Q: What is WGTE’s coverage area?
A: Click here for a map of TV 30’s broadcast coverage area. Click
click here for FM 91’s coverage area.
Q: How many people does WGTE serve?
A: TV 30’s broadcast signal reaches 411,000 of the 415,000 homes with televisions in this market. That’s 99% of the available audience.
More than 70,000 people listen to FM 91 weekly in and around Toledo, Lima, Bryan and Defiance.
And the numbers of people that we serve off the screen are equally impressive. WGTE’s Ready to Learn Service presents more than 100 workshops annually on a variety of child development topics, helping adults use the children's programs on public television to help young children get ready to learn. In a recent 12-month period, 1,300 parents and 800 childcare professionals attended trainings to benefit the more than 11,000 children in their care.
And our Educational Resource Center serves more than 100,000 students and 8,000 teachers with learning technology ranging from videotapes and instructional broadcasts to interactive Web sites featuring streaming media and “build your own home page” templates.
Q: Why do I hear voices or music that don’t match the pictures when I watch TV 30?
A: You’re listening to the second audio program, or SAP, channel. WGTE broadcasts on two audio channels. One is the MAIN or STEREO audio channel that matches the picture that you see on TV 30. The other channel, the Second Audio Program or SAP, is used primarily by viewers who are visually impaired.
Sometimes the Second Audio Program channel may carry a voice describing the scenery or action of the program being broadcast on TV 30. Other times, it may be programmed with our public radio station, FM 91. Most of the day, it is used by the Sight Center to read newspapers and other materials to people who are blind or visually impaired.
In most cases, you can use your TV or VCR remote to change the audio channel. Some older televisions without remotes have switches either on the back or side of the set.
You may find that your remote has a specifically labeled button for SAP, or you may have to call up an on-screen menu to make the change. The manual for your television or VCR will tell you how to change from SAP to MAIN or STEREO audio. Once you’ve made the switch, you should find the problem corrected. If you need additional help, please call TV 30 at 419-380-4613 during business hours.
Q: I’d like to purchase a video or book companion to a program I saw on TV 30. Where do I find the ordering information?
A: If the show was a PBS (national) program, you may call 1-800-PLAY-PBS, or visit www.pbs.org. If the program was a local production by WGTE, or if you’re not sure of its origination, please call (419) 243-3091 during business hours, and we’ll be happy to help you.
Q: I’d like to purchase a tape or transcript of a story I heard on NPR.
A: You can purchase tapes and transcripts by calling 1-877-NPR-TEXT (1-877-677-8398).
Q: How can I reach PBS, NPR, the FCC?
A: You can reach PBS at www.pbs.org/
You can reach NPR at www.npr.org/
You can reach the FCC at www.fcc.gov/
Q: What’s all this I’m hearing about digital television (DTV)? What is HDTV? What will I have to buy in order to see DTV? Will my current television and VCR be useless in a few years?
A: Digital television is an entirely new way for WGTE to deliver information to you, and for you to interact with it. DTV will change everything - from how we’ll broadcast to what you’ll see on your TV (or your computer, for that matter). It’s on its way. The FCC has mandated that all US television stations begin broadcasting a digital signal by 2003. But before you run out to the electronics superstore today,
click here for a little background.
Q: Why do you ask for money on air?
A: Public radio and television, unlike our commercial counterparts, doesn’t support itself by selling commercial time on its broadcasts. We rely on community support through individual and corporate memberships to cover a large portion of our expenses. Most of the year we offer uninterrupted programming, but for brief, selected periods we utilize our broadcasts to seek viewer and listener support. On television, those periods are in March, August and December. On FM 91, they are October and April.
Q: What makes public television and radio unique?
A: Public television and radio are services that are available to 99% of all U.S. households. No extra subscription or fee is required to view or listen to them. They offer the best programming in every category—news, performance, entertainment, drama, history, science, et. al. Other specialty services may focus these categories individually, but public broadcasting offers the best of each of them in one location. Additionally, every program offered by public television or radio is enriching in some way.
Q: Why should I be a member?
A: By becoming a member of WGTE Public Broadcasting, you are ensuring that quality public radio and television programs will continue to be available in this community. You are helping to provide universal access so that others lacking resources can still benefit from WGTE’s services. Your support ensures that educational and nonviolent programs will be available to educate children; that cultural, historic and scientific programs will enlighten us and enrich our lives; and that unbiased news and public affairs programs will remain available. You are maintaining the quality of life in our community.
Q:What happened to the TV 30 auction?
A: 30 years ago, when we began doing the Buy In, or Auction, it was something really unique. By the mid-90s, many community organizations had begun holding their own fundraising auctions. Additionally, our auction was on television and it interrupted our broadcast schedule, which did not serve the interests of many of our members. Finally, the auction required a huge commitment of time, resources and volunteers, and it had become more and more difficult to secure donations that would generate the kind of revenue that would make it worthwhile.
Q: What about the Bowling Green station?
A: WBGU TV 27 is owned and operated by Bowling Green State University, and has no connection with WGTE, which is operated by a community-based Board of Trustees. We operate side-by-side and serve two different audiences.
Q: Why do you ‘sell’ merchandise during the membership campaigns?
A: WGTE is not selling items during the membership campaigns. Rather, we are offering thank-you items associated with the particular program being viewed or listened-to. The cost of these items is deducted from the total amount of your charitable contribution to our stations. Members receive a statement at the end of the year reflecting the actual amount of their contribution, once the value of the thank-you gift is deducted. Many people making membership pledges to WGTE are asking that their entire contribution go toward programming, rather than accept a thank-you gift.