Knowledge Network
Knowledge Network | |
---|---|
Knowledge Network logo | |
Launched | January 12, 1981 |
Owned by |
Government of British Columbia (Knowledge West Communications Corporation) |
Picture format |
1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
Slogan | BC's Public Broadcaster |
Country | Canada |
Broadcast area |
British Columbia National (via satellite) |
Headquarters | Burnaby, British Columbia |
Formerly called |
Knowledge Network (1981–2008) Knowledge (2008–2010) |
Sister channel(s) | BBC Kids |
Website | http://www.knowledge.ca |
Availability | |
Satellite | |
Bell TV | Channel 268 (SD) |
Shaw Direct |
Channel 354 (SD) Channel 9 / 509 (HD) |
Cable | |
Shaw Cable (BC only) |
Channels vary (SD) Channel 230 (HD) |
Available on most BC cable systems. | Check local listings, channels may vary |
IPTV | |
Optik TV |
Channel 117 (HD) Channel 9117 (SD) |
Knowledge Network (branded as British Columbia's Knowledge Network) is a Canadian English language public educational cable television network in the province of British Columbia. It is owned by Knowledge Network Corporation, a crown corporation of the Government of British Columbia; it gained this status in 2008. The station began broadcasting on January 12, 1981. Rudy Buttignol is president and CEO of British Columbia's Knowledge Network. He is also president of Canadian subscription television channel BBC Kids.
Knowledge Network’s broadcast licence is for satellite-to-cable programming, although it also broadcasts over-the-air in remote locations throughout British Columbia. These repeater sites are operated by local volunteers in the few areas of the province where cable television is not available. The network is also available on the Bell TV satellite service, on channel 268, on Shaw Direct channel 354, and on TELUS Optik TV channel 117.
Knowledge Network also has a children's block, Knowledge Kids, that features characters Luna, Chip and Inkie.
Knowledge receives funding both from the British Columbia government and from public donations.[1]
Overview
Knowledge Network is British Columbia's public educational broadcaster and is required to be distributed as part of the basic cable service in British Columbia.
When Knowledge first signed on in 1981, its broadcast schedule originally ran from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. In later years, it broadcast from 6:55 a.m.-Midnight until July 2007, when programming hours were expanded to 6:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. In late 2007, Knowledge Network began changing its logo from the green tree to its new wordmark logo, and as of June 2008 the green tree logo has been removed. The channel is currently a 24-hour broadcaster.
The network obtains an average of 1.5 million viewers, or over one-third of British Columbians per week.[2] Currently, within the province, the station holds the number one position on weekday mornings for kids age two to six. Also, it has experienced an increase in viewers age 29 to 49 for its prime time programs.
In its programming, Knowledge Network covers a range of topics including politics, history and culture, arts and music, health, parenting, and science.
With funding from the provincial government and over 35,000 individual donors, Knowledge Network acquires and commissions over 750 hours of original programming per year.
In-house production was discontinued in 2007 to work exclusively in partnership with independent producers from British Columbia and Canada on the creation of original content.
In 2011, Knowledge Network acquired Shaw Media's stake in the children's television service BBC Kids, and converted it into a commercial-free service.[3]
Knowledge Network launched an HD feed on September 25, 2013.[4] It became available to customers of Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct on October 8, 2013.[5]
Logos
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Logo used from 2007 – 2008
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Alternate logo, now used as the on-air bug. Was the main logo from 2008–2010.
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Logo used from 2010–2012.
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British Columbia's Knowledge Network - current logo
See also
References
- ↑ "Partners in Knowledge". Knowledge Network Corporation. Archived from the original on September 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ↑ "TV network rebrands and alters programming". Vancouver Sun. 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ↑ "BBC Worldwide and Knowledge Network Corporation Enter Joint-venture for BBC Kids Channel" (Press release). Knowledge Network Corporation. 2011-01-17. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ↑ "Annual Report 2011–2012" (PDF). Knowledge Network Corporation. p. 14. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ↑ "K: HD starts Sept. 25. Will Shaw carry it?". Shaw Communications. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
External links
- Official website
- "Knowledge Network’s CEO weighs in on the importance of public broadcasting."
- Global Civic Policy Society
- Westland – A television series on environmental issues aired on the Knowledge Network from 1984 to 2007 - UBC Library Digital Collections