WPBT

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WPBT
city =
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding = Channel 2
analog = 2 (VHF)
digital = 18 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = PBS
network =
founded =
airdate = August 12, 1955
location = Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida
callsign_meaning = Public
Broadcasting
Television
former_callsigns = WTHS-TV (1955-1979)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Community Television Foundation of South Florida, Inc.
licensee =
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = NET (1955-1970)
effective_radiated_power = 100 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 283 m (analog)
309 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 13456
coordinates = coord|25|57|30.9|N|80|12|43.3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.channel2.org/ www.channel2.org]

WPBT is the callsign of a PBS member public television station in Miami, Florida, serving the South Florida region. WPBT, Florida's first public television station, organized in November 1953, is owned and operated by the Community Television Foundation of South Florida, Inc., a private, nonprofit multi-media organization that serves the communities of South Florida, reaching 1.5 million families weekly from Martin County to the Florida Keys.

History

WPBT originally signed on August 12, 1955 as WTHS-TV (meaning Worlds To Hear and See, licensed to the Dade County Board of Public Instruction). [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7017270_ITM] During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the Community TV Foundation shared channel 2 with the DCBPI. The School Board would broadcast educational programming for five hours in the daytime, then the CTF would broadcast two hours of programming in the evenings. This arrangement would continue until the late 1970s, when the Dade County School Board turned over the license to WTHS to the CTF. The CTF then changed the call letters to WPBT.

Digital television

WPBT's digital channel is multiplexed:

Notable Achievements

August 1955

*WPBT goes on the air on August 12 with donated equipment, antenna and transmitter, as well as an all-volunteer staff, and without any government funding.

June 1967

*"Pagliacci", produced in association with the Miami Opera Guild, is the first local color production aired on WPBT.

1970s

*Jack Horkheimer's "Star Gazer" (formerly "Star Hustler") interstitial segments debuted. This five-minute program, which features key constellations and stars to look for each week, was first seen only on Florida PBS stations. "Star Gazer" is generally seen on PBS stations before sign-off. However, as PBS stations began broadcasting 24/7 and had less time to fit it in, WPBT began offering a one-minute capsule version of "Star Gazer".

*WPBT produces 39 episodes of "¿Qué Pasa, USA?", a bilingual comedy series that still airs on PBS stations today. Several cast members went on to star in popular telenovelas in Latin America, and heartthrob Esteban “Rocky” Echeverria who later changed his name to Steven Bauer, was nominated for a Golden Globe for his 1983 performance in the motion picture "Scarface".

*"Nightly Business Report" premieres on WPBT as a 15-minute summary of national and local stock market and business news.

1980s

*"Nightly Business Report" goes national and is transmitted via a satellite uplink to 260 public television stations across America.

*Hosted by Eamonn Andrews in London, international game show "Top Of The World" was produced by WPBT in association with Thames Television and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, becoming the first television series to be linked by satellite to the three continents of North America, Australia and Europe. The victor of the championship game won a 1924 Rolls-Royce.

*WPBT program "The Me Nobody Knows" wins the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Award for the Best Children’s Programming.

*WPBT original production, "American Journey Live", is the first nationwide combination (during PBS prime time) of a live one-hour program to contain satellite feeds from cities across North America and conducts a public opinion survey in which viewers phone in “yes” or “no” votes.

*"The Me Nobody Knows" wins another honor when it is awarded the IRIS Award at the NATPE Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

*"American Journey Live" is nominated by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for an Emmy in Best Documentary category for Outstanding Information, Cultural or Historical Programming and is also nominated for and wins an Emmy for Best Cinematography.

*The WPBT-originally produced "Diva In Concert" wins the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s First Place award in the Performance Programming category.

*The WPBT-produced program, "Star Hustler", premieres nationally with 200 public television stations carrying the series.

*An International Film & TV Festival of New York Finalist Award is presented to the WPBT production "Alabasters And Night Blues".

*"Star Hustler" is aired internationally.

1990s

*A Telly Award is given to "Run, River Run", a co-production of WPBT and the South Florida Water Management District.

*"Sunfest '90" is awarded a Suncoast Regional Emmy for Outstanding Musical Special. The program featured performances at Palm Beach County’s music, art and water festival.

*The WPBT production of "Blackbirds In The Sun", a documentary profiling an elite squadron of fighter pilots based at Key West Naval Air Station in Boca Chica, airs on PBS.

*At the Louis Wolfson II Media History Center Film and Video Awards, the WPBT production of "Voyage To A Dream" is recognized.

*WPBT original production, "Dreams of Freedom", receives a Suncoast Regional Emmy for Outstanding Human Interest Story.

*"Sunfest ’91: Sun-Ripened Rhythm" is honored with a regional Suncoast Emmy for Outstanding Musical Special.

*New Florida receives three Suncoast Regional Emmys for Outstanding Photography for its segment, "Card Sound", Outstanding Animation, and Outstanding Entertainment Series.

*"KidVision", Channel 2’s children’s programming platform is created and wins a PBS Advertising & Promotion Award.

*"New Florida" is awarded a Corporation for Public Broadcasting Public Television Local Program Award for a "Down’s Syndrome" segment.

*"Surviving The Hurricane", a one-hour documentary from WPBT Productions, airs nationally on public television stations.

*WPBT original series, "Death By Chocolate", debuts on The Learning Channel.

*"New Florida" is honored with a Suncoast Regional Emmy for the segments "Drug Farm" and "GANG".

*"Surviving The Hurricane" receives a Suncoast Regional Emmy for Outstanding Directing.

*"Nightly Business Report" celebrates 15 years on the air.

*"Sunshine Cuisine", produced by WPBT Productions, makes its national debut on public television.

*"The Burger Meister", produced by WPBT Productions for The Learning Channel, makes its national debut.

*"New Florida" segments "Hemingway’s Key West", "The Last Cowboy", "Tropical Deco", and "Manatees" are awarded Suncoast Regional Emmys.

*"Songs For Fun" is honored as Outstanding Children’s Program/Special at the Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards.

*NHK, the public television network of Japan, contracted with WPBT Productions for 40 episodes of "Sunshine Cuisine".

*"Morning Business Report" is expanded to feed every 15-miutes.
*"Business News Brief" is carried on 135 stations, reaching about 75% of U.S. households.

*"Nightly Business Report" launches a new look to better reflect its focus on international business news and the expanding interests of its viewers. Now called "Nightly Business Report", it remains the most-watched daily business news program on broadcast or cable television.

*"Nightly Business Report" receives a Silver Cindy Award from the Association of Visual Communications for "How To Invest In Mutual Funds".

*The WPBT Productions series, "FLA!", makes its national series debut on The Travel Channel.

*"Israel’s Forgotten Heroes" receives an Emmy Award, a Wolfson Award, and a Telly Award.

*"Havana: Portrait of Yesteryear" receives an Aurora Arts Award, a Suncoast Regional Emmy nomination and is a New York Festival Finalist.

2000s

*"Flight of Pedro Pan" receives a Wolfson Award, a Telly Award, an Aurora Arts Award­ Platinum Best of Show and is a New York Festival Finalist.

*WPBT airs a live one-hour call-in special of its weekly public affairs series, "Issues", following the broadcast of "Frontline: Saving Elian" and welcomes local journalists and community leaders to the program to respond to viewer questions.

*WPBT original production "South Of Brooklyn" receives a Telly Award.

*WPBT produces its first High Definition short film, "Florida Bay & The Blackwater Event".

*"South Of Brooklyn" receives an Aurora Arts Award and a Wolfson Award.

*"New Florida" launches its statewide distribution and broadcast partnership with Florida public television stations, airing the weekly magazine series throughout the state.

*"José Martí: Legacy of Freedom" receives the “Best of Show” Aurora Award and the 2003 PBS Development Award for Special Achievement.

*The WPBT original production of "Tradicion: A Holiday Celebration" receives a Telly Award, a Regional Emmy Nomination and a Communicator Award ­ Honorable Mention.

*WPBT hosts South Florida’s first Speaking of Women’s Health Conference; sold out with over 800 women in attendance.

*"KidVision" receives the Governor’s Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Suncoast Chapter.

*"Nightly Business Report" is cited on its 25th anniversary with the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.
*WPBT presents its originally-produced "Alzheimer’s Answers", a special live edition of "Issues & Viewpoint", immediately following "The Forgetting" (a national PBS documentary) and offers a panel of experts available to answer viewer phone calls and e-mails.

*WPBT receives three Silver Angel Awards from Excellence in Media for Local Television, recognizing its local original productions of "The Flying Days of Riddle Field", "Tradicion: A Holiday Celebration"; and "Miami Beach Walking Tour".

*WPBT begins production on its first long-form High Definition documentary, "Anatomy Of A Hurricane".

*WPBT receives five regional Emmy Awards: "New Florida" receives four and the fifth goes to "The 20th Anniversary Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant".

*"Nightly Business Report" joins the national line-up of PBS news and public affairs programs (previously distributed by American Public Television).

*WPBT broadcasts its original production, "Surviving The Storm" in partnership with WFOR/CBS4 and "Nightly Business Report", co-hosted by WFOR Director of Meteorology Bryan Norcross and "New Florida" host Hunter Reno.

*WPBT celebrates 50 years of broadcast history.

*WPBT original production "The Holiday Table" airs nationally on PBS stations.

*WPBT premieres the first edition of its new quarterly series, "State Of The Arts", showcasing the South Florida arts scene.

*WPBT original production "Mi Colombia" premieres on WPBT.

*"State Of The Arts: King Tut Special" premieres on WPBT, in conjunction with the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit at the Museum of Art-Fort Lauderdale.

*WPBT premieres "Wild Florida", an original new wildlife series that explores Florida’s remarkable, unique ecosystem and the animals that inhabit it.

*WPBT premieres the second episode of its quarterly series, "State Of The Arts", showcasing the South Florida arts scene.

*WPBT original production "Leyendas: Legends Of Cuban Music" premieres on WPBT.

*WPBT original production "Wild Florida" launches as a statewide series on public television stations throughout Florida, and is scheduled for national distribution in January 2007.

*WPBT original production "Florida RoadTrip" premieres on WPBT and is scheduled to air on public television stations statewide in January 2007, with national distribution targeted for April 2007.

*Produced by Raven Moon Entertainment, the secular version of "Gina D’s Kids Club" is distributed nationally to public television stations by WPBT.

*The third episode of WPBT’s quarterly arts series "State Of The Arts" changes its name to "Art 360" and premieres on WPBT.

*WPBT presents the ITVS-produced documentary "Mi Mambo", spotlighting the Harbor Music Conservatory in East Harlem, New York.

*WPBT launches uVu, the first user-generated video content website in the PBS network.

*WPBT launches a new restaurant review show called "Check, Please! South Florida", based on a program created by Chicago station WTTW.

uVu

Launched in 2007, uVu (you view) is WPBT Channel 2’s alternate platform for community programming. uVu began as a video sharing website and companion digital broadcast channel. The purpose of the site: to bring educational and cultural information to the local community through partnerships with community organizations and to give citizens an open forum to voice their thoughts and/or passions.

uVu consists of user-generated video along with content created and submitted to the site by community groups and cultural/educational institutions. Re-purposed broadcast content, previously aired on WPBT Channel 2, are also available for viewing and sharing in clip format.

In October 2007 WPBT launched a companion TV show called uVuTV. The weekly show highlights popular clips from the uVu website and is broadcasted on WPBT's digital channel. Using a ranking system of the most watched online segments, content is taken from the website and used as program elements on-air on the digital channel. WPBT also launch a podcast channel, called uVuPulse, which airs a shorter version of the TV show, as well as other clips featured on the site.

ee also

*Nightly Business Report
*¿Qué Pasa, USA?

External links

* [http://www.channel2.org/ WPBT Homepage]
* [http://uvu.channel2.org/ uVu]
* [http://www.wildflorida.tv/ Wild Florida]
* [http://www.channel2.org/issues/ Issues]
* [http://www.channel2.org/viewpoint/ Viewpoint]
* [http://www.checkpleasefl.com/ Check Please]
*TVQ|WPBT
*BIA|WPBT|TV|TV