WQED INTRODUCES WQED SHOWCASE AS FOURTH FREE DIGITAL CHANNEL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 22, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghaziman@wqed.org

WQED INTRODUCES WQED SHOWCASE AS
FOURTH FREE DIGITAL CHANNEL

PITTSBURGH – WQED will begin to broadcast WQED Showcase on free over-the-air channel 13.4 beginning later this fall. WQED Showcase will air a mix of popular pledge programming from the WQED archives like QED Cooks; Rick Sebak documentaries; multi-documentary specials hosted by Fennimore and Sebak; and national pledge programming that has never been shown on WQED due to space limitations.

WQED Showcase joins WQED’s other signals, including WQED-TV in HD (13.1); WQED: The Create Channel (13.2); and WQED: The Neighborhood Channel (13.3) in providing a wide array of locally-produced and national programming for the Pittsburgh market.

“In addition to local fundraising programs, WQED Showcase will be a testing ground for national pledge programming offered through American Public Television Service,” said Deborah L. Acklin, President and CEO of WQED. “The new channel will include compelling programs that people have told us they enjoy, and it will be another way for WQED to maximize revenue so that we can continue to fulfill our core educational mission to this community.”

WQED Showcase will air 24 hours a day seven days a week. It will be available on local cable systems but will not be available through satellite television service.

WQED Pittsburgh (www.wqed.org) has a proud history of honors, including 121 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive; and The WQED Education Department.