WGBH-TV: Difference between revisions

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	station_branding = WGBH Boston\|		station_branding = WGBH Boston\|
	analog = 2 (WGBH) (]), 44 (WGBX) (])\|		analog = 2 (WGBH) (]), 44 (WGBX) (])\|
	digital = 19 (WGBH) (UHF), 43 (WGBX) (UHF)\|		digital = 19 (WGBH) (]), 43 (WGBX) (])\|
	affiliations = ] \|		affiliations = ] (Since 1970)\|
	founded = ] (FM), ], ] (TV)\|		founded = ] (FM), ], ] (TV)\|
	location = ]\|		location = ]\|
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	owner = WGBH Educational Foundation\|		owner = WGBH Educational Foundation\|
	former_callsigns = \|		former_callsigns = \|
	former_affiliations = ] (~~1956~~-1970)\|		former_affiliations =Educational Independent (1955-1962) & ] (1962-1970)\|
	homepage = \|		homepage = \|}}
	}}

	'''WGBH''' is an established ] and ] broadcast service located in ]. It operates over ten broadcasts - primarily WGBH 2 and WGBX 44 (television), and WGBH 89.7 FM (radio). WGBH is a member of ] in regard to its television broadcasts, and both a member of ] and an affiliate of ] for its radio broadcasts. The license-holder is the WGBH Educational Foundation.		'''WGBH''' is an established ] and ] broadcast service located in ]. It operates over ten broadcasts - primarily WGBH 2 and WGBX 44 (television) and WGBH 89.7 FM (radio). WGBH is a member of ] in regard to its television broadcasts, and both a member of ] and an affiliate of ] for its radio broadcasts. The license-holder is the WGBH Educational Foundation.

	WGBH produces many shows for the above organizations, including nearly a third of PBS's national prime-time TV. Programs produced for PBS include '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.		WGBH produces many shows for the above organizations, including nearly a third of PBS's national prime-time TV. Programs produced for PBS include '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.

	Recognized for its contributions to non-commercial educational television programming, WGBH is also a leader in services for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, or visually impaired. WGBH invented television ]ing and the Descriptive Video Service (DVS); they provide these access services to commercial and public TV producers, and to home video, Web sites, and movie theaters nationwide.		Recognized for its contributions to non-commercial educational television programming, WGBH is also a leader in services for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind or visually impaired. WGBH invented television ]ing and the Descriptive Video Service (DVS); they provide these access services to commercial and public TV producers, and to home video, Web sites and movie theaters nationwide.

	==History==		==History==
	WGBH received its first broadcasting license in 1951 under the auspices of the ], a consortium of local universities and cultural institutions, whose collaboration stems from an 1836 bequest by textile manufacturer ] calling for free public lectures for the citizens of Boston.		WGBH received its first broadcasting license in 1951 under the auspices of the ], a consortium of local universities and cultural institutions, whose collaboration stems from an 1836 bequest by textile manufacturer ] calling for free public lectures for the citizens of Boston.

	WGBH-TV Channel 2 went on the air on ], ], at 5:20 p.m. with studios located at 84 Massachusetts Avenue, ] until a fire destroyed the studios in the early morning hours of ], ]. After using many studios, WGBH-TV Channel 2 and WGBH 89.7 FM signed-on from their new studios located at 125 Western Avenue in Allston on ], ].		WGBH-TV Channel 2 went on the air on ], ] at 5:20 p.m. with studios located at 84 Massachusetts Avenue, ] until a fire destroyed the studios in the early morning hours of ], ]. After using many studios, WGBH-TV Channel 2 and WGBH 89.7 FM signed-on from their new studios located at 125 Western Avenue in Allston on ], ].

	==Logo and ID==		==Logo and ID==
	]		]
	WGBH 's distinctive, synthesized audio "sounder" (accompanied by differing animated visuals) has appeared in the open or close of its national TV programs for more than 30 years. The first such logo appeared in ]. The seven-second ID begins with a white or yellow background, and then the letters WGBH (in black) zoom out (emerging from the front) to the center of the screen and to the vanishing point. It is then followed by the word BOSTON zooming in from the center and taking up the whole screen (similar to Viacom's '']''), which then goes black. The logo concludes with the word PRESENTS (in white) slowly zooming in from the center. This logo is now believed to be extinct, though it is occasionally seen in reruns of very old WGBH programming, particularly ]'s '']''.		WGBH's distinctive, synthesized audio "sounder" (accompanied by differing animated visuals) has appeared in the open or close of its national TV programs for more than 30 years. The first such logo appeared in ]. The seven-second ID begins with a white or yellow background, and then the letters WGBH (in black) zoom out (emerging from the front) to the center of the screen and to the vanishing point. It is then followed by the word BOSTON zooming in from the center and taking up the whole screen (similar to Viacom's '']''), which then goes black. The logo concludes with the word PRESENTS (in white) slowly zooming in from the center. This logo is now believed to be extinct, though it is occasionally seen in reruns of very old WGBH programming, particularly ]'s '']''.

	The same music is also used in the current synth-animation signature. The original seven-second piece began appearing at the beginning of WGBH's national shows in late ], accompanied by different visuals—including the "outline" design that is the WGBH emblem. In the original version, the WGBH letters and the shadow outline form as the music builds, then in the last two seconds the "outline logo" bursts into light and morphs into "Boston presents."		The same music is also used in the current synth-animation signature. The original seven-second piece began appearing at the beginning of WGBH's national shows in late ], accompanied by different visuals—including the "outline" design that is the WGBH emblem. In the original version, the WGBH letters and the shadow outline form as the music builds, then in the last two seconds the "outline logo" bursts into light and morphs into "Boston presents."
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	#When it starts up, it flashes and eerie spacelike beeps pop in.		#When it starts up, it flashes and eerie spacelike beeps pop in.
	#A synthesizer (presumably a MOOG) makes a slow violin like sound.		#A synthesizer (presumably a MOOG) makes a slow violin like sound.
	#The tone builds up, and the neon sign (while looking very real) "catches fire"		#The tone builds up and the neon sign (while looking very real) "catches fire"
	#The neon blurs out and fades into the word "Boston" as the tone reaches its crescendo.		#The neon blurs out and fades into the word "Boston" as the tone reaches its crescendo.

	While not intending to be scary, it was frightening to some viewers because it was random and unpredictable for the first time. It was surreal, abstract, and subtly psychedelic to some. On certain shows, this sting was overridden by the show's music itself, such as in the case of the ''Arthur'', ''Between the Lions'', and ''Postcards from Buster'' TV series, possibly because the logo/music is deemed to be too scary for the children who watch these shows (though the childrens series ''ZOOM'' plays this sting without being overridden).		While not intending to be scary, it was frightening to some viewers because it was random and unpredictable for the first time. It was surreal, abstract, and subtly psychedelic to some. On certain shows, this sting was overridden by the show's music itself, such as in the case of the ''Arthur'', ''Between the Lions'' and ''Postcards from Buster'' TV series, possibly because the logo/music is deemed to be too scary for the children who watch these shows (though the childrens series ''ZOOM'' plays this sting without being overridden).

	==Transmission facilities==		==Transmission facilities==
	"GBH" stands for ], the location of WGBH's FM transmitter, as well as the original location of WGBH-TV's transmitter. Great Blue Hill in ], has an elevation of 635 ] (193 ]) and is the highest point in the Boston area. Today, WGBH-TV's and WGBX-TV's transmitters are located at the ] digital television facility in ], where channel 44 originally signed on ], ]; channel 2 moved there on ], ]. WGBX-TV's digital service on channel 43 shares the master antenna at the very top of the tower with the commercial stations. Analog channel 44 has a separate antenna lower down that is shared with WGBH-DT on channel 19.		"GBH" stands for ], the location of WGBH's FM transmitter as well as the original location of WGBH-TV's transmitter. Great Blue Hill in ], has an elevation of 635 ] (193 ]) and is the highest point in the Boston area. Today, WGBH-TV's and WGBX-TV's transmitters are located at the ] digital television facility in ], where channel 44 originally signed on ], ]; channel 2 moved there on ], ]. WGBX-TV's digital service on channel 43 shares the master antenna at the very top of the tower with the commercial stations. Analog channel 44 has a separate antenna lower down that is shared with WGBH-DT on channel 19.

	WGBH operates a ] satellite uplink facility which provides Boston broadcast television stations to Canadian cable and satellite TV distributors. As a Canadian company, CANCOM is not legally entitled to operate an uplink facility in the United States. Hence, it pays WGBH to perform this service on its behalf. This facility is also located at the CBS tower in Needham.		WGBH operates a ] satellite uplink facility which provides Boston broadcast television stations to Canadian cable and satellite TV distributors. As a Canadian company, CANCOM is not legally entitled to operate an uplink facility in the United States. Hence, it pays WGBH to perform this service on its behalf. This facility is also located at the CBS tower in Needham.
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	==External links ==		==External links ==
	*		*
	* (covers WCAI, WNAN, and WZAI)		* (covers WCAI, WNAN and WZAI)
	*{{TVQ\|WGBH}}		*{{TVQ\|WGBH}}
	*{{TVQ\|WGBX}}		*{{TVQ\|WGBX}}
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	{{Boston FM}}		{{Boston FM}}
	{{Cape Cod FM}}		{{Cape Cod FM}}
			{{PBS-stub}}

			{{US-tv-station-stub}}
			{{US-radio-station-stub}}
	]		]
	]		]

Revision as of 00:22, 31 May 2006

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WGBH is an established public television and public radio broadcast service located in Boston, Massachusetts. It operates over ten broadcasts - primarily WGBH 2 and WGBX 44 (television) and WGBH 89.7 FM (radio). WGBH is a member of PBS in regard to its television broadcasts, and both a member of NPR and an affiliate of PRI for its radio broadcasts. The license-holder is the WGBH Educational Foundation.

WGBH produces many shows for the above organizations, including nearly a third of PBS's national prime-time TV. Programs produced for PBS include Nova, Frontline, American Experience, The Victory Garden and This Old House.

Recognized for its contributions to non-commercial educational television programming, WGBH is also a leader in services for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind or visually impaired. WGBH invented television closed captioning and the Descriptive Video Service (DVS); they provide these access services to commercial and public TV producers, and to home video, Web sites and movie theaters nationwide.

History

WGBH received its first broadcasting license in 1951 under the auspices of the Lowell Institute Cooperative Broadcasting Council, a consortium of local universities and cultural institutions, whose collaboration stems from an 1836 bequest by textile manufacturer John Lowell, Jr. calling for free public lectures for the citizens of Boston.

WGBH-TV Channel 2 went on the air on May 2, 1955 at 5:20 p.m. with studios located at 84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge until a fire destroyed the studios in the early morning hours of October 14, 1961. After using many studios, WGBH-TV Channel 2 and WGBH 89.7 FM signed-on from their new studios located at 125 Western Avenue in Allston on August 29, 1964.

Logo and ID

File:WGBH logo large.jpg

The WGBH television signature as it currently appears at the end of each of its television programs

WGBH's distinctive, synthesized audio "sounder" (accompanied by differing animated visuals) has appeared in the open or close of its national TV programs for more than 30 years. The first such logo appeared in 1974. The seven-second ID begins with a white or yellow background, and then the letters WGBH (in black) zoom out (emerging from the front) to the center of the screen and to the vanishing point. It is then followed by the word BOSTON zooming in from the center and taking up the whole screen (similar to Viacom's V of Doom), which then goes black. The logo concludes with the word PRESENTS (in white) slowly zooming in from the center. This logo is now believed to be extinct, though it is occasionally seen in reruns of very old WGBH programming, particularly Julia Child's The French Chef.

The same music is also used in the current synth-animation signature. The original seven-second piece began appearing at the beginning of WGBH's national shows in late 1978, accompanied by different visuals—including the "outline" design that is the WGBH emblem. In the original version, the WGBH letters and the shadow outline form as the music builds, then in the last two seconds the "outline logo" bursts into light and morphs into "Boston presents."

The WGBH national sounder/ID now appears as a three- or four-second stinger at the end of its PBS programs, based on the national web's request that station IDs be as succinct as possible.

The ID is among the most famous and longest lasting station signatures on television, public or commercial, along with the former "radar" signature of WNET and the animated shapes of the Public Broadcasting Service closing ID. Many thought the WGBH jingle and logo were "eerie" because of its characteristics:

When it starts up, it flashes and eerie spacelike beeps pop in.
A synthesizer (presumably a MOOG) makes a slow violin like sound.
The tone builds up and the neon sign (while looking very real) "catches fire"
The neon blurs out and fades into the word "Boston" as the tone reaches its crescendo.

While not intending to be scary, it was frightening to some viewers because it was random and unpredictable for the first time. It was surreal, abstract, and subtly psychedelic to some. On certain shows, this sting was overridden by the show's music itself, such as in the case of the Arthur, Between the Lions and Postcards from Buster TV series, possibly because the logo/music is deemed to be too scary for the children who watch these shows (though the childrens series ZOOM plays this sting without being overridden).

Transmission facilities

"GBH" stands for Great Blue Hill, the location of WGBH's FM transmitter as well as the original location of WGBH-TV's transmitter. Great Blue Hill in Milton, Massachusetts, has an elevation of 635 feet (193 m) and is the highest point in the Boston area. Today, WGBH-TV's and WGBX-TV's transmitters are located at the CBS digital television facility in Needham, Massachusetts, where channel 44 originally signed on September 25, 1967; channel 2 moved there on June 18, 1966. WGBX-TV's digital service on channel 43 shares the master antenna at the very top of the tower with the commercial stations. Analog channel 44 has a separate antenna lower down that is shared with WGBH-DT on channel 19.

WGBH operates a CANCOM satellite uplink facility which provides Boston broadcast television stations to Canadian cable and satellite TV distributors. As a Canadian company, CANCOM is not legally entitled to operate an uplink facility in the United States. Hence, it pays WGBH to perform this service on its behalf. This facility is also located at the CBS tower in Needham.

WGBH also owns three stations in the Cape Cod and Islands area, licensed to Woods Hole (WCAI), Nantucket (WNAN), and Brewster (WZAI). All simulcast National Public Radio programming but are programmed separately from WGBH. A fourth station, WNCK, is owned by Nantucket Public Radio, but simulcasts WGBH-FM programming.

Studios

WGBH's original studios were located in building W20 (presently Stratton Student Center) on the campus of MIT until the building burned down in a 1963 fire. The building was rebuilt, but by the time of completion, the station had moved to its present location on Harvard University property in the Allston neighborhood of Boston. The ZIP code of the station and its post-office box—PO Box 350, Boston, Mass 02134—was made famous in a recurring jingle on its 1970s and late 1990s children's program, ZOOM. In 2006, WGBH will move to new studios in Boston's Brighton neighborhood.

Callsign history

WGBH's original transmitter was located on Great Blue Hill in Milton, Massachusetts and the FM radio transmitter is still there. As a result, all of WGBH's TV stations have the WGB* form; channel 44 in Boston has WGBX (supposedly for Great Blue Experimental), while channel 57 in Springfield, Massachusetts has WGBY for Great Blue Yonder. There was to be a WGBW in Adams, Massachusetts at one point that would have operated on channel 35; its W was to stand for West. The callsign has since been reassigned to a Christian radio station in Florida.

The original Cape Cod and Islands stations are WCAI for CApe and Islands and WNAN for NANtucket; WZAI seems to be derived from the 'CAI callsign.

WNCK is derived from a shortening of NantuCKet as well.

WGBH's callsign is occasionally jokingly expanded as "God Bless Harvard", although the station has no direct connection with the university other than being located very nearby.

Channels and digital services

WGBH-TV 2 Boston (DT 19)
WGBX-TV 44 Boston (DT 43)
WGBH World (WGBX-DT and digital cable)
WGBH Create (WGBX-DT and digital cable)
'GBH Kids (WGBX-DT and digital cable)
WGBH On Demand (digital cable)
WGBH High Definition (WGBH-DT and digital cable)
Boston Kids & Family TV (Boston cable)
WGBY-TV 57 Springfield (DT 58)
WGBH 89.7 Boston
- in Nantucket heard on WNCK 89.5
- in East Cambridge heard on W242AA 96.3
- WGBH-HD2 -- classical music stream available over the Web and on HD Radio
Cape and Islands NPR www.cainan.org
- WCAI 90.1 Woods Hole
- WNAN 91.1 Nantucket
- WZAI 94.3 Brewster

WGBH is one of six local Boston TV stations seen in Canada on the Bell ExpressVu satellite provider.

At one point, WGBH operated a Hyannis translator on channel 8 that had the W08CH call sign, which later ceased operations. It was deleted by the FCC in 2004.

Major WGBH productions

Television

American Experience
Antiques Roadshow
- Antiques Roadshow FYI
Arthur
Basic Black (formerly Say Brother)
Between the Lions
Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish
Evening at Pops
FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman
French in Action
Frontline
- Frontline/World
Greater Boston
La Plaza
Masterpiece Theatre
Mystery!
Nova
- NOVA scienceNOW
Peep and the Big Wide World
Postcards from Buster
Simply Ming
This Old House
Time Warp Trio
The Victory Garden
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (in partnership with WQED in Pittsburgh)
ZOOM

Radio

Open Source
A Celtic Sojourn
Says You!
Sound & Spirit
The World (co-produced with the BBC)
The Changing World
From the Top
Arts and Ideas

Online

FFFBI
Teachers' Domain
The WGBH Forum Network

Footnote

"Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2006-02-19.

v t e Broadcast television in Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire
This region includes the following cities: Boston/Cambridge/Worcester/Lawrence, MA Manchester/Nashua/Concord, NH Reception may vary by location and some stations may only be viewable with cable television
Full-power	WGBH-TV 2 (.1 PBS, .2 World, .3 WGBH-SD) WBZ-TV 4 (.1 CBS, .2 Start, .3 Dabl, .4 Fave, .5 Catchy) WCVB-TV 5 (.1 ABC, .2 MeTV, .3 Story, .4 Nosey) WHDH 7 (.1 Ind., .2 Defy) WBTS-CD 15 (.1 NBC, .2 Cozi, .3 AmCrimes, .4 Oxygen) WFXZ-CD 24 (.1 Biz) WFXT 25 (.1 Fox, .2 Mystery, .3 Laff) WUTF-TV 27 (.1 UniMás, .2 LATV, .3 TBD, .4 Nest, .5 Court) WSBK-TV 38 (.1 Ind., .2 H&I, .3 QVC, .4 QVC2, .5 Movies!) WGBX-TV 44 (.1 PBS, .2 WGBX-SD, .3 Create, .4 PBS Kids) WWDP 46 (.1 Binge, .2 The365, .3 Outlaw, .4 LC, .5 Retro, .6 Heartland) WWJE-DT 50 (.1 Crime) WLVI 56 (.1 CW, .2 Buzzr) WDPX-TV 58 (.1 Grit) WNEU 60 (.1 TMD, .2 TXO) WMFP 62 (.1 LC, .2 SBN, .3 MeToons) WUNI 66 (.1 UNI, .2 Bounce, .3 Get, .4 Court, .5 NV) WBPX-TV 68 (.1 Ion, .2 Mystery, .3 Scripps, .4 Bounce, .5 Ion+, .6 JTV, .8 HSN2)
Low-power	WHDT-LD 3 (.1 Ads WCEA-LD 26 (.1 Spanish Ind., .2 TeleSur, .3 Cristovisión, .4 Telemicro, .5 Telecentro, .6 Tele Antillas) WCRN-LD 31 (.1 Intrigue TV, .2 F24, .3 Blank, .4 Retro, .5 Heartland, .6 ANT/WVMA-CD simulcast)
Outlying areas	WMUR-TV 9 (.1 ABC, .2 MeTV, .3 LC, .5 QVC – Manchester, NH) WENH-TV 11 (.1 PBS/NHPBS, .2 Explore, .3 World, .4 Create, .5 PBS Kids – Durham, NH) WVMA-CD 17 (.1 ANT, .2 NewsNet – Winchendon, MA) WPXG-TV 21 (.1 Ion, .2 Mystery, .3 Scripps, .4 Bounce, .5 Ion+, .6 JTV, .8 HSN2 – Concord, NH) WLEK-LD 22 (.1 Visión Latina, .2 Ads, .3 LC – Concord, NH) WYDN 48 (.1 Daystar – Lowell, MA)
ATSC 3.0	WCRN-LD 31 (.1 Intrigue TV, .2 Paranormal TV, .3 Retro TV, .4 Heartland) WUNI 66 (2.1 PBS, 4.1 CBS, 5.1 ABC, 15.1 NBC, 25.1 Fox, 66.1 UNI) WWJE-DT 50 (50.1 Crime)
Cable	NECN NESN CatholicTV BNNTV NBC Sports Boston NewTV RCNTV Spectrum News 1 TV3 (Medford) The Portuguese Channel
Streaming	CBS News Boston Very Boston Very New Hampshire NBC 10 Boston News (with NECN) Boston 25 NOW
Defunct	CN8 WHDH-TV 5 (Boston; 1957–1972) WNAC-TV 7 (Boston; 1948–1982) WJZB-TV 14 (Worcester, MA) WNHT 21 (Concord, NH) WXPO-TV 50 (Manchester, NH) WTAO-TV 56 (Cambridge, MA)
Nominally a low-power station; shares spectrum with full-power WGBX-TV. Nominally a low-power station; shares spectrum with full-power WGBH-TV. Adjacent areas Albany–Schenectady–Troy, NY Burlington, VT–Plattsburgh, NY Hartford–New Haven, CT Portland–Augusta, ME Providence, RI–New Bedford, MA Springfield–Holyoke, MA

Radio stations in the Boston, Massachusetts, metropolitan area

By AM frequency

By FM frequency

LPFM	89.3 94.9 WAEM-LP WZMR-LP WZMW-LP 102.9 WBCA-LP WBNU-LP WBPG-LP WFPR-LP WLAS-LP
Translators	96.5 101.1 101.3 101.5 102.1 W271CG W271CU 103.7 105.3 106.1

Via FM subcarrier

67 kHz: Radio Maria Estados Unidos (Spanish); Talking Information Center (radio reading service); TNT Radio Boston (Vietnamese)

92 kHz: Radio Voie du Salut (Haitian Creole/English religion)

By NOAA Weather Radio
frequency

Digital radio
by frequency & subchannel

By call sign

Transmitter sites

Defunct

Radio stations in Greater Boston

Boston

Lowell-Lawrence-Haverhill

Nashua

Worcester

Other nearby regions: Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard; New Bedford-Fall River; Portsmouth-Dover-Rochester; Providence; Worcester

See also: List of radio stations in Massachusetts

Notes: 1. Part 15 station with notability.; 2. Clear-channel stations with extended nighttime coverage.; 3. Under a "Shared Time" agreement.; 4. Transmits from Worcester County.