with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, launched BrainLine.org. The site features videos, webcasts, recent research, personal stories, and articles on preventing, treating, and living with traumatic brain injuries
.
In 1997, WETA tested its new full-power HDTV transmitter and began to showcase it to the public in 1999.
In 2002, WETA became one of the first stations to offer digital subchannel
s, which initially included WETA Prime, WETA Plus, and WETA Kids. In January 2006, WETA changed subchannels lineup with WETA Create, WETA Family, and WETA World, after the closure of national services PBS You
and PBS Kids
.
as 26. It is multiplexed into the following digital subchannel
s.
Digital channels: >
Channel
Programming
26.1
Main WETA Programming / PBS HD
26.2
Create
26.3
PBS Kids
26.4
SD simulcast of 26.1
Like many American
television stations, WETA-TV turned off its analog signal and went digital-only on June 12, 2009. The station is now digital-only as WETA-DT on channel 27, using PSIP
to appear as channels 26.1 to 26.4 on digital televisions.
Despite its positioning, channel 26.4 is WETA-TV's main program. 26.4 is broadcast in standard definition and is the equivalent of the former analog channel 26. Therefore, channel 26.4 is the channel that is provided on the standard-definition tiers of local cable systems.
Channel 26.1 simulcasts any 26.4 programming that is available in high definition
, as well as 26.4's entire primetime and overnight lineup regardless of whether the programming is in high or standard definition. At other times, 26.1 shows reruns of PBS high definition programming.
Channel 26.2 runs the APT
-owned network Create, while channel 26.3 shows repeats of PBS children's programming.
Past and future blog guests include:
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(PBS) member public television
station for the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, area. Its studios are in nearby Arlington, Virginia. Among WETA's nationally-broadcast programs are PBS Newshour and Washington Week
Washington Week
Washington Week is a public affairs program on PBS. Unlike panel discussion shows that focus on debate as a means of discussing topics, the program follows a path of moderation and discussion...
and several nationally-broadcast cultural and documentary programs, such as the Ken Burns
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
' documentaries and A Capitol Fourth
A Capitol Fourth
A Capitol Fourth is a free annual concert performed on the west lawn of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., in celebration of the Independence Day. Broadcast live on PBS and NPR, the concert is viewed and heard by millions across The United States and the world, as well as...
.
History
In 1952, the U.S. 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...
(FCC) allocated 242 channels for non-commercial use across the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Channel 26 was allocated for use in Washington, D.C.
In 1953, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association was formed to develop programming for channel 26. GWETA credits Elizabeth Campbell
Elizabeth Campbell
Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell was one of the first and most prominent public television pioneers in the United States...
with having founded the organization.
In the early days, before it was granted a license for its own channel, the GWETA produced educational programming for WTTG
WTTG
WTTG, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
.
Finally, on 2 October 1961, the GWETA was granted a license by the FCC to activate channel 26. Until WETA moved to Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1964, WETA operated from Yorktown High School.
In 1967, WETA produced Washington Week in Review, its first nationally syndicated program for non-commercial educational stations.
Around 1970, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association changed their name to the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association to reflect the oversight of the new WETA-FM.
In 1992, WETA broadcast the first over-the-air HDTV
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
signal in the U.S.
In 1995, WETA acquired CapAccess, an interactive computer network. From that acquisition, WETA helped connect public schools, public libraries and local government agencies to the Internet.
In 1996, WETA launched its first national educational project, LD Online, a web site that seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD. It was joined in 2001 by Reading Rockets, a multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. In 2003, Reading Rockets spun off Colorín Colorado, a free, web-based, service that provides information, activities, and advice for educators, and Spanish-speaking
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
families of English language learners (ELLs)
English language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
. To support the parents and educators of older students who struggle with reading, WETA launched Adlit.org in 2007. AdLit.org is a multimedia educational initiative offering research,[articles, instructional strategies, school-based outreach events, professional development
Professional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
webcasts, and book recommendation] to develop teens' literacy skills, prevent school dropouts, and prepare students for the demands of college. Seeing a need to educate the public about brain injuries, in 2008 WETA, in partnership with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, launched BrainLine.org. The site features videos, webcasts, recent research, personal stories, and articles on preventing, treating, and living with traumatic brain injuries
Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...
.
In 1997, WETA tested its new full-power HDTV transmitter and began to showcase it to the public in 1999.
In 2002, WETA became one of the first stations to offer digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
s, which initially included WETA Prime, WETA Plus, and WETA Kids. In January 2006, WETA changed subchannels lineup with WETA Create, WETA Family, and WETA World, after the closure of national services PBS You
PBS YOU
PBS YOU was founded in the late 1990s as a 24/7 channel/network featuring formal and informal educational programs and college-related fare, largely to take advantage of available rights and satellite transponder space and eager customers for carriage among the satellite-dish and some cable...
and PBS Kids
PBS Kids
PBS Kids is the brand for children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States founded in 1993. As with all PBS programming, PBS Kids programming is non-commercial. It is aimed at children ages 2 to 10...
.
Digital television
WETA's digital channel is 27, using PSIP to display its virtual channelVirtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
as 26. It is multiplexed into the following digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
s.
Create (TV channel)
Create is a digital television public television network in the United States. The network was created after the closure of PBS YOU in 2006. Create is a public television network, and runs mainly how-to, DIY, and other non-commercial educational television shows from the libraries of Public...
PBS Kids
PBS Kids is the brand for children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States founded in 1993. As with all PBS programming, PBS Kids programming is non-commercial. It is aimed at children ages 2 to 10...
Like many American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television stations, WETA-TV turned off its analog signal and went digital-only on June 12, 2009. The station is now digital-only as WETA-DT on channel 27, using PSIP
Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
to appear as channels 26.1 to 26.4 on digital televisions.
Despite its positioning, channel 26.4 is WETA-TV's main program. 26.4 is broadcast in standard definition and is the equivalent of the former analog channel 26. Therefore, channel 26.4 is the channel that is provided on the standard-definition tiers of local cable systems.
Channel 26.1 simulcasts any 26.4 programming that is available in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
, as well as 26.4's entire primetime and overnight lineup regardless of whether the programming is in high or standard definition. At other times, 26.1 shows reruns of PBS high definition programming.
Channel 26.2 runs the APT
American Public Television
American Public Television is the largest syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States.-History:...
-owned network Create, while channel 26.3 shows repeats of PBS children's programming.
- Everyday FoodEveryday FoodEveryday Food from the test kitchens of Martha Stewart Living is digest size cooking magazine and PBS public television program published and produced by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia . Both feature quick and easy recipes targeted at supermarket shoppers and the everyday cook. The first issue of...
(2003-present PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
)
Author, Author!
"Author, Author!" is a videoblog hosted by journalist and critic Bethanne Patrick. This project of WETA.org, the website for WETA-TV, launched in September 2007. The site showcases authors and books through reviews and video interviews. Visitors are invited to contribute thoughts and ideas to the site through the blog's comments feature.Past and future blog guests include:
- Mary Gordon, author of Circling My Mother, a memoir
- Richard RussoRichard RussoRichard Russo is an American novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and teacher.-Early life and education:Russo was born in Johnstown, New York, and raised in nearby Gloversville...
- Geoffrey C. Ward, co-author, with Ken BurnsKen BurnsKenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
, of The War: An Intimate History, now a PBS documentary, The WarThe War (documentary)The War is a 2007 American seven-part documentary television mini-series about World War II from the perspective of the United States that premiered on September 23, 2007... - Frank WarrenFrank WarrenFrank Warren may refer to:* Frank Warren , played for the New Orleans Saints* Frank Warren , English boxing manager and promoter* Francis E. Warren , American politician, U.S...
- Naomi WolfNaomi WolfNaomi Wolf is an American author and political consultant. With the publication of The Beauty Myth, she became a leading spokesperson of what was later described as the third wave of the feminist movement.-Biography:...
External links
- WETA — official site
- National Education Projects — links to WETA's other websites
- History of WETA (requires proprietary software)