KPTS-TV, Ch. 8 in Wichita, KS, was also doing this, a couple of years ago, as well.
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Unusual programming on PBS/educational stations
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Back before Columbus OH had a fourth independent TV station, WOSU-34 (and its satellite WPBO-42 Portsmouth) aired several vintage commercial TV shows, including Groucho Marx's You Bet Your Life, The Twilight Zone, and a couple of others that escape me right now. WTTE-28 had not yet come on the air (late 1970s).
WMUL-33 Huntington WV (now WVPB, before that WPBY), located at Marshall University, did an original drama series, Handfuls of Ashes, about an Appalachian family who relocated to one of the cities that many such families move to (I want to say Columbus but I'm not sure of that). It was filmed in black-and-white, and for what it was, it was surprisingly good. (But perhaps "surprisingly" isn't the right word, Marshall had an outstanding drama department.)
From the Marshall newsletter, 1973:
WMUL-33 Huntington WV (now WVPB, before that WPBY), located at Marshall University, did an original drama series, Handfuls of Ashes, about an Appalachian family who relocated to one of the cities that many such families move to (I want to say Columbus but I'm not sure of that). It was filmed in black-and-white, and for what it was, it was surprisingly good. (But perhaps "surprisingly" isn't the right word, Marshall had an outstanding drama department.)
From the Marshall newsletter, 1973:
That sounds like KBYU in Provo. They did indeed air family-friendly programming not typical of a PBS station. The SLC market does have three separate public TV stations, so there's room for a lot of diversity in programming.
In the Bay Area(and other markets), 'Doctor Who' initially 'materialised' on commercial stations in 1971. KRON 4 aired the series for roughly two years, but shunted it off to a weekend post-midnight slot within a few weeks. These were a selection of episodes starring Jon Pertwee.
There weren't a lot of weekly syndicated game shows yet, so British dramas popped up on 'regular' TV, just before PBS, 'Masterpiece Theatre' and 'Upstairs, Downstairs' changed the game.
KQED 9 started airing 'Who'(featuring Tom Baker) weekly in late 1980, but dropped it in '82.
The Bay Area's 'official' Doctor Who station was San Jose's KTEH 54,which kept the show on from '81 through early '03, finally adding pre-Tom Baker episodes starting in 1984(and even carried the first set.of 'modern' episodes in 2005, when it was briefly made available to PBS stations).
And KCPQ calls came from the Clover Park school district who ran public as you mention.
According to this archived website, KTWU-TV, Ch. 11, the PBS station in Topeka, KS, aired reruns of I Love Lucy & Happy Days back around the Summer of 2008.
New Hampshire's statewide public television network (once known as New Hampshire Public Television, now known as NHPBS) back in the 1980's carried reruns of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"/"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" and the original 1959-64 "Twilight Zone", as well as some feature films.
The network began running these shows prior to the launch of any independent TV stations in the Granite State.
The network began running these shows prior to the launch of any independent TV stations in the Granite State.
That's similar to what WOSU/WPBO did in southern Ohio before Columbus got independent WTTE-28.
WKNO in Memphis also had movies for a period, probably in the early 2000's at about the same time they ran other non-PBSTV shows like I mentioned earlier.
This reminded me that KCPT-TV in Kansas City, MO, also aired classic movies under the branding "Deja Vu Drive In Movie" between about 2001-2009.
so did KETC
Sorry to bump but had to contribute to this!
I've never seen more non-PBS shows air on any other station but WVIA in Scranton. As mentioned previously, it aired "Dark Shadows". However, before 1985, Scranton didn't have an independent station - just the "big three" and WVIA. WVIA attempted to fill this void, and even *after* the independent station signed on the air, they still carried some non-PBS programming.
Some examples - reruns of "Leave it to Beaver" on Saturday morning in the '80s, along with "Betty Boop" cartoons. In the mid '80s, reruns of "Burns and Allen" and "The Honeymooners". They started running "The Waltons" in weekday afternoons in 1989 (along with "All in the Family" in the early evening), and then replaced it with "Little House on the Prairie" in 1991. As a teenager I remember watching their mini "Star Trek" marathon on Saturday nights, and at times they even ran ST: TNG. I think "Little House" was the last non-PBS show to air on WVIA.......Those days are long gone now.
I've never seen more non-PBS shows air on any other station but WVIA in Scranton. As mentioned previously, it aired "Dark Shadows". However, before 1985, Scranton didn't have an independent station - just the "big three" and WVIA. WVIA attempted to fill this void, and even *after* the independent station signed on the air, they still carried some non-PBS programming.
Some examples - reruns of "Leave it to Beaver" on Saturday morning in the '80s, along with "Betty Boop" cartoons. In the mid '80s, reruns of "Burns and Allen" and "The Honeymooners". They started running "The Waltons" in weekday afternoons in 1989 (along with "All in the Family" in the early evening), and then replaced it with "Little House on the Prairie" in 1991. As a teenager I remember watching their mini "Star Trek" marathon on Saturday nights, and at times they even ran ST: TNG. I think "Little House" was the last non-PBS show to air on WVIA.......Those days are long gone now.
WYES in New Orleans aired a couple of the syndicated country music shows from Show Biz that in the south were common on commercial stations on Saturday afternoons and evenings. They also frequently showed movies.
I always liked when PBS stations showed “non PBS” type programs, especially movies. Instead of ”snob tv,” PBS should be more of a source for programming that the commercial stations in a market don’t show.
Especially since PBS receives some tax dollars, they should aim to serve more than just children and rich old people. I’m 100% in favor of government support of PBS and of PBS In general, so not being critical, just always glad to see more variety on the network and stations.
I always liked when PBS stations showed “non PBS” type programs, especially movies. Instead of ”snob tv,” PBS should be more of a source for programming that the commercial stations in a market don’t show.
Especially since PBS receives some tax dollars, they should aim to serve more than just children and rich old people. I’m 100% in favor of government support of PBS and of PBS In general, so not being critical, just always glad to see more variety on the network and stations.
This past Thursday and yesterday WCTE had the TTU Womens/Mens doubleheader games. They were produced by ESPN for the ESPN+ streaming service
And they do precisely that. Programs such as Antiques Roadshow and the various cooking shows have appeal to a very broad audience. The litmus test is when someone tunes to a show on PBS without giving it any thought as to whether it's PBS or not.
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