A Rich History and a Bright Future

KERA TV made its debut in 1960.

In the late 1950s, community leaders, educators and owners of commercial television stations joined together to endorse a proposal to start an educational television station in North Texas.

KERA Channel 13 went on the air in late 1960 with a limited schedule of programs for teachers and students. Since that time, KERA TV has evolved to carry a full slate of public television programs and independent productions, including an extensive lineup of weekday programs committed to the intellectual and social development of children. KERA also continues to produce local content for its North Texas audience with shows like CEO with Lee Cullum. Throughout its history, many of KERA’s original productions about the arts, community affairs and current events have received notable national honors including the Emmy Award and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, among others.

In 2009, a second television channel, KERA WORLD 13.2, was launched and  significantly increased the availability and variety of public television programming in North Texas.

KERA’s public radio station 90.1 FM went on the air in 1974, serving Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton. In subsequent years, the station expanded its broadcast reach to Wichita Falls (88.3), Tyler (100.1) and Sherman (99.3). KERA FM has a news and information format. The station’s own productions include reports and specials from the KERA news staff, Think with Krys Boyd and Anything You Ever Wanted to Know with Jeff Whittington.

Bob Ray Sanders, KERA FM, 1970s

Online, KERA TV and radio content can be found at kera.org ^[1], on the KERA mobile app ^[2] and on Facebook ^[3] and Twitter ^[4].

A second radio station, KKXT 91.7 FM with a music format, began broadcasting in late 2009 to the greater Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton metropolitan area. This station’s programming is also streamed online at kxt.org ^[5]. The majority of KXT 91.7’s music programs are locally hosted by DJs Gini Mascorro, Joe Kozera and Paul Slavens. KXT also has a mobile app ^[6], and pages on Facebook ^[7] and Twitter ^[8].

In recent years, Art&Seek has brought unprecedented attention to and coverage of the arts in North Texas through reporting and programs on KERA TV, KERA FM and KXT. The website artandseek.org ^[9] has over 3,000 community partners. Follow what’s new in the arts on Art&Seek’s pages on Facebook ^[10] and Twitter ^[11].

North Texas Public Broadcasting, which is the parent organization for all services, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization that, from its earliest days, has largely been funded through the generous financial support from individuals and foundations. NTPB is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. President and CEO Mary Anne Alhadeff leads a staff of 70.

Document: 2012 CPB Local Content and Service Report ^[12]