The new schedule requires the purchase of additional programs. KSPS commits to a full-time Public Television schedule. PBS is awarded an Emmy for “Outstanding Engineering Development” for pioneering the development of Closed Captioning technology.Ĭlaude Kistler is appointed General Manager of KSPS-TV. Patty Starkey is hired as the station’s new Executive Director of the Friends of Seven. PBS stations, including KSPS, set a new standard for the broadcast industry when they initiate Closed Captioning service for the hearing impaired, by authority of the Federal Communications Commission. KSPS also receives satellite equipment from PBS to become the first station in the Inland Northwest to receive satellite network feeds. Their efforts enable KSPS to become one of the first full-color public television stations in the Pacific Northwest. The non-profit fund-raising organization grows to 4,000 members and raises the money to purchase $629,000 worth of new equipment. The Friends of Seven hold the first in a series of “Action Auctions" and begins to air on-air pledge drives. The nation watches the proceedings and audiences rush to defend and support their local Public Television stations in the wake of President Richard Nixon’s threat to dismantle the PBS system. PBS and KSPS carry the Watergate hearings “live” from Capitol Hill. Ethel Grossman, Ron Miller and Lois Rubens form the Friends of Seven, a non-profit volunteer organization which is responsible for raising funds to offset the district’s budget crisis. Spokane Public Schools levy fails and severe budget cuts affect the station’s operations.
This enables the station to offer new programming to fill non-school hours. The building is completed, Walt Schaar is appointed General Manager, and KSPS-TV becomes a charter member of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). KSPS-TV, licensed to Spokane Public School District #81, signs on and begins offering educational programming for eight hours a day.
The FCC approves new call letters for the station, KSPS-TV, which reflect its connection with the school district. KHQ-TV donates that land for the transmitter tower and KREM-TV contributes television equipment. Temporary working quarters are located in the basement of Adams Elementary School. Spokane Public Schools is awarded a facilities grant for the planning and construction of an educational television station, KSHD-TV.
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