WGCU

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WGCU
Fort Myers-Naples, Florida
Branding	WGCU TV 3
Channels	30 (UHF) analog, 35 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	PBS
Owner	Florida Gulf Coast University
Founded	1983
Call letters meaning	We're Gulf Coast University
Former callsigns	WSFP-TV (1983-96)
Former affiliations	None
Website	www.wgcu.org

WGCU Public Media is the public broadcasting division of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. It operates the public broadcasting stations for Southwest Florida.

WGCU a PBS member, broadcasts on channel 30. It calls itself "TV 3" because it's located on channel 3 on most cable systems in the area. WGCU-FM, an NPR member, broadcasts at 90.1 MHz. Its schedule is comprised of classical music, jazz and NPR news and talk. WGCU-FM's programming is repeated on WMKO-FM, a full-time satellite licensed to Marco Island to serve Naples.

WGCU-FM-TV first signed on in 1983 as WSFP-FM-TV. Both stations were owned by the University of South Florida in Tampa, owners of public broadcasting stations WUSF-FM-TV. At the time, Fort Myers-Naples was the only market in Florida without any public broadcasting stations. WSFP-FM was largely a satellite of WUSF-FM, while WSFP-TV was a separate station from WUSF-TV, broadcasting first-run programming from PBS.

The television and radio licenses were transferred to the new Florida Gulf Coast University in 1996, while the finishing touches were being put on Florida's newest university. WSFP-TV changed its calls to WGCU on August 11, while WSFP-FM became WGCU-FM on June 13, 1997, two months before FGCU opened.

WGCU-FM's signal is barely listenable in Naples, though its grade B signal reaches much of northern Collier County. Soon after FGCU opened, it requested funding for a second station to serve the Naples area. WMKO signed on for the first time in 1999.

WGCU is also referenced for hurricane information on signs across Southwest Florida.

[edit] Analog and Digital Channel Information

In 2003, WGCU began broadcasting a digital signal. The station continues to lead the way in this new digital landscape by multicasting on its digital channel. WGCU has begun to offer several unique digital services during the daytime hours and superior-quality high definition programming during prime time and all-day on the weekends. New WGCU Digital services include:

• WGCU - HDTV
  • On-Air: 30.1
    • Comcast: 241
      • Time Warner: 203
        • (Daily: 2-4pm & 8-Midnight Mon-Fri)
          • (24 hours - Sat & Sun)

Features new digital high definition and widescreen programs along with samples of the best of PBS's high definition programs. Simulcast of regular WGCU programming when HD is not available.

• WGCU Digital - SD
  • On-Air: 30.2
    • Comcast: 240
      • Time Warner: 209
        • (Daily 6am - Noon)

Live digital simulcast of programs currently airing on WGCU.

• Florida Knowledge Network - Monday-Friday 6am-6pm
  • The Florida Channel - all other hours Monday-Sunday
    • On-Air: 30.3
      • Comcast: 242
        • Time Warner: 211
          • (Monday - Friday: 6am - Noon, only while school is in session)

The Florida Knowledge Network offers instructional television and extended learning for K-12 school students and college credit "telecourses." The Florida Channel is a free service offered to local origination, government, and educational access channels throughout the state of Florida.

[edit] External links

• WGCU Public Media
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WGCU
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WGCU-FM
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WMKO-FM

PBS Member Stations in the state of Florida
WPBT 2 (Miami) - WEDU 3 (Tampa) - WUFT 5 (Gainesville) - WJCT 7 (Jacksonville) - WFSU 11 / WFSG 56 (Tallahassee / Panama City) - WCEU 15 (Daytona Beach) - WUSF 16 (Tampa) - WLRN 17 (Miami) - WSRE 23 (Pensacola) - WMFE 24 (Orlando) - WGCU 30 (Fort Myers) - WXEL 42 (West Palm Beach) - WBCC 68 (Cocoa)
See also: ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, Religious, Spanish and Other stations in the state of Florida