It's a new day for public media in Kansas City: KCPT has announced that it will begin operating as Kansas City PBS, effective immediately. This name change serves to underscore the station’s commitment to providing essential local media service to Kansas City while also more closely aligning itself with PBS, a nationally-recognized and trusted leader in public media.
“Since 1961, we have been a proud public television station, broadcasting valuable programming into living rooms in our community,” said Kliff Kuehl, President & CEO of Kansas City PBS. “The PBS brand is ranked number one in public trust each year - it made sense to more closely align our strong station brand and the PBS brand.”
As Kansas City PBS, the station will continue to bring Kansas Citians the stories of the community through multimedia series and reporting on its digital news platform, Flatland, through programming and local music on 90.9 The Bridge, and by highlighting key issues and local leaders on shows such as Kansas City Week In Review. The station will also continue to offer the fan-favorites PBS is known for including Antiques Roadshow, PBS NewsHour, Nature and Nova among many others. In addition, audiences will continue to receive the news they need and will be able to escape into drama, travel or the arts when they want, on TV, on the radio and online.
This shift in name comes at a time when uninterrupted access to public media is of the utmost importance. Kansas City PBS will continue to entertain, educate and, most importantly, bring local context to national discussions - reporting on big issues and real people.