2000s | 1990s | 1980s | 1970s | 1960s | 1950s

2007
Our community engagement project, Your Stories: St. Louis Remembers World War II, collected personal World War II stories from more than 900 area residents. Filmmaker Ken Burns visited St. Louis to discuss his documentary The War with a live audience for Channel 9’s first ever webcast. In May, KETC produced Live From Grand Center, an hour-long musical variety special at the Sheldon Concert Hall that featured the talents of local blues, jazz and bluegrass performers. Producer Anne-Marie Berger and videographer Scot Page won an Emmy Award for their story about Stray Rescue—marking the 10th Emmy win for Living St. Louis. The national public affairs program, Washington Week, came to St. Louis in November for a taping of a live show from the Sheldon. And to draw such an eventful year to a close, KETC aired A Grand Night in St. Louis—a New Year’s Eve special from St. Louis’ First Night celebration.

2006
KETC/Channel 9 President and CEO Jack Galmiche joins the station in November as the organization’s 13th general manager. A new FCC rule mandates that all programming be broadcast with closed captions. KETC adds the Create channel to its digital channel selections. In addition to the 24-hour how-to Create channel on 9-4, KETC also offers 9-1 (PBS high definition programming), 9-2 (KETC Kids programming) and 9-3 (KETC’s analog signal broadcast digitally). In its inaugural year, St. Louis Media Halls of Fame inducts KETC’s first general manager, Charles Guggenheim, and Donnybrook host Martin Duggan. Donnybrook celebrates its 20th year on the air. KETC was nominated for 10 and wins six regional Emmy Awards, including five for Living St. Louis, bringing that series’ all-time total to nine.

2005
KETC began airing Jeff City Journal, a public affairs show detailing the activities of the Missouri legislature and produced by Missouri’s public television stations. In June, KETC debuted House Calls With Dr. Valerie Walker, a new weekly show about health and nutrition.

2004
On January 5, KETC launched Living St. Louis, a major, local nightly magazine series. On January 22, KETC began broadcasting PBS HD, a digital channel with high-definition PBS programming, on Channel 9.1. On September 20, KETC kicked off its 50-year anniversary celebration. In November, Channel 9 broadcasts The Snowflake Man, the station’s first documentary shot entirely with high-definition technology.

2003
KETC launched KETC Kids, a Web site dedicated to the interests, education and entertainment of St. Louis-area children, on April 1. In September, Channel 9 begins a new series called Stl Biz about local business issues and trends. Jon Hart hosts.

2002
James Baum became president and CEO of KETC in June 2002. On September 20, Channel 9's transmitter began broadcasting the station's signal using digital technology. This change was mandated by the Federal Communications Commission and was to be completed by every television station in the country by May 1, 2003. This technology gave Channel 9 the ability to broadcast two additional sub-channels: Channel 9.1, a high-definition loop of PBS programs; and Channel 9.2, PBS Kids. Breaking Bread With Father Dominic tapes its third and final season. Between October 2001 and February 2004, it was carried on 187 public broadcasting stations, reached 69.54 percent of viewers nationwide and sold over 65,000 cookbooks.

2000
The venerable PBS series Firing Line With William F. Buckley ended in January after 34 years on the air. In February, the nine-part Decades series wrapped up with an hour-long finale. In August, KETC welcomed Antiques Roadshow to St. Louis, where the national series taped three episodes. In November, Fred Rogers taped his last episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, for broadcast in 2001.

1999
KETC released three programs that were distributed nationally. In June, Prostate Cancer: A Journey of Hope, produced by KETC and LARK International, was offered by PBS to stations around the country—182 out of 210 PTV licensees carried the program that month. Another KETC and LARK co-production, Roger Williams: Pop Goes the Ivories, was distributed nationally by PBS during the December membership drive. In October, Breaking Bread With Father Dominic, a new cooking series produced by KETC, was offered by NETA to PBS stations around the country. The show's Web site, also launched in October, receives more than 40,000 hits every month.

1998
On January 5, the KETC staff moved into the Dana Brown Communications Center. That same month, KETC moved its on-air operations from South St. Louis County to the Dana Brown Communications Center, unifying the station's production, broadcast and administrative offices for the first time in 27 years.

1997
In January, KETC's Web site went online. KETC joined LARK International, a consortium that creates, distributes and markets TV projects worldwide. Three other PBS stations make up LARK, giving the company a combined reach of more than 6 million households. On November 4, the station debuted Decades, the first installment of a nine-part series on the history of St. Louis. The program set an unprecedented audience level for a KETC production—of all the television sets turned on that evening, 10 percent were tuned to Channel 9. Effective November 28 at 5:00 p.m., KETC took ownership of the Dana Brown Communications Center located at 3655 Olive St. in the Grand Center District. The building took 18 months to construct. PBS stations total 352 nationwide. Approximately 96.2 million people across the U.S. watch an average of 2 hours and 49 minutes of PBS each week.

1996
On July 31, KETC breaks ground in Grand Center for the Dana Brown Communications Center, a new facility that will house all station personnel and two studios. The station gets a new transmitter; the old one had been in use 25 years.

1994
KETC opens an outreach and education department to extend the value of programming to the community. Among the first projects are the Sesame Street Preschool Educational Program (PEP) and Ready to Learn (RTL).

1991
In September, KETC extends the broadcast day, televising programs 24 hours a day.

1990
KETC begins offering Descriptive Video Service (DVS) for the visually impaired on selected broadcasts.

1987
Channel 9 begins broadcasting designated programs in stereo. Channel 9 begins programming cable television's Higher Education Channel (HEC). PBS stations total 379.

1986
Channel 9 begins production and broadcast of Donnybrook, a local public affairs show in which local media professionals with varying perspectives debate issues in the news.

1982
VideoNine, a for-profit commercial production subsidiary, is formed to generate additional revenue for KETC. The station holds its first Wine Tasting fundraiser.

1980
The Public Telecommunications Association of Missouri is formed, establishing a statewide network in St. Louis, Kansas City, Sedalia-Warrensburg and Springfield. Missouri Public Television Act passed by the Missouri Legislature, making available the appropriation of funds to use as grants to the four Missouri public television stations. Channel 9 begins broadcasting selected programs with closed captions for the hearing impaired.

1978
Channel 9 holds its first television Auction away from the station at Union Station. Michael Hardgrove becomes general manager. Channel 9 becomes one of the first PBS stations to receive programs via the Westar I Satellite.

1977
Channel 9 moves the Auction from fall to spring, and holds the first Auction for the sole benefit of the station. In the summer, for the first time, the station broadcasts from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during non-school periods. President Carter submits to Congress a new, five-year bill proposing major changes in PBS' national structure. Carnegie Corporation initiates a new, 18-month study of public broadcasting's future.

1976
Channel 9 beings broadcasting on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. Anthony S. Tiano becomes KETC's general manager and creates The New Nine, an initiative to spur growth in programming and build membership.

1975
The Public Broadcasting Financing Act is passed, authorizing five years of advanced appropriations for CPB and guaranteeing insulated federal funding.

1974
Channel 9 begins broadcasting on Saturday mornings.

1973
Number of public television stations totals 250.

1972
KETC begins production of The Letter People, a program geared to teach 5- to 7-year-olds about words and the alphabet through fun characters.

1971
Channel 9 begins color transmission on Halloween night. First "Camelot" Auction held.

1969–70 KETC begins building a high-power, color transmission center in South St. Louis County. PBS is created in 1969 and begins national program distribution the following year.

1968
Approximately 2,100 families are members of Channel 9.

1967
The Public Broadcasting Act, based largely on the Carnegie recommendations, creates the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to dispense annual federal appropriations for public television and radio. The words "public television" are coined from the Carnegie Commission report. Until now, public television was known as "educational broadcasting."

1966
The Carnegie Commission on Educational Television releases "Public Television: A Program for Action," which laid the foundation for federal assistance for public television programming and local station support.

1965
Robert C. Glazier becomes KETC's general manager.

1964
FCC increases educational television channel assignments to 617. Station total grows to 101.

1962
Educational Broadcasting Facilities Act establishes the first program of federal assistance for noncommercial broadcasting. Seventy-two stations go on the air in the first decade.

1955
In March, Channel 9 moves into its new building—the Julius and Freda Baer Memorial—located on the edge of the Washington University campus. Construction took five months. KETC and Washington University agree on a 20-year lease at the annual rate of $1.

1954
On September 20 at 9:00 p.m. central time, Channel Number 9, the seventh noncommercial station, goes on the air. Martin Quigley becomes the general manager. National Educational Television and Radio (later National Educational Television) is established to provide national programming for educational stations.

1953
Arthur B. Baer donates funds toward the construction of a studio, the first in the nation expressly for educational television. Charles Guggenheim is station manager. KUHT/Houston, the first noncommercial station, goes on the air.

1952
St. Louis Educational Television Commission formed.

1951
St. Louis Mayor James Darst appoints a committee on educational television to draft a proposal for Channel 9.