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PBS North Carolina
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The University of North Carolina Center for Public Media, branded PBS North Carolina or commonly PBS NC, is a public television network serving the state of North Carolina. It is operated by the University of North Carolina system, which holds the licenses for all but one of the thirteen PBS member television stations licensed in the state—WTVI (channel 42) in Charlotte is owned by Central Piedmont Community College. The broadcast signals of the twelve television stations cover almost all of the state, as well as parts of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The network's operations are located at the Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Communications Center at Research Triangle Park between Raleigh and Durham.
Key Information
History
[edit]WUNC-TV in Chapel Hill, the state network's flagship station, first signed on the air on January 8, 1955, as the second non-commercial educational television station located south of Washington, D.C.—one day after Cheaha, Alabama–licensed WCIQ-TV. Over the next twelve years, four more satellite stations signed on. WUND-TV in Edenton (originally WUNB-TV, licensed to Columbia) was the first of these satellites to debut on September 10, 1965, followed by the launches of WUNE-TV in Linville, WUNF-TV in Asheville, and WUNG-TV in Concord—all on September 11, 1967, and WUNJ-TV in Wilmington on June 4, 1971. This was supplemented with a network of translator stations in the Appalachian Mountains that also allowed the network's programming to reach across the entire state.

Five additional satellites debuted afterward: WUNK-TV in Greenville in May 1972, WUNL-TV in Winston-Salem in February 1973, WUNM-TV in Jacksonville in November 1982, WUNP-TV in Roanoke Rapids in October 1986, and WUNU-TV in Lumberton in September 1996. The state network's youngest station, WUNW in Canton, signed on in July 2010 to replace a translator that had served the area since the 1980s. The state network was branded on-air as North Carolina Public Television from 1979 to the mid-1990s, when it rebranded itself as University of North Carolina Television. It simplified the brand name to UNC-TV later in the 1990s; it had previously used that brand for most of the 1970s. On January 12, 2021, in recognition of PBS' growing online content delivery, the state network rebranded itself as "PBS North Carolina," while continuing to acknowledge its ties to the university system as being "Powered by the UNC System".[1]
Programming
[edit]The state network produces many programs of local interest, including the weeknightly public affairs program North Carolina Now, Our State, Carolina Outdoor Journal, Exploring North Carolina, North Carolina Bookwatch with D. G. Martin, and special programs about the state's history and culture. It also produces The Woodwright's Shop, Growing a Greener World, The Zula Patrol, and Song of the Mountains for national distribution. In addition to PBS and American Public Television programs and local productions, the station also runs programming from the United Kingdom, including "Britcoms" on Saturday evenings and the soap opera EastEnders on Sunday evenings. In the 1990s, UNC-TV introduced "Read-A-Roo," a kangaroo used as the mascot for the network's children's programming. PBS North Carolina airs its own public affairs programming on Sunday mornings.
Stations
[edit]PBS NC operates twelve stations that relay its programming across the entire state as well as into portions of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Each station's callsign consists of "UN" for the University of North Carolina, followed by a letter assigned sequentially in the order in which it was activated, except for the first station.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Aside from their transmitters, the network's stations (except WUNC-TV) do not maintain any physical presence in their cities of license.
- ^ WUND-TV was originally licensed to Columbia; the license was moved to Edenton in 2005, effectively gaining must-carry rights in the Norfolk–Newport News–Portsmouth television market, which includes several northeastern North Carolina counties.[2]
- ^ WUND-TV formerly used the callsign WUNB-TV from its 1965 inception to 1967.
- ^ WUNE-TV formerly used the callsign WUND-TV during its construction permit from 1966 to 1967.[3]
- ^ WUNF-TV formerly used the callsign WVLE during its construction permit from 1966 to 1967.[4]
Digital television
[edit]Subchannels
[edit]PBS NC's current over-the-air digital configuration, which is multiplexed among three subchannels, was introduced on September 25, 2008. On that date, UNC-TV revised its subchannel lineup on its stations, reducing the number of channels to three: UNC-TV (the main channel of each station, which now carries high definition programming), and the standard definition-only services UNC-KD and UNC-EX ("The Explorer Channel"). UNC-TV HD and UNC-EX are also available to DirecTV customers with MPEG4-compatible receivers. Prior to February 1, 2016, Time Warner Cable customers also received UNC-MX (described as "an eclectic mix of programming for adults") in standard definition; the North Carolina Channel has since replaced UNC-MX on Time Warner Cable systems.[5] Prior to November 1, 2009, the third subchannel was named UNC-NC.[6]
This configuration is used for WUND, WUNF, WUNG, WUNJ, WUNK, and WUNU:
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xx.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | PBS NC | PBS |
| xx.2 | 480i | ROOTLE | PBS Kids Channel | |
| xx.3 | UNC-EX | The Explorer Channel[8] | ||
| xx.4 | NCCHL | The North Carolina Channel |
This configuration is used for WUNC and WUNL:
| License | Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WUNC-TV/WUNL-TV | 4.1/26.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | PBS NC | PBS |
| 4.2/26.2 | 480i | ROOTLE | PBS Kids Channel | ||
| 4.3/26.3 | UNC-EX | The Explorer Channel | |||
| 4.4/26.4 | NCCHL | The North Carolina Channel | |||
| WRAY-TV/WLXI | 30.1/43.1 | 1080i | WRAY/WLXI | TCT |
An alternate configuration is used for WUNE, WUNM, WUNP, and WUNW. The original purpose for this was to obtain must-carry status for UNC-KD since those are secondary stations in their respective markets.[10] On June 15, 2010, UNC-KD switched subchannels with UNC-EX on the four stations previously mentioned, which transferred UNC-KD's must-carry status to UNC-EX.[11]
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xx.1 | 480i | 16:9 | UNC-EX | The Explorer Channel |
| xx.2 | 1080i | PBS NC | PBS | |
| xx.3 | 480i | ROOTLE | PBS Kids Channel | |
| xx.4 | NCCHL | The North Carolina Channel |
Subscribers of Charter Spectrum, the major cable provider in the state, have direct-fiber optic versions of each of PBS North Carolina's networks rather than an antenna feed of their local station, as Spectrum forerunner company Time Warner Cable built out a direct connection to PBS NC's studios at the RTP, a connection inherited by Spectrum parent Charter Communications when it merged with Time Warner Cable in 2016.
Cable providers with a direct fiber optic link to UNC-TV (including Spectrum) formerly had exclusivity in carrying UNC-MX (formerly UNC-ED) on their digital tiers. UNC-MX featured a mix of how-to and public affairs programs, along with encore presentations of programs originally broadcast on main UNC-TV service. On February 1, 2016, UNC-MX was renamed UNC-NC "The North Carolina Channel" and was added over-the-air on DT-4, allowing full access to the service by over-the-air and non-Spectrum viewers.[13] On July 2, 2016, UNC-KD was rebranded as ROOTLE.[14]
Prior to September 25, 2008, UNC-TV formerly operated four digital channels: in addition to the main signal on the primary channel, the second digital subchannel of each station carried UNC-HD (which carried PBS and regional programming in high-definition), the third subchannel carried UNC-KD (which carried children's programs), the fourth subchannel carried UNC-ED (an educational television service) and the fifth subchannel carried UNC-NC (centering on North Carolina public affairs and original local productions). Due to bandwidth limitations at the time, the over-the-air feed of UNC-HD was only available between 8-11 p.m., during which UNC-ED and UNC-NC ceased transmission in the interim. Cable systems with a direct fiber link to UNC-TV facilities aired all five channels on a 24-hour schedule.
On April 16, 2018, WRAY-TV and WLXI were merged onto WUNC's spectrum, after parent company Tri-State Christian Television (TCT) sold the stations' individual bandwidth in the 2016 FCC incentive auction.[15][16] WUNC is the only station in the 12-station network that has a channel sharing agreement.[17]
Analog-to-digital conversion
[edit]UNC-TV's stations ended regular programming on their analog signals on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital channel allocations pre- and post-transition are as follows:[18]
| Call sign | Analog channel |
Pre-transition digital channel |
Post-transition digital channel |
FCC Repack Plan (2017)[19] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WUNC | 4 | 59 | 25 | 20 |
| WUND | 2 | 20 | 20 | 29 |
| WUNE | 17 | 54 | 17 | 36 |
| WUNF | 33 | 25 | 25 | 20 |
| WUNG | 58 | 44 | 44 | 21 |
| WUNJ | 39 | 29 | 29 | 21 |
| WUNK | 25 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| WUNL | 26 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
| WUNM | 19 | 18 | 19 | 28 |
| WUNP | 36 | 39 | 36 | 27 |
| WUNU | 31 | 25 | 31 | 30 |
| WUNW | — | — | 27 | 27 |
All channels retained their original numbering for display to viewers via PSIP.
UNC-TV opted not to join other broadcasters in the Wilmington market in an early switch to digital-only broadcasts on September 8, 2008, nine months ahead of the national transition deadline.[20] Following that date, WUNJ-TV became only full-power station in Wilmington that continued to broadcast an analog signal until the national digital transition on June 12, 2009.
As part of the SAFER Act, WUND and WUNF kept its analog signal on the air until July 12 (for WUND) and June 26 (for WUNF) to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of public service announcements from the National Association of Broadcasters.[21]
ATSC 3.0
[edit]On March 22, 2021, WUNC-TV began broadcasting in ATSC 3.0, with a 1080p stream (virtual channel 4.11) on Capitol Broadcasting Company's host station WARZ-CD (now WNGT-CD).[22] On June 29, 2021, WUNK-TV was converted to ATSC 3.0 with all sub-channels included. While a simulcast of WUNK-TV is shared on WUNM-TV, areas outside WUNM-TV are covered by other nearby network stations, thus the conversion did not result in any loss of over-the-air PBS service.[23][24]
Translators
[edit]PBS NC operates 19 translators. Each translator is assigned to the license of a parent PBS NC full-power station, all of which simulcast the same network signal. Two directly repeat WUNC-TV, two directly repeat WUNE-TV, two directly repeat WUNG-TV, three directly repeat WUNL-TV, and 10 directly repeat WUNF-TV.
The 17 mountain-based translators serve as low-power, limited-area repeaters that bring the network's signal to towns in deep mountain valleys where the parent signal is blocked by the surrounding terrain. The translators of WUNC-TV act as digital replacement translators serving the few areas of the Triangle where WUNC-TV lost over-the-air coverage during the analog-digital conversion in 2009.
The following digital replacement translators rebroadcast WUNC-TV:
The following translators rebroadcast WUNE-TV:
The following translators rebroadcast WUNF-TV:
- Franklin (Wine Spring Bald): W19DB-D
- Andrews, etc.: W20EK-D
- Canton, etc.: W28EE-D
- Hayesville: W29DE-D
- Murphy: W31AN-D
- Franklin (Cowee Bald): W31DH-D
- Black Mountain: W33EH-D
- Highlands: W35CK-D
- Burnsville: W35CO-D
The following translators rebroadcast WUNG-TV:
- Tryon: W16DZ-D
- Jefferson: W30EF-D
- Spruce Pine: W31DI-D
The following translators rebroadcast WUNL-TV:
The licenses for translators in Bakersville (W42AX-D), Brevard (W19DD-D), Bryson City (W46AX-D), Cashiers (W42DF-D) and Cullowhee (W47DM-D) were surrendered to the Federal Communications Commission and cancelled on October 27, 2021. These were replaced with a distributed transmission system using the channel 27 frequency of WUNW.
Cable and satellite carriage
[edit]PBS NC is carried on all cable television providers in North Carolina. In Georgia, Kinetic TV carries WUNF in Blairsville. In South Carolina, Charter Spectrum carries WUNF in Greenville and Spartanburg, and WUNJ in Conway and Myrtle Beach. In Tennessee, Charter Spectrum carries WUNE and SkyBest TV carries WUNL, in Mountain City. In Virginia, WUND is carried by Cox Communications and Xfinity in the southern portion of the Hampton Roads market, WUNL is carried by Chatmoss Cablevision and Xfinity in Danville, and WUNP is carried on Xfinity in South Boston and South Hill.
On AT&T U-verse, DirecTV, and Dish Network, WUNC-TV, WUNG, WUNL, WUNF, WUND, WUNJ, and WUNU are carried on the respective local feeds for the Research Triangle, Charlotte, the Piedmont Triad, Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville, Hampton Roads, Wilmington, and Florence/Myrtle Beach markets. In previous years, WUNL has also been carried on the Roanoke DirecTV feed;[27] the Piedmont Triad market includes portions of western Virginia.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "New Name. Same Public Media You Trust. Coming January 2021". UNC-TV. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ "UNC-TV ONLINE: About Us: Pressroom". www.unctv.org. Archived from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ "FCC History Cards for WUNE-TV".
- ^ "FCC History Cards for WUNF-TV".
- ^ "The North Carolina Channel | UNC-TV — Life-changing television". www.unctv.org. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ "Exclusive News for Facebook Fans like April Green: UNC-TV Announces an Exciting New Service Coming on November 1...UNC-EX". Facebook. October 2, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WUND". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNF". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNG". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNJ". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNK". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNU". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ UNC-TV Presents...UNC-EX The Explorer Channel Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNC". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNL". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Charlotte, NC - OTA". Archived from the original on February 7, 2013.
- ^ "Power Outage Problem - Help". DBSTalk Community.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNE". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNM". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNP". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- "RabbitEars TV Query for WUNW". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Ask SAM: Are chickens allowed in the city?". Winston-Salem Journal. January 23, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ Caine, Brooke (July 1, 2016). "UNC-TV launches Rootle, a new statewide 24-hour channel for kids". News & Observer. Raleigh, NC. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ "Channel Sharing Transition PSA and Crawl Regarding WRAY, Channel 42, Wilson, NC" (PDF). FCC. April 16, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
- ^ "Channel Sharing Transition PSA and Crawl Regarding WLXI, Channel 43, Randleman, NC" (PDF). FCC. April 16, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
- ^ "UNCTV - FAQs". UNCTV. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
- ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- ^ "RabbitEars.Info: Repack Plan for UNC-TV". April 13, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). hraunfoss.fcc.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. June 12, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Miller, Mark (March 25, 2021). "PBS North Carolina Launches NextGen TV". TV News Check. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "Modification to License (Next Gen) - LMS File No. 0000124910". FCC LMS. April 7, 2021.
- ^ Restauro, Dennis (June 28, 2021). "NextGen TV: What TV Viewers Need to Know About ATSC 3.0". Grounded Reason. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- ^ "Licensing and Management System". enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "Licensing and Management System". enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "SVTV Stations - the things you care that others won't". Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
External links
[edit]PBS North Carolina
View on GrokipediaHistory
Founding and Early Development
WUNC-TV Channel 4, the foundational station of PBS North Carolina's predecessor UNC-TV, launched on January 8, 1955, in Chapel Hill as the state's inaugural educational television station and the tenth such outlet nationally.[3] The initiative was spearheaded by William D. Carmichael Jr., Kay Kyser, and William C. Friday, building on the Federal Communications Commission's 1952 allocation of eight noncommercial channels and university trustees' approval in May 1953.[3] Initial funding comprised $1.8 million raised through private efforts supplemented by $217,000 appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly.[3] Early operations relied on a single transmitter atop Terrells Mountain, with studios improvised from a converted laundry in Greensboro, a dining hall in Chapel Hill, and a new facility in Raleigh, alongside a repurposed Carolina Trailways bus for mobile remote productions serving the Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Greensboro campuses.[3] Expansion planning commenced in 1962, targeting four additional stations in Columbia, Linville, Asheville, and Concord to extend coverage to 60% of North Carolina's population.[3] Organizational consolidation advanced in 1969 with the establishment of the University of North Carolina's Office of Director of Educational Television, led by Dr. George Bair, transitioning from decentralized campus-based activities to unified university oversight.[3] Following the 1967 Carnegie Commission report that spurred the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, WUNC-TV aligned with the nascent Public Broadcasting Service upon its 1970 formation, shifting from prior National Educational Television affiliations toward a national public broadcasting framework.[3] Initial network growth materialized with new outlets in Wilmington (1971), Greenville (1972), and Winston-Salem (1973), broadening statewide reach amid rising demand for educational programming.[3] By 1979, the UNC Board of Governors created the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television, formalizing the integration of disparate stations into a cohesive entity and laying groundwork for further development.[3]Expansion and Statewide Network Growth
Following the launch of its flagship station WUNC-TV in Chapel Hill on January 8, 1955, PBS North Carolina—then operating as the University of North Carolina Television Network—initiated expansion through satellite stations to broaden educational programming access beyond the Research Triangle area. In 1962, the network announced plans for four key transmitters: WUND-TV (channel 2) in Columbia, WUNE-TV (channel 17) in Linville, WUNF-TV (channel 33) in Asheville, and WUNG-TV (channel 58) in Concord, collectively extending coverage to over 60 percent of the state's population. These additions marked the shift from a localized service to a regional network, prioritizing rural and underserved areas where commercial broadcasters had limited presence.[3][7] Growth accelerated in the 1970s amid increasing state legislative support for public media infrastructure. Stations signed on in Wilmington (WUNJ-TV, channel 39) in 1971, Greenville (WUNK-TV, channel 25) in 1972, and Winston-Salem (WUNL-TV, channel 26) in 1973, filling gaps in coastal and Piedmont regions. The 1979 establishment of the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television by the UNC Board of Governors centralized production and distribution, enabling more efficient signal relay via microwave links to these satellites and supporting further buildout. By the decade's end, the network reached approximately 85 percent of households, emphasizing instructional content for schools and adult education.[3][7] The 1980s and 1990s completed the transition to full statewide coverage, with WUNM-TV (channel 19) activating in Jacksonville in 1982 to serve the southeastern coast and WUNP-TV (channel 36) in Roanoke Rapids in 1985 for the northeast. The final major addition came in 1996 with WUNU-TV (channel 31) in Lumberton, achieving near-universal access to 99 percent of North Carolina's households across all 100 counties via 11 transmitters. A 12th station, WUNW-TV in Canton, enhanced redundancy in the mountains in 2010. This transmitter-based model, rather than independent affiliates, ensured uniform programming statewide while adapting to topography challenges like the Appalachians and coastal plains. The June 12, 2009, analog-to-digital transition across all sites introduced high-definition broadcasting and subchannels without requiring new towers, solidifying the network's infrastructure for modern distribution.[3][7]Rebranding and Modern Era
On January 12, 2021, UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina rebranded as PBS North Carolina, Powered by the UNC System, to emphasize its evolution into a multiplatform public media service delivering content via broadcast, online streaming, mobile apps, and other digital channels.[8][3] The rebranding aimed to improve accessibility for viewers across all 100 North Carolina counties by aligning more closely with the national PBS brand, facilitating easier discovery of local and national programming alongside educational resources.[3] The primary broadcast channel was renamed PBS NC, while secondary channels such as the North Carolina Channel, Explorer Channel, and Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS retained their designations.[3] Following the rebrand, PBS North Carolina focused on technological and operational enhancements to adapt to shifting media consumption patterns. In June 2021, the network partnered with the North Carolina Department of Information Technology to secure a Small Business Innovation Research grant for developing an emergency digital paging system over public television signals, bolstering statewide alert capabilities.[9] It later implemented ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) standards to enable higher-resolution broadcasts, interactive features, and more robust public safety communications.[10] In 2022, PBS North Carolina was designated one of three PBS member stations as a Regional Digital Center of Innovation, initiating a two-year initiative to advance digital strategies and content distribution.[11] Leadership transitioned in 2022, with Lindsay Bierman departing as CEO in March and David Crabtree assuming the role in September, guiding the network through expanded community engagement and infrastructure upgrades.[3] On January 8, 2025, the organization marked its 70th anniversary, reflecting on seven decades of service originating from the University of North Carolina's early educational broadcasting efforts.[3] These developments underscored PBS North Carolina's commitment to resilience amid cord-cutting trends and the rise of on-demand viewing, maintaining its role as a state-funded complement to national PBS programming.[11]Response to 2025 Funding Crisis
In August 2025, PBS North Carolina initiated a Reorganization Through Reduction (RTR) program offering voluntary separation packages to most permanent employees, alongside a hiring freeze, elimination of vacant positions, and cuts to non-personnel expenses, to address an annual $4.8 million shortfall from federal reductions to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).[12] CEO David Crabtree described these steps as essential adaptations to congressional decisions, aimed at streamlining operations while preserving core services like educational programming and emergency communications.[12] By mid-September 2025, the organization proceeded with involuntary layoffs affecting 32 employees across departments including content production, marketing, engineering, education, development, and finance, following five acceptances of voluntary packages set to conclude by October 31.[13] These measures, combined with the removal of 16 vacant roles, reduced the workforce from 140 filled positions out of 154 total slots, representing a restructuring to counter the 15% budget loss and rising costs.[13] Crabtree emphasized that the cuts would position PBS North Carolina for long-term financial stability without halting essential operations, though some new program development faced delays.[13][14] Emergency alert systems remained unaffected, with key transmitter personnel protected, and national PBS content distribution continued largely intact.[14] Amid ongoing state budget deliberations, which included a proposed $4 million reduction in legislative funding, PBS North Carolina activated contingency plans to mitigate further shortfalls while urging viewer support for sustainability.[14] Crabtree affirmed the organization's resolve to "evolve and thrive" through diversified revenue and operational efficiencies.[13]Organization and Operations
Governance and Leadership
PBS North Carolina, formally the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television, operates as a division of the University of North Carolina system, subjecting it to oversight by the UNC Board of Governors, which holds policy-making authority for the governance, management, and supervision of UNC institutions.[15] The center maintains its own Board of Trustees, composed of up to 22 appointed members serving in an advisory capacity to guide strategic development, ensure alignment with public service mandates, and represent community interests across the state.[3][16] This board promotes institutional growth within prescribed functions, focusing on serving North Carolina's diverse population through educational and informational programming.[16] As of June 2024, the Board of Trustees is chaired by Rick French, a Cary-based media executive, with Seth Bennett of Charlotte serving as vice chair; other members include Eddie M. Buffaloe Jr., Johnny Burleson, Jim Cain, and Culley C. Carson IV, selected for their expertise in business, education, and public service to advise on operational and programmatic decisions.[17][18] Board elections occur periodically to refresh leadership, emphasizing continuity in advisory roles amid evolving public broadcasting challenges.[18] Executive leadership is headed by Chief Executive Officer David Crabtree, appointed permanently by the UNC Board of Governors on September 22, 2022, following an interim role since April 2022; Crabtree, a veteran journalist with over 40 years in North Carolina broadcasting, oversees daily operations, content strategy, and compliance with state and federal public media standards.[15][19] This structure balances state-level accountability with localized advisory input, ensuring fiscal and programmatic decisions align with statutory obligations under North Carolina General Statutes governing UNC auxiliaries.[20]Funding Model and Sources
PBS North Carolina employs a diversified funding model characteristic of U.S. public broadcasting entities, emphasizing private donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and government appropriations to maintain operational independence and sustainability. This approach mitigates reliance on any single source, with revenue supporting statewide programming, educational outreach, and infrastructure. In fiscal year 2024, total revenue reached $29,607,593, reflecting a balanced portfolio where private support formed the largest share.[11] Private contributions accounted for 52% of revenue ($15,395,948), primarily from individual memberships, philanthropic gifts, and corporate engagements. Over 95,000 individual donors provided $12.47 million through memberships and gifts, underscoring community investment in local content and services. Corporate funders, numbering 45 entities, contributed more than $3 million, marking a 20% increase from the prior year and funding specific projects via underwriting and sponsorships. Additionally, 33 grants totaling $2.24 million came from private foundations, federal and state agencies, and public media partners, targeting initiatives like educational programming.[11][21] Government funding supplemented private sources, comprising 35% from state appropriations ($10,362,658) allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly for public media operations and 13% from federal grants ($3,848,987), including allocations via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). State funds historically support core broadcasting and statewide coverage, while federal grants, though smaller, enable national content distribution and emergency programming. This federal portion, approximately 10-15% of the budget in recent years, faced abrupt elimination in 2025 when Congress passed a rescission bill defunding the CPB, resulting in an annual loss of about $4.8 million or 15% of PBS North Carolina's overall budget and prompting staff reductions and cost-saving measures.[11][22][12] The model's resilience stems from its non-commercial structure, avoiding advertising revenue and instead leveraging viewer pledges during on-air drives, planned giving, and partnerships. Post-2025 cuts, PBS North Carolina has intensified appeals to private donors and state supporters to offset federal shortfalls, maintaining commitments to local productions amid a projected $9 million biennial impact.[23][12]Staff and Infrastructure
PBS North Carolina maintains its headquarters at 10 UNC-TV Drive in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, a facility supporting administrative, production, and operational functions. Plans approved in December 2024 for relocation to downtown Raleigh, backed by a $1 million city grant, have been delayed as of August 2025 due to financial uncertainties from federal funding reductions.[24][25][26] The network's infrastructure encompasses more than 60 sites statewide, comprising primary transmitters, microwave relay stations, translators, and production facilities, managed under a $7 million annual budget and overseeing state assets exceeding $60 million. Its 13 transmitter towers deliver broadcast signals across nearly the entire state while providing critical support for emergency communications, hosting equipment for over 40 federal, state, and local providers across more than 20 tower sites.[27][6][28] As of August 2025, prior to recent reductions, PBS North Carolina employed 140 full-time staff across departments including programming, production, broadcast engineering, education, and administration. In September 2025, the organization laid off 32 employees—approximately 23% of its workforce—in response to a multi-million-dollar shortfall from federal rescissions targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Leadership is headed by CEO David Crabtree, with Chief Broadcast Engineer Chris Pandich, appointed in March 2025, directing the technical team responsible for infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.[14][13][27]Programming
Distribution of National PBS Content
PBS North Carolina serves as the primary affiliate for national programming produced or distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), relaying content such as PBS NewsHour, NOVA, Masterpiece, and American Experience to viewers throughout the state via its flagship PBS NC channel.[2] This channel operates as a multicast on the primary digital subchannel (e.g., 4.1 for WUNC-TV) across the network's twelve stations, which collectively provide over-the-air coverage to the entire state and portions of adjacent areas in Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.[29] Distribution occurs through multiple platforms to maximize accessibility: terrestrial digital broadcasting via ATSC 1.0 signals from the stations, carriage on cable and satellite providers like DirecTV and Dish Network, and live streaming on the PBS NC website, which is geofenced to the service area.[30] Additional national PBS Kids programming, including Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, is dedicated to the Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS subchannel (e.g., 4.4), broadcast simultaneously across the network and available via streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Prime Video, and DirecTV Stream.[4] On-demand access to national content is facilitated through the free PBS app and website (pbs.org), with PBS Passport—a member benefit offering extended viewing of select episodes—integrated into PBS NC's membership drives.[1] Schedules for national programming are published weekly on the PBS NC site, allowing viewers to plan around preemptions for local inserts, though the station adheres closely to the PBS national feed to maintain consistency.[31] This multi-platform approach ensures that national PBS content reaches approximately 10 million potential viewers in the region, supported by federal funding via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that underpins the satellite interconnect used for feed distribution to affiliates.Original Local Productions
PBS North Carolina produces original local programming emphasizing North Carolina's history, culture, environment, social issues, and educational topics, with an output exceeding 300 hours annually.[32] These productions include documentaries, ongoing series, and specials developed in-house or in partnership with local entities, distributed statewide via its broadcast network and streaming platforms.[5] Documentary specials cover pivotal events and challenges, such as American Coup: Wilmington 1898, which examines the 1898 Wilmington race massacre and political overthrow through archival footage and contemporary analysis.[5] Other examples include 9/11: We Remember, featuring personal testimonies from North Carolinians affected by the September 11 attacks, aired in commemoration of the event's anniversaries, and A Crisis: NC’s Opioid Battle, detailing the state's response to the opioid epidemic via local narratives and expert commentary.[5] Historical series like Birth of a Colony reconstruct early North Carolina settlements using research from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.[33] Ongoing series highlight regional lifestyles and expertise, including NC Weekend, hosted by Deborah Holt Noel, which profiles attractions, events, and outdoor activities across the state's 100 counties weekly.[34] My Home, NC explores local food, music, and communities, earning Emmy Awards for its cultural storytelling.[11] Educational programs such as Sci NC deliver science content through demonstrations and interviews with North Carolina researchers, while Black Issues Forum facilitates discussions on policy, health, and equity with diverse panelists.[5] Gardening-focused Almanac provides practical advice from state horticulturists.[5] These productions have garnered recognition, including multiple Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards; for instance, PBS North Carolina received 9 Emmys in 2025 for work spanning documentaries and series produced between July 2023 and June 2024. Earlier wins include 6 Emmys in 2024 and 8 in 2023, reflecting acclaim for factual depth and production quality judged by over 800 regional entries.[35][36] The content prioritizes verifiable local sourcing, contributing to community engagement without reliance on national narratives.[5]Educational and Community Initiatives
PBS North Carolina offers a range of educational resources tailored for educators, students from early learners through grade 12, and families, including standards-aligned programming, curriculum supports, and at-home learning materials designed to foster cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development.[37] These initiatives emphasize lifelong learning and effective teaching, delivered through platforms like PBS LearningMedia, which provides free, interactive digital content aligned with North Carolina educational standards.[38] Teacher professional development programs further support educators with training on integrating public media into classrooms.[2] A flagship effort is Rootle, a PBS KIDS initiative featuring original educational content that promotes early childhood learning through entertaining media, complemented by a 24/7 dedicated channel and resources in publications like CenterPiece Magazine.[38] During periods of remote learning challenges, PBS North Carolina contributed to statewide at-home initiatives addressing access gaps for students without stable internet.[39] On the community front, PBS North Carolina engages audiences through in-person and online events, including parent education sessions and collaborative programs that connect local histories with public media.[2] In July 2025, the network launched Homegrown History, a multiyear public history project incorporating community engagement events to explore and document North Carolina's regional narratives via storytelling, exhibits, and participatory workshops.[40] These efforts aim to build local connections while leveraging broadcast and digital tools for broader outreach.[41]Technical Infrastructure
Primary Stations and Coverage
PBS North Carolina maintains a statewide network of twelve full-power television stations, enabling broadcast coverage to all 100 counties within the state.[4] These stations transmit four primary over-the-air channels: PBS NC for national programming, the North Carolina Channel for local content, Rootle 24/7 for PBS KIDS programming, and the Explorer Channel for specialized topics in travel, science, and culture.[4] The network's signals extend beyond North Carolina borders into portions of adjacent states including Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, depending on terrain and power output.[1] The flagship station, WUNC-TV in Chapel Hill, serves as the primary origination point for much of the network's content and operates on virtual channel 4 (physical channel 31).[42] Other key stations include WUNF-TV in Asheville (virtual channel 33), WUNL-TV in Winston-Salem (virtual channel 26), WUNG-TV in Concord (virtual channel 58), WUNE-TV in Linville (virtual channel 17), WUND-TV in Edenton (virtual channel 29), WUNK-TV in Greenville (virtual channel 25), WUNJ-TV in Wilmington (virtual channel 39), WUNM-TV in Jacksonville (virtual channel 19), WUNP-TV in Roanoke Rapids (virtual channel 36), WUNU in Lumberton (virtual channel 32), WUNW in Canton (virtual channel 34), and WUNW repeater facilities as needed for signal reinforcement.[43] This distributed transmitter array, licensed to the University of North Carolina system but operated under PBS North Carolina branding since its 2020 rebrand, ensures redundant coverage in urban centers like Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and the Triad while filling gaps in rural and mountainous regions.[43]| Station Call Sign | Primary City | Virtual Channel |
|---|---|---|
| WUNC-TV | Chapel Hill | 4 |
| WUNF-TV | Asheville | 33 |
| WUNL-TV | Winston-Salem | 26 |
| WUNG-TV | Concord | 58 |
| WUNE-TV | Linville | 17 |
| WUND-TV | Edenton | 29 |
| WUNK-TV | Greenville | 25 |
| WUNJ-TV | Wilmington | 39 |
| WUNM-TV | Jacksonville | 19 |
| WUNP-TV | Roanoke Rapids | 36 |
| WUNU | Lumberton | 32 |
| WUNW | Canton | 34 |
