Entity | KUAC-TV

KUAC-TV, virtual and VHF digital channel 9, is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station licensed to Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. Owned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, it is sister to National Public Radio (NPR) member station KUAC (89.9 FM). The two outlets share studios in the Great Hall on the UAF campus; KUAC-TV's transmitter is located on Bender Mountain. KUAC-TV signed on for the first time on December 22, 1971 as an early Christmas present to the Interior. It was the first public television station in Alaska, and the only one until KAKM in Anchorage signed on in 1975. It originally aired for only five hours a day, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. As the difficulties associated with bringing PBS programming decreased, channel 9 increased its schedule, and now operates 24 hours a day.