KSMQ upgrades secondary channel
Published 10:24 am Thursday, October 1, 2015
KSMQ Public Television Operations Manager Tim Gassmann looks at the station’s new master control screens during the “Flip the Switch” celebration in June. KSMQ recently took another step by upgrading its broadband capacity for secondary channel KSMQ 15.2 (MHz Worldview). — Herald file photo
On the heels of its high-definition signal transition in June, KSMQ Public Television is taking an additional step to improve viewers’ over-the-air experience.
The nonprofit station is upgrading its broadband capacity to allow for a better signal coming from one of its secondary channels, KSMQ 15.2, MHz Worldview. MHz Worldview is a national television network that provides English language newscasts from around the world.
“Unlike the majority of our programming where satellite technology is utilized, we receive the MHz Worldview signal via the Internet,” said KSMQ Chief Engineer Paul Fisher in a press release. “KSMQ’s investment in additional broadband capacity will significantly improve both the video and audio of KSMQ 15.2.”
Most people know KSMQ Public Television by its primary channel, which provides PBS, independent and local programming.
But KSMQ Public Television actually operates four broadcast channels: KSMQ 15.1 (PBS/high-definition); KSMQ 15.2 (MHz Worldview); KSMQ 15.3 (Create); and KSMQ 15.4 (The Minnesota Channel). Most viewers can take in all of this content with a simple high-definition antenna connected to their television set.
“For 43 years our mission has been to provide quality programming at no cost to viewers,” said KSMQ President and CEO Eric Olson in a press release. “We have many devoted viewers of KSMQ 15.2 (MHz Worldview) and they should notice the signal improvement by mid-next week.”
When KSMQ Public Television rebuilt its physical plant and added HD service in June, station officials knew that their Internet usage would increase. The ability to secure 100 megabits per second of bandwidth was crucial to the success of the transition.
KSMQ negotiated a broadband upgrade for 2016 — valued at $16,000 — for a nominal fee by working with other broadcasters in Minnesota who had excess capacity.
“Maintaining a good working relationship with our public broadcasting partners in Minnesota takes effort but pays off when we undertake large projects like this,” Fisher said in the release.
