As the weather warms and the snow melts bringing a welcomed change to Bethel and the Delta we here at KYUK are hard at work on a major upgrade to our over the air television broadcast service.
Our chief engineer, Joe Seibert, is in the process of installing a new low power digital television transmitter for channel 15 to replace the analog transmitter we are currently using for over the air broadcast of public television programming from Alaska ONE.
This new digital transmitter will be capable of broadcasting four separate programming streams instead of the single programming stream we are currently able to broadcast. These four program streams will include a statewide public television program schedule, ARCS programming, the 360 North Alaskan programming channel from KTOO-TV, Juneau and a local KYUK-TV program channel.
Our over the air television viewers in Bethel will notice a significant improvement in picture quality with these digital TV signals. Another advantage is the inclusion of 360 North, a program now only available in Bethel through GCI cable subscription. We also plan to broadcast local KYUK programs on the fourth channel as our resources allow, bringing back a local TV presence to Bethel once again.
In order to receive these digital signals viewers will need either a digital ready television set and an indoor antenna or, for older analog television sets, both a digital converter box and indoor antenna. We have acquired a small stock of both antennas and converter boxes for viewers to purchase at cost in order to equip their television sets to receive the new digital signals.
Coming soon to our website will be instructions on connecting converter boxes and antennas including a short “how to” video program outlining the process. We will also offer a “hands on” demonstration of the process in our studio for anyone interested in attending in person and we will be available for consultation and assistance by telephone and email.
If the installation and licensing goes according to schedule, we should begin broadcasting these over the air digital TV signals in about two months time. At that time our analog channel 15 transmitter will be shut down.
We thank Donlin Gold for their generous donation to this project.
We here at KYUK are very excited about this new enhancement to our over the air television services and are looking forward to bringing digital television to public TV viewers in Bethel.
Our spring fundraiser ended on Friday March 16th. This fundraising event was the first KYUK has held in quite a few years. We were a little rusty at it but overall it was a big success.
First, on behalf of the Bethel Broadcasting Inc board of directors, the management and staff, I want to thank all of our loyal listeners in Bethel, throughout the YK Delta and beyond for your generous support over the past two weeks. Thanks to you, we raised over $11,000.
Your contributions will help us continue to provide you with the local, state and national programming and services like our website that you rely on and have come to expect from your local public media station.
I also want to congratulate the winners in our fundraiser award drawing held Monday morning March 19th. Those winners are:
Dave Trantham – Two round trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
Olinka and Anna Nicholai – One round trip ticket each donated by ERA Alaska.
Esther Ilutsik – An IPad 2 donated by the Bethel Amateur Radio Club.
Frank Nicholai, Jr. – A Samsung cell phone donated by GCI.
Contgratulations to these lucky winners and a big thank you to Alaska Airlines, ERA Alaska, the Bethel Amateur Radio Club and GCI for their generous donations of goods and services.
Once again, thank you all for your partnership with KYUK in supporting public media for Bethel and the YK Delta.
As our radio fundraiser enters its second week, I want to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal listeners who have made a donation in support of KYUK during this fund drive. In these difficult times of high costs of living it’s gratifying to know that our community continues to support public media for Bethel and the YK Delta region.
Your generous support helps us continue to provide local news, entertainment, coverage of significant events like the recent AVCP Special Convention: The State of Our Salmon, live high school basketball games, local shows like Talk Line and Birthday Call In. Your contributions also helps us keep national programs like A Prairie Home Companion, Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, All Things Considered and music programs like Thistle and Shamrock, Accoustic Accents, The Bay Whalin Hour and more coming into your homes.
I also want to acknowledge the generosity of those who chose to donate to KYUK through the Alaska Permanent Fund Pick-Click-Give program. As of March 1st, 35 individuals have donated a total of $1,825.00 to KYUK.
Alaskans are known as generous people who are deeply committed to the causes and organizations they care about. With your support and encouragement KYUK will be on the air for another 40 years.
Thank you.
In these times of smart phones, IPads, XM Radio, satellite and cable television and the Internet bringing to our lives access to media of all descriptions from far distant locations, the need for a source of truly local media that serves the local community is greater than ever. For 40 years KYUK has been that single local media source for the people of the Yukon/Kuskokwim Delta and we take that responsibility very seriously. As the sole provider of local news and information our news team works hard everyday to ensure they provide the most accurate and in-depth reporting possible on the issues and stories that affect our community. They do this in both English and Yup’ik three times a day on 640 AM radio and on our website, kyuk.org. They do this both because it’s their responsibility as journalists but also because they live in the community, too. This is especially true for our Yup’ik reporters, born and raised in the region, who speak directly to their extended families and their communities in their Native language.
When our journalists reported on a brutal murder and trial that rocked the community of Bethel and the region, they did so with sensitivity and care because this is their home, too. When they followed low King Salmon numbers in the Kuskokwim River, they understood how critical the impact of this news is for the people of the region who rely on this vital food source because they fish for King Salmon themselves. Last spring, when a Kuskokwim river ice jam flooded Crooked Creek, destroying twelve homes in this tiny village of 200, our journalists were there on the scene bringing the story of the magnitude of this disaster to the rest of the state with a perspective rooted in the fact that they also live along the Kuskokwim River and understand its power. During the legislative session they are in weekly contact with State Senator Lyman Hoffman and Representative Bob Herron and track and report on legislation and policies affecting the Y/K Delta region. Our reporters also continue to be consistent contributors to APRN’s statewide public radio news program Alaska News Nightly bringing the stories of the Y/K Delta to listeners across Alaska .
As 2012 begins we renew our commitment to bring to you, our listeners, quality local news and public affairs information that will truly reflect the interests, perspectives and issues important to us all.
Thank you for your support of local public media for the Yukon/Kuskokwim Delta.
