Arkansas PBS Transmitters & Coverage Areas

From Network Master Control in Conway, Arkansas PBS distributes a program of educational and general audience offerings that is broadcast on all citizens of Arkansas. The network's broadcast and production center occupies a building of approximately 69,500 square feet, situated on the southeast corner of the University of Central Arkansas campus at Donaghey Avenue and Powell Street in Conway on land leased from the university. Audio and video signals are carried from the R. Lee Reaves Center for Educational Telecommunications in Conway via Arkansas PBS's own microwave interconnection relay system to the six broadcasting transmitters.  Over-the-air viewers as well as nearly all subscribers to cable or satellite services receive the Arkansas PBS signal sent from the broadcast facilities in Conway through twelve microwave interconnection sites to one of these six transmitters.  Only subscribers to Conway Corporation cable and AT&T U-verse in Little Rock currently receive a direct feed from Arkansas PBS .

Arkansas PBS moves closer to near universal statewide coverage with completion of transmitter near Russellville; transmitter first of five made possible by CARES Act Funding.
The allocated funds are allowing Arkansas PBS to upgrade aging technology and expand its existing footprint of six broadcast sites and 12 microwave sites to include five additional transmitter sites:

  • Lee Mountain, near Russellville. **Now fully operational**
  • Yancy, near Texarkana.
  • Forrest City.
  • Gaither, near Harrison.
  • Rich Mountain, near Mena.

 

More Transmitter Info
Transmitter Update Press Release
Signal Expansion Rescan Instructions
Signal Expansion FAQ's
 

Arkansas PBS's transmitters are:

  • Licensed to Fayetteville by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), KAFT originally signed on the air on analog channel 13 in 1976 to serve Northwest Arkansas and portions of neighboring Oklahoma and Missouri until June 2009 when all analog broadcast was terminated. KAFT Digital (licensed as digital channel 9 but seen as virtual channel 13 and broadcasting with an effective radiated power of 37.9 kilowatts) signed on the air in 2003 to cover the same area. The KAFT antenna, at a height of 1,105 feet above the ground, is located near Winslow atop Sunset Mountain.
  • Licensed to Mountain View by the FCC, KEMV originally signed on the air on analog channel 6 in 1980 to serve the state's north central counties and bordering counties of south-central Missouri until June 2009 when all analog broadcast was terminated. KEMV Digital (licensed as digital channel 13 but seen as virtual channel 6 and broadcasting with an effective radiated power of 12.1 kilowatts) signed on the air in 2003 to cover the same area. The antenna is located just east of Fox at approximately 1,085 feet above the ground.
  • Licensed to Arkadelphia by the FCC, KETG originally signed on the air on analog channel 9 in 1976 to serve southwest Arkansas until June 2009 when all analog broadcast was terminated. KETG Digital (licensed as digital channel 13 but seen as virtual channel 9 and broadcasting with an effective radiated power of 13.85 kilowatts) signed on the air in 2003 to cover the same area. Designed radial coverage from the antenna located at Gurdon at 1,066 feet above the ground is approximately 60 miles.
Graphic of the State of Arkansas with Transmitters Placed Around the State

All transmitters broadcast stereo audio. Arkansas PBS's primary program signal (ARPBS-1) provides Descriptive Video on selected programs for those who are blind and visually-impaired. ARPBS-4 (audio-only) delivers the Arkansas Information Reading Service for the Blind (AIRSB) with the reading of local and national newspapers, magazines and books for those who are blind or are visually-impaired. Virtually all programs broadcast on Arkansas PBS are also closed captioned for the deaf or hearing impaired. ARPBS-1 is broadcast in 720p, 16x9 HD format while ARPBS-2 and ARPBS-3 are seen in 4x3 SD format.

Last Updated 25 Jul 2022