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WGBH-TV

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WGBH-TV
Call signWGBH-TV
CityBoston, Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
Digital19 (UHF)
AffiliationsPBS
OwnerWGBH Educational Foundation
LicenseeWGBH Educational Foundation
FoundedMay 2, 1955
Erp685 kW
Haat390 m
Facility id73218
Coordinates42°20′45″N 71°6′10″W

WGBH-TV is a PBS member television station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, and serving the broader New England region. Owned by the WGBH Educational Foundation, it is one of the flagship stations of the PBS network and a major producer of national programming. The station's studios are located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, and its transmitter is based in Needham.

History

WGBH-TV signed on the air on May 2, 1955, as the first educational television station in New England, broadcasting from a converted roller rink in Allston. Its early programming was foundational for the emerging educational television movement, and the station played a key role in the establishment of the Eastern Educational Television Network. A devastating fire in 1961 destroyed its original studios, but the station quickly recovered, moving to new facilities and expanding its production capabilities. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, WGBH-TV became a cornerstone of the newly formed PBS, contributing significantly to its national schedule and helping launch iconic series like Nova.

Programming

As a major producer for PBS, WGBH-TV creates and distributes a vast array of acclaimed national programming. Its productions include long-running news series like Frontline and The American Experience, science staples such as Nova, and beloved children's content including Arthur and Curious George. The station also produces cultural and arts programming like Antiques Roadshow and Masterpiece, alongside local news and public affairs shows such as Greater Boston and Basic Black. Its programming has received numerous awards, including Peabody Awards and Emmy Awards.

Technical information

WGBH-TV broadcasts a digital signal on UHF channel 19 from a transmitter located atop the Prudential Tower in Boston, with its antenna situated in Needham. The station's signal covers a wide area of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. It operates as part of a larger broadcasting complex that includes its sister radio stations, WGBH-FM and WCRB, and utilizes modern digital production facilities to create content for both local broadcast and national distribution via PBS.

WGBH Educational Foundation

The station is owned and operated by the WGBH Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1951. The foundation also operates WGBH-FM, WCRB, and WGBX-TV, and is one of the largest producers of content for PBS, NPR, and other public media outlets. Funded through a combination of viewer contributions, CPB grants, and corporate underwriting from entities like Liberty Mutual and Bank of America, the foundation is headquartered at the WGBH Studios in Brighton.

Studios and facilities

The primary production hub for WGBH-TV is the WGBH Studios complex located at 1 Guest Street in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston. This modern facility houses multiple television studios, control rooms, and post-production suites used to create local and national programs. The building also contains the offices for the WGBH Educational Foundation and its related media services. The station's master control and network interconnection operations are based here, supporting its role as a major production center for the PBS system.

Notable people

Throughout its history, WGBH-TV has been associated with many prominent broadcasters and producers. Legendary journalist David Fanning founded Frontline at the station, while Julia Child debuted her pioneering cooking show, The French Chef, on its airwaves. Other notable figures include documentarian Henry Hampton, creator of Eyes on the Prize, and longtime news anchor Christopher Lydon. On-air personalities such as Jared Bowen and producers like Michael Ambrosino, who helped develop Nova, have also made significant contributions to the station's legacy and national reputation.

Category:Television stations in Boston Category:PBS member stations Category:WGBH Educational Foundation