GB Magazine January 2021 | Page 72

Media

KPBS Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary

KPBS has been part of SDSU campus since 1960

On September 12 , 1960 , a small group of students at San Diego State College ( now SDSU ) formed KEBS , San Diego ’ s first public broadcasting entity . The newly minted broadcasters transmitted a radio signal for just a few hours per day , five days per week . A lot has changed since then . KEBS became the station you now know and love as KPBS , and that was just the beginning of KPBS ’ transformation from humble college radio station to leading public media organization .

Sixty years later , KPBS programming is on radio , TV , web , mobile app , smart speakers , podcasts , social media and more , 24 hours a day . It is continuously one of the top-rated and most-respected NPR and PBS member stations in the nation . Under Tom Karlo ’ s leadership , the organization has grown to 180 full and part time staff ; the news team started at 15 people and is now close to 50 . The audience has grown to more than 1.3 million each week ; and operating revenue has nearly doubled .
PHOTO CREDIT : AGP PRODUCTIONS LLC
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