HoustonPBS Timeline
History at a Glance

1953 On May 25, KUHT signs on the air from the Ezekiel Cullen Building on the University of Houston campus. On June 8, after a swift kick to the transmitter, KUHT broadcasts its dedication ceremonies.

1959 The University of Houston becomes the sole licensee. KUHT originally was licensed jointly to UH and the Houston Independent School District.

1964 Channel 8 moves to its former facility at 4513 Cullen Boulevard. The station receives a $295,000 grant that enables it to purchase a new transmitter, which expands its reach well beyond Harris County. Channel 8 broadcasts in color for the first time.

1967 The U.S. Congress passes the Public Broadcasting Act, which changes the name of Educational Television to Public Television. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is formed to determine priorities for federal funding.

1969 Channel 8 receives its first CPB Community Service Grant of $10,000 to establish the Association for Community Television (ACT), KUHT’s volunteer fundraising arm.

1970 CPB joins with a group of stations to create the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which helped supplement educational telecourses with popular education, science, and cultural programs such as Sesame Street, NOVA, and Masterpiece Theatre. The first membership drive is held under the direction of the Association for Community Television.

1971 The first on-the-air auction is staged at Houston Public Television.

1976 Volleyball is the first KUHT production to be distributed nationally by PBS.

1981 KUHT becomes the first station in Houston to telecast with closed-captioning for the hearing impaired.

1982 Houston Public Television takes its place on the newly constructed, unprecedented 2,000-foot transmission tower in Missouri City, the gift of Channels 26 and 13.

1985 HoustonPBS wins a Community Service National Emmy Award for the documentary Child at Risk.

1986 The final edition of Public Times is printed in December as Channel 8 begins including its colorful monthly program guide in Houston Home & Garden (later renamed Houston Metropolitan Magazine).

1990 The twentieth and final live on-the-air auction is held.

1991 Channel 8 becomes Houston’s first TV station to make descriptive video services (DVS), Houston Taping for the Blind Radio (HTBR) services, and bilingual broadcast services available through the use of a secondary audio program (SAP). This new technology enables viewers with stereo/SAP television sets to access these specialized services free of charge.

1992 Channel 8 membership tops the 56,000 mark.

1993 The University of Houston System receives a gift of $3.6 million, the largest gift in station history, from benefactors John and Rebecca Moores.

1994 A $5 million gift from LeRoy and Lucile Melcher propels the Corporation for Public Broadcasting capital campaign forward and brings the LeRoy and Lucile Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting closer to reality. Honor Squadrons, a landmark HoustonPBS production, pledges and nets $38,000 locally. Aired in selected markets nationwide, it earns more than $100,000. Honor Squadrons Flight Premiums were an original concept allowing donors to fly in World War II bombers and fighters.

1995 Honor Squadrons wins the 1995 Max Arant Award for excellence in aviation journalism.

1999 HoustonPBS produces Space Station, a detailed behind-the-scenes account of the challenges of constructing a city in space. Production of the first 13 half-hours of the national PBS series Mary Lou’s Flip Flop Shop is accomplished using HDTV cameras and equipment.

2000 In March, HoustonPBS and the Association for Community Television entertain 650 guests at the Sophistic8ed Gala, raising $1 million. On August 21, Channel 8 signs on from the new $12 million Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting, located at 4343 Elgin. A public grand opening is held in November.

2001 On May 12, 48 years after the launch of Channel 8 in 1953, HoustonPBS broadcasts digital Channel 9, allowing viewers with high definition television (HDTV) or digital television computer cards access to top-notch programming with mind-blowing resolution.

2002 On October 31, HoustonPBS premieres its brand-new weekly primetime program the connection. The program provides a thoughtful, intelligent and entertaining look at life in and around the Greater Houston area. From business and politics to arts and music, our Emmy Award-winning team presents a show as vibrant and exciting as the city in which we live.