Nebraska’s statewide PBS and NPR networks have rebranded as Nebraska Public Media, dropping their longtime NET branding.
The new name is effective Saturday, May 15, and is being made “to better reflect its mission to serve viewers and listeners across the network’s multiple media platforms,” according to a news release.
“You’ll see our new name on television, hear it on the radio and find it when you click on our content. Things may look a little different as we bring our brand into the digital age, but you can be confident that our commitment to bring you trusted news, safe programs for your children and exciting sports remains the same,” said Mark Leonard, general manager for Nebraska Public Media, in the news release.
The TV network serves every market in the state with four channels: PBS, World, Create, and PBS Kids. The radio network serves areas outside of Omaha with a traditional public radio format of NPR news magazines, Classical music, and weekend entertainment programs, plus an HD2 network offering additional news programming and Jazz.
NET was short for the network’s licensee, the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission. It signed on in 1954 when a commercial broadcaster donated what is now KUON-TV/12 (Lincoln) to the University of Nebraska. The rest of the TV network was built in the 1960s and the FM network was assembled between 1989 and 1991.