Twin Cities PBS (KTCA/2 St. Paul) and KSMQ/15 (Austin-Rochester) have announced plans to begin simulcasting and rebrand as Minnesota PBS on Sept. 1.
Such a move has been expected since spring, when KSMQ Public Service Media filed an application with the FCC to transfer KSMQ’s license to Twin Cities Public Television. KTCA has been operating KSMQ since April 14 and the FCC approved the license transfer on June 1.
A press release cites last year’s elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting as the reason for the change.
“Without that funding, it was increasingly possible that KSMQ would go dark after more than 50 years on the air. The introduction of Minnesota PBS will prevent that from happening, preserving public media in southern Minnesota and maintaining trusted news and local shows for communities throughout the region,” the press release stated.
An FAQ page about the transition says KSMQ’s building in Austin will remain open and KSMQ employees will become part of the new Minnesota PBS. The page does not make any specific mention of KSMQ’s current local productions but says Minnesota PBS is committed to “continuing to tell local stories and develop local programs that reflect the communities in southern Minnesota.”
KSMQ will rebroadcast all of the current KTCA/KTCI channels, which will be rebranded:
- DT1 will change from “TPT2” to “MN PBS”
- DT2 will remain the “Minnesota Channel,” a service which is seen on public TV stations statewide and already carries reruns of some KSMQ productions
- DT3 will change from “TPT Life” to “MN PBS Life”
- DT4 will change from “TPT Kids” to “MN PBS Kids”
- DT5 will change from “TPT Now” to “MN PBS Ready,” keeping its current wheel of weather, public health, preparedness, and emergency alerts.
The switch means Create and DW-TV will no longer be available on KSMQ, though the station notes much of the programming currently seen on Create and DW-TV will continue to air on its DT1 and DT3 channels.
The change means KTCA’s programming will now be available over the air and on satellite in Rochester and Austin, where cable systems have already carried both KTCA and KSMQ for decades. Both stations are also carried on cable in Mankato, which does not have its own PBS station.
People who are currently members of KSMQ will see their membership transferred to Minnesota PBS.
The announcement does not impact Minnesota’s four other PBS providers, which serve northern, central, and western parts of the state. The FAQ page states, “There are no plans to expand Minnesota PBS at this time.”