For Release: 2008-09-19 12:30:00
KET is celebrating four decades of educating, inspiring and connecting Kentuckians through television. Kentucky's statewide public television network went on the air on Sept. 23, 1968, with a single channel directed primarily to schools. Today, multiple broadcast services, as well as a robust online presence, deliver an array of programming and services while holding to the vision of O. Leonard Press, KET's founder and first executive director, to enhance education through media.A Mission to Educate
KET's early programming schedule consisted of educational content intended for classrooms across the state. Programs for preschool children included the premiere of PBS' Sesame Street in 1969. KET-produced high school distance learning classes began in the 1980s. "There is not one child in the state of Kentucky...who cannot have high school Latin, German, physics and a whole range of courses via KET," Press said of the new distance learning division. "KET is a great leveler."
KET also produced the first GED on TV series in the nation. More than one million people worldwide have earned their GED using KET's study program. KET will release a new GED series in 2012.
Today, KET EncycloMedia gives the Commonwealth's teachers and students access to a wealth of resources via the Internet. Introduced in 2005, the online educational tool combines the value of an encyclopedia with thousands of video clips, photographs and lesson plans. KET EncycloMedia has now been used by more than 40,000 Kentucky teachers.
The introduction of KET's Arts Toolkits is another milestone in KET's legacy of educational service. The Toolkits are packages of multimedia resources designed to provide teachers with high-quality teaching tools that align to academic standards while bringing the excitement of dance, drama, music and the visual arts into the classroom. The Toolkits have been such a success that Harvard University recently included the project in its top 50 government programs designed for education.
Celebrating Kentucky
One of KET's core values is that learning is a lifelong pursuit, and the network's public affairs, arts and cultural programming allows Kentuckians to stay informed about the world around them.
Nightly coverage of the General Assembly, which began in 1978, eventually grew to gavel-to-gavel coverage, and became just one piece of KET's extensive public affairs programming, which now includes candidate forums, election night returns and analysis and regular series Comment on Kentucky, Kentucky Tonight, One to One with Bill Goodman and Connections with Renee Shaw. Virginia Fox, KET's second executive director, saw this growth as a continuation of the network's mission to provide equal access to education for all Kentuckians. She said, "KET is access to the state legislature as it happens, to the arts, to public affairs, to education, to nonviolent children's programming."
A longstanding commitment to rich arts and cultural programming can also be traced through KET's history. Music, drama, history and literature appeared into the living rooms and classrooms of Kentuckians through KET's Old Music for New Ears and Mountain Born: The Jean Ritchie Story and PBS' Masterpiece Theatre among many others. That tradition continues today with Jubilee, featuring performances from Kentucky bluegrass and blues festivals, and Kentucky Muse, celebrating the world of creativity in Kentucky.
KET also turns the spotlight on the Commonwealth itself with compelling programs about Kentucky. Kentucky Life , KET's award-winning series celebrating the people and places of the Commonwealth, completed its 14th season this year. Louisville Life, which premiered in 2006, earned an Emmy Award in its first season. And, KET specials like Kentucky's Last Great Places, The Everlasting Stream and Where the River Bends: A History of Northern Kentucky continue to receive overwhelmingly positive responses from viewers as well as national recognition. Most recently, KET created the Kentucky Channel (KET KY), which focuses on content by, for and about Kentuckians.
Looking Ahead
As KET moves forward, it explores new technologies and techniques to advance its mission. KET's Web site, www.ket.org, continues to grow, providing thousands of archived programs, educational content and professional development opportunities. A technical renovation, currently underway, brings KET into its fifth decade with high-definition capabilities unparalleled in surrounding states. Malcolm Wall, KET's current executive director, said, "By providing even more purpose-built educational content and HD programs that explore Kentucky, KET will expand its commitment to make our Commonwealth stronger."
While technology may change, says Wall, KET's commitment to providing quality programs and services for teachers, students and viewers remains constant.
On the Air
One to One with Bill Goodman
KET founder O. Leonard Press discusses KET's mission, history and service to the Commonwealth as well as his new book The KET Story: A Personal Account. The program airs Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m./noon CT on KET1 and Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7:30/6:30 p.m. CT on KET2.
KET: 40 Years of Exploration
This anniversary special looks at KET's 40-year history through interviews with past and present executive directors and archival footage of classic Kentucky programs. It airs Thursday, Oct. 16 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1.
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A young artist displays his technique for KET cameras
Gov. Bert T. Combs and others sign legislation creating the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television
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