Where we started
KUAT Channel 6, Arizona’s first public television station, began operations on March 8, 1959 at 7pm, demonstrating the ideals of using media as a resource to educate, inform and inspire audiences.In the early years, the station signed on and off a number of times throughout the day to present live educational and instructional programs from the University of Arizona. It also offered a limited number of nationally produced programs provided by National Educational Television (NET), an educational broadcast television network.
NET was succeeded in 1970 by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which has more than 350 member stations, including KUAT Channel 6.
Where we're going
Sixty years later, KUAT Channel 6 is one of the most-watched and supported public television stations in the country. KUAT’s parent organization Arizona Public Media® (AZPM®), an editorially independent, nonprofit community service of the University of Arizona, provides three television program services (PBS 6, PBS 6 Plus and PBS Kids), four radio services (NPR 89.1, Jazz, Classical 90.5 and the BBC World Service), and a variety of online program offerings at azpm.org, serving audiences throughout Southern Arizona and beyond.Today AZPM is a trusted source of news and information that promotes thoughtful conversation, debate, and community collaboration. The organization produces, acquires, curates, and distributes distinctive and relevant content for, with, and about the University of Arizona, our community, and the Southwest.
