|
KSPS Public Television is the flagship PBS station of
the Inland Pacific Northwest. Our signal area includes parts of four
western states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana), plus western
Canada. Owned and operated by the
Spokane Public Schools, KSPS also
provides additional programming through the addition of our new
digital channels, PBS World, PBS Create and our
HD programming and four educational access
channels available to classrooms in the
greater Spokane area.
Over 35,000 viewers from the northwestern United States and Western
Canada support KSPS as members of the Friends of Seven. Membership
dollars make up about 80% of the station’s income, allowing KSPS to
purchase the finest programs you will see on broadcast television.
KSPS Public Television located in Spokane, Washington, was
started by Spokane Public Schools and went on the air in 1967.By 1972,
school funding and financial difficulties threatened the continuation of the
station. Three community leaders, Lois Rubens, Ethel Grossman, and Ron Miller
met with Station Manager Walter Schaar to discuss the future of KSPS.That
meeting resulted in the founding Friends of Seven, a non-profit organization
that continues to raise funds to support the station.For more than 35 years,
Friends of Seven has ensured its continuous growth through the generosity and
support of individuals, businesses and foundations throughout the vast region
served.
The potential audience is more than one million households,
and 35,000 of them currently support Friends of Seven.Individual contributions
make up 80% of the Friend's income, which goes directly to the station enabling
KSPS to purchase quality programming and keep abreast of facility and technology
improvements.
KSPS also has
corporate partners throughout its service
area.Underwriting, corporate pledge challenges, and sponsorship of special
events (The Baby Fair, Ready to Lead in Literacy
(Flamingo Project) workshops and Kids Day in
Riverfront Park), provide crucial funding.There is a Friends of Seven Corporate
Club and a Corporate Club Member Corner in Prevue Magazine, which goes to 35,000
homes monthly.
Over the years, several foundations have supported requests
for funding from Friendsof Seven. Over the last several years, Foundation
Northwest, Wasmer (now part of FNW), Joel E. Ferris, Bank of America, US Bank, Leuthold, Comstock, Johnston-Fix, Johnson-Hansen and many others have made
significant contributions that enabled local productions, regional programs and
station improvements.
As KSPS continues to grow, the quality and quantity of its local productions
reflect its progress. 21st Century Fox is the
story of the resurrection of Spokane's historic Fox Theater. KSPS followed the
project for the past three years and has captured every aspect of the
renovation. Silver Linings is a history of Idaho's Silver
Valley, from its boisterous mining camp era to World War I.Providence,
Women on the Frontier tells stories of the Catholic Sisters who risked their own
safety to bring health care and education to the rowdy Oregon Territory.Spirit of the Inland Northwest
treats viewers to the rugged beauty of the region
that includes Glacier National Park. Sculpted by Floods (winner of a 2001 NETA
award) reveals how Lake Missoula, created thousands of years ago, affects life
in the area today. The Davenport Hotel - Grand Again,
was distributed to public television stations
across the country.
Northwest Profiles
introduces viewers to some of their most interesting neighbors; recent segments
featured an eccentric local artist and volunteer pilots who fly the sick and
injured to medical facilities. KSPS uses a
multi-dimensional approach to achieve its educational mission. The
station's Parents for Public Television
organization provides support for the
more than forty hours of KSPS children's programming each week.The Instructional Television Center operates on four cable channels, providing
programming to all
local school classrooms.The station's Ready to Learn service provides educational children's programming and
conducts workshops for parents and caregivers throughout the Spokane area."We strive to provide vital community services and to be an educational
resource valued throughout our entire viewing area," said General Manager
Claude Kistler. KSPS has reached a major milestone in its
effort to enhance all its services through digital conversion."Friends
of Seven contributions made it possible for us to match our digital grant, and
now we are working to raise funds to transform our educational, cultural, public
affairs, and entertainment programming into the digital age with high
definition," said Friends of Seven Executive Director Patty Starkey."This is a critical time for KSPS. The cost of digital technology comes
when traditional funding sources are not keeping pace with operational needs. At
the same time, digital technology offers new service opportunities and demands
that make us re-examine who we are, what we do, and how we fund our exciting
future," said General Manager Claude Kistler.
The station that almost failed in the
1970s is continuing to grow and expand services to diverse communities. Now, KSPS is moving confidently into the digital age, still depending on its
many friends, both old and new.
|
|
