NCET Biz Tips: KNPB educates and empowers through television

NCET helps you explore business and technology

By Dave Archer

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This year, KNPB, Reno’s public broadcasting station, will celebrate 35 years of delivering educational, engaging and empowering television to Northern Nevada each year.

On the first day KNPB aired on Sept. 29, 1983., its 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. lineup featured classic and beloved shows such as  “Sesame Street,” “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood,” “The McNeil Lehrer News Hour,” a movie, “Jazz in America,” and “In Performance at the White House.” Flash forward 35 years, and today, KNPB operates three stations in addition to airing local, KNPB-created content online at watch.knpb.org.

Its stations include:

  • KNPB 5.1: The flagship channel, which airs shows such as PBS NewsHour Nature, Nova, PBS Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, local programs like ARTEFFECTS and WILD NEVADA.

  • KNPB CREATE 5.2: The channel features how-to, travel, cooking and DIY lifestyle programming

  • KNPB PBS KIDS 5.3: This channel features PBS Kids programming 24 hours a day, with children’s favorites such as “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Arthur,” “Nature Cat,” “Wild Kratts,” “Curious George” and many more

In addition to airing nationally-celebrated programs such as “Finding Your Roots,” “Doc Martin,” and “Victoria,” KNPB also produces local programming. On Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., viewers can watch “ARTEFFECTS,” which explores an eclectic mix of individuals, events, exhibits and the way that the arts affect individuals and communities in Northern Nevada.

“Wild Nevada,” which airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. features Dave Santina and Chris Orr as they take viewers on an armchair traveler’s tour of Nevada. The station is also producing “Work Of Art: Reno Phil,” an hour-long documentary that will highlight the Phil’s preparation and execution of a unique performance to mark its 50th anniversary.

In addition to creating local programming, KNPB also rents its state-of-the-art studio for productions, does local production for hire work and rents it community room out for events.

Through all its programming, KNPB strives to enrich, inspire, entertain, and captivate viewers by sharing ideas, exploring our world and fostering the joy of learning. This mission is especially true for the station’s children’s programming.

“There’s a lot of talk about the negative impacts technology can have on children and society,” said Nancy Maldonado, KNPB’s vice president of education. “But, when harnessed for good, technology can provide a truly valuable tool for helping to educate and inspire the next generation of learners.”

Here’s to another 35 years of KNPB serving our community and educating future generations.

Get behind the scenes of Reno’s local public broadcast during NCET’s Tech Wednesday event from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 at KNPB. See yourself on greenscreen, learn how to operate the station’s cameras, experience its new lighting system, tour the production booth and explore how TV gets made during this interactive tour. For more information and to purchase registration, visit NCETwed.org.

Dave Archer is president/CEO of NCET, which produces educational and networking events to help people explore business and technology.

Chris Ewing