Kalispell to get PBS station

Kalispell will get its own PBS station this fall.

Montana PBS will launch its fifth PBS station this fall, providing free, over-the-air public television to viewers in the Flathead Valley, according to a news release from the nonprofit organization. The release did not give a date as to when KUKL will go live.

The station will help fill a void caused when KSPS, the Spokane-based public television channel, was dropped in April from Optimum’s cable service plan in the Flathead Valley. The decision angered many in the Flathead, who had been watching the Washington station, as well as Missoula-based KUFM, for many years.

Allison Watters, Optimum’s director of media relations, said in an April email to the Daily Inter Lake that the cable industry overall was changing to include fewer out-of-market options.

“The industry is increasingly focusing on delivering in-market stations to customers and avoiding duplicating broadcast stations,” she wrote.

But KSPS contended that, with 1,100 customers in the Flathead Valley, the Spokane station wasn’t truly an out-of-market channel to viewers in Northwest Montana.

When Optimum dropped KSPS, it added four additional Montana PBS channels: PBS HD, PBS Kids, PBS World and PBS Create.

“We understand that some loyal viewers may miss KSPS on Optimum TV,” the news release said. “Montana PBS will do our best to serve these viewers well, continuing to provide their favorite PBS programming and local Montana productions, including Montana election-related programming in the fall.”

Montana PBS is also offering KSPS viewers in western Montana a free, year-long membership in Montana PBS. To receive the program guide, call the membership office at (866) 832-0829.

Submit comments and suggestions to KUFM General Manager William Marcus at william.marcus@umontana.edu or to KUSM General Manager Eric Hyyppa at eric_hyyppa@montanapbs.org.