PBS Guam History
Håfa Adai and Welcome!
The Guam Educational Telecommunications Corporation, KGTF Channel 12 (PBS Guam), is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and Government of Guam agency that has evolved significantly since its inception in 1970, continuing to offer high-quality television, educational services, and cultural programming to the people of Guam.
As the only public television station in the region, PBS Guam is a community-focused station that values viewer input to help fulfill its mission of providing educational content that entertains, informs, and serves Guam and the Northern Mariana Island communities.
Committed to transparency and professionalism, PBS Guam continues its role in public television while securing public support to sustain its operations and educational outreach.
2020
PBS GUAM LAUNCHES ITS SECOND CHANNEL, PBS KIDS 24/7
and upgrades to PBS’s new sIX Interconnection system. This system is designed to move some content from expensive satellite transponders to a terrestrial fiber-based system. sIX will eventually be cheaper and more versatile. The implementation of this system will also cut down on costly satellite capacity. and allow the further automation of master-control operations.
2019
PBS GUAM IS AWARDED A $500,000.00 GRANT
with the Department of Interior for the upgrade of broadcast and remote broadcast equipment.
2000
PBS GUAM BEGINS THE FEDERALLY MANDATED PROCESS OF DIGITIZATION
with the installation of a digital-ready tower and antenna. This is the first step in the still ongoing process of making and keeping PBS GUAM as technologically advanced as any PBS affiliate in the country.
1999
PBS GUAM IS AWARDED THE PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT & PERFORMANCE AWARD - SETBENTEN I KUMINIDAT
by the Micronesia Society of Professional Journalists. Channel 12 is also recognized for excellence by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The International Reading Association and The Government of Guam.
1997
PBS GUAM WINS THE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
presented by the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council for providing production services for the benefit of people with disabilities.
1993
PBS GUAM CONSTRUCTS A NEW 5,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY
funded entirely through private contributions, the new offices and studios replaces the condemned Butler-type building which houses PBS GUAM for many years.
1991
PBS GUAM PURCHASES A STATE-OF-THE-ART REMOTE BROADCAST VEHICLE
that provides Channel 12 the capability to offer complete coverage of live and remote events and shows, as well as to contract remote productions.
1974
THE 12TH GUAM LEGISLATURE PASSES P.L. 12-194
which creates a nonprofit, public corporation to operate PBS GUAM. That law goes into effect on July 1, 1975 creating what is known today as the Guam Educational Telecommunications Corporation with a seven-member Board of Trustees to oversee its operations and a General Manager who is responsible for the day-to-day operation and administers its programs, policies and the facility used for and in the production and transmission of the Corporation’s programs.
In the beginning, PBS GUAM has a staff of five and a programming day of 4 1/2 hours, Monday through Friday. Today PBS GUAM is staffed with over 20 professionals and broadcasts from 6:00 am to Midnight, seven days a week.
