WNIT
Encyclopedia
WNIT is the PBS
member television station for South Bend, Indiana
. Its studios are located in South Bend
. WNIT broadcasts on digital
channel 35 (virtual channel
s 34.1 and 34.2).
The station has been serving Michiana
since February 1974, when it signed on UHF channel 34. Previously, PBS programs had been offered to the market's commercial stations on a per-program basis, or via cable from WTTW
in Chicago.
On February 26, 2008, the klystron
tube that powered WNIT's transmitter failed, which reduced WNIT's analog signal strength to only 15 percent of its normal 1.38 million-watt ERP
. On March 25, the transmitter's major signal amplifiers failed, completely disabling the station's analog signal. With analog broadcasting due to end in the United States in 2009
, the station opted to broadcast solely in digital.
Most viewers did not lose access to WNIT programming due to the high penetration of cable and satellite television in the area.
On January 11, 2009, a fire in WNIT's administrative offices severely damaged the building; there were no injuries and WNIT's broadcast facilities and programming were unaffected. Local program production continued at the Elkhart Area Career Center and the administrative offices moved to a temporary location in the Tower Building on West Franklin Street in downtown Elkhart. This arrangement continued until May 11, 2010 when WNIT made the move to their new South Bend studios. On December 17, 2008 WNIT had acquired and taken possession of the 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) former WSBT-TV
building at Lafayette and Jefferson in downtown South Bend with the assistance of an in-kind donation by WSBT's owner, Schurz Communications
; that station had moved to new facilities in Mishawaka
in September 2008.
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....
member television station for South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. Its studios are located in South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. WNIT broadcasts on digital
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
channel 35 (virtual channel
Virtual 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....
s 34.1 and 34.2).
The station has been serving Michiana
Michiana
Michiana is a region in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan centered on the city of South Bend, Indiana. The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County, Indiana defines Michiana as "counties that contribute at least 500 inbound commuting workers to St. Joseph County daily." Those counties...
since February 1974, when it signed on UHF channel 34. Previously, PBS programs had been offered to the market's commercial stations on a per-program basis, or via cable from WTTW
WTTW
WTTW channel 11 is one of three Public Broadcasting Service member public television stations serving the Chicago, Illinois market; the others are WYCC and WYIN. WTTW began broadcasting on September 6, 1955 and it is owned and operated by Window to the World Communications, Inc., a not-for-profit...
in Chicago.
On February 26, 2008, the klystron
Klystron
A klystron is a specialized linear-beam vacuum tube . Klystrons are used as amplifiers at microwave and radio frequencies to produce both low-power reference signals for superheterodyne radar receivers and to produce high-power carrier waves for communications and the driving force for modern...
tube that powered WNIT's transmitter failed, which reduced WNIT's analog signal strength to only 15 percent of its normal 1.38 million-watt ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
. On March 25, the transmitter's major signal amplifiers failed, completely disabling the station's analog signal. With analog broadcasting due to end in the United States in 2009
DTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
, the station opted to broadcast solely in digital.
Most viewers did not lose access to WNIT programming due to the high penetration of cable and satellite television in the area.
On January 11, 2009, a fire in WNIT's administrative offices severely damaged the building; there were no injuries and WNIT's broadcast facilities and programming were unaffected. Local program production continued at the Elkhart Area Career Center and the administrative offices moved to a temporary location in the Tower Building on West Franklin Street in downtown Elkhart. This arrangement continued until May 11, 2010 when WNIT made the move to their new South Bend studios. On December 17, 2008 WNIT had acquired and taken possession of the 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) former WSBT-TV
WSBT-TV
WSBT-TV, channel 22 is a television station in South Bend, Indiana. WSBT is the flagship television station of Schurz Communications, and is an affiliate of the CBS television network. It's studios are located in Mishawaka. Its transmitter is located in South Bend.-Early broadcasting:WSBT-TV first...
building at Lafayette and Jefferson in downtown South Bend with the assistance of an in-kind donation by WSBT's owner, Schurz Communications
Schurz Communications
Schurz Communications is a South Bend, Indiana-based radio, television, cable tv and newspaper media group.-Cable Television Systems:*Antietam Cable, Hagerstown, Maryland *Advanced Cable Communications, Coral Springs, Florida...
; that station had moved to new facilities in Mishawaka
Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census...
in September 2008.