The
Origins of PBS Guam |
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On October
30, 1970, Guam's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station,
KGTF
Channel 12, signed on the air.
The station was initially funded by a $150,000 grant from
the federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
along with $50,000 from the Government of Guam. Executive
Order 70-6 created the Guam Telecommunications Commission,
which was the licensee and operator of station KGTF licensed
to the Federal Communications Commission. In 1974, the 12th
Guam Legislature passed P.L. 12-194 which created a nonprofit,
public corporation to operate KGTF. That law went into effect
on July 1, 1975 creating what is known today as the Guam
Educational Telecommunications Corporation with a seven-member
Board of Trustees to oversee its operations and a General
Manager who is responsible for the day-to-day operation
and administers its programs, policies and the facility
used for and in the production and transmission of the Corporation's
programs.
Former General Managers of KGTF include Daniel Smith, Harry
Engel, Iris Muna, Betty Lyons, Dave Camacho, K.K. Woo, Joe
Tighe, Ginger Underwood, Benny Flores, Herman Crisostomo,
and Jacquie Ronan.
 In
the beginning, KGTF had a staff of five and a programming
day of 4 1/2 hours, Monday through Friday. Today KGTF is
staffed with over 20 professionals and broadcasts from 6:00
am to Midnight, seven days a week.
In 1991, KGTF purchased a state-of-the-art remote broadcast
vehicle that provides Channel 12 the capability to offer
complete coverage of live and recorded events and shows,
as well as contract production.
In 1993 KGTF constructed a new 5000 square-foot facility
funded entirely through private contributions. The new offices
and studios replaced the condemned Butler-type building
which housed KGTF for many years.
KGTF won the 1997 Media Representative of the Year Award,
presented by the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council
for providing production services for the benefit of the
disabled people. In 1999, the station was awarded the Professional
Achievement & Performance Award—Setbenten I Kuminidat
by the Micronesia Society of Professional Journalists. Channel
12 has also been recognized for excellence by the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting, The International
Reading Association and The Government of Guam.
In July of 2000, KGTF began the federally mandated process
of digitization with the installation of a digital-ready
tower and antenna. This was the first step in the still
ongoing process of making and keeping KGTF as technologically
advanced as any PBS affiliate in the country.
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KGTF's annual budget is now
funded from three main sources—A Community Service Grant
from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Government
of Guam and Private Funds. To qualify for the Community Service
Grant, KGTF must raise about a million dollars a year in matching
funds.
KGTF produces local documentaries, regular
series, specials, public service announcements and live specials
such as public forums and meetings, pledge night entertainment
and the annual Liberation Day Parade.
KGTF is well known for airing award
winning PBS children’s programs such as Reading Rainbow,
Barney & Friends, The Teletubbies, Between the Lions,
Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and Sesame Street, which has
been teaching Guam's children for over 30 years. PBS Children’s
shows are designed to help both school aged and pre-school
aged kids learn how to read, how to relate to other people
and their world.
Also mainstays of the KGTF schedule
are PBS cultural, informational and public affairs programs
such as Masterpiece Theatre, NOVA, The Antiques Roadshow,
Austin City Limits, Great Performances, P.O.V., and NATURE.
The line-up of locally produced programs
includes the public affairs show ViewPoint, Hafa Adai Guam
USA with host Johnny Sablan and Guam’s longest running
locally produced television program The Academic Challenge
Bowl hosted by Diane Isis Thurber.
KGTF works with The University of Guam,
Guam Community College, The Guam Public School System, private
schools and Government of Guam agencies to assist island students,
parents and administrators create and maintain educational
opportunities and standards. It is one of KGTF’s goals
to actively participate with the community in readying students,
especially those in their elementary years, to learn and expand
their life possibilities.
KGTF publishes and distributes a monthly
program guide that offers not only a complete air schedule,
but highlights for the month and information on shows, the
staff and outreach events.
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The
Future of Public Broadcasting on Guam |
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Channel 12 broadcasts a complete
schedule of PBS national programming; the same programs seen
on PBS affiliates nationwide. When the digitization process
is completed, sometime in 2008, KGTF will be airing national
programming on the same nightly schedule as the rest of the
country.
This website will also continue to develop.
As the interactive outreach arm of public broadcasting on
Guam, viewers and supporters will come to rely on it. All
of our local programming will have a page here. Members will
find benefits and an easy way to renew their memberships here.
Viewers who pledge support during out fundraising pledge nights
will be able to contribute conveniently through the website.
As KGTF evolves, this website will grow.
The overwhelming constant throughout
the life of Guam’s public television station has been
the dedication and commitment of the professional staff. From
the Master Control operators, to the technical and engineering
staff, the production team and management—all remain
devoted to the mission of public broadcasting and the entertainment
and enlightenment of the audience.
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KGTF-TV
operates on an assigned frequency of 204-2 1 0 megahertz with
an affected radiated power of 27.5 kilowatts visual and 5.5
kilowatts aural and has a 150 foot tower in its yard. KGTF-TV's
transmitter, tower, and offices are located in the municipality
of Mangilao, Guam. |
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This
website is developed, hosted and maintained by wispguam.com |
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