View source for WSRE

{{Short description|Television station in Pensacola, Florida}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = WSRE
| city                   = Pensacola, Florida
| logo                   = WSRE PBS logo 2019.svg
| logo_size              = 220px
| logo_alt               = Red letters WSRE in a high-tech style, with counter lines running through some of the letters, next to the PBS logo and letters P B S in blue.
| branding               = WSRE PBS
| digital                = 24 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 23
| subchannels            =
| translators            = 
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''23.1:''' [[PBS]]|''for others, see {{Section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| network                = 
| founded                = 1967
| airdate                = {{start date and age|1967|9|11|p=y}}
| last_airdate           = 
| location               = {{ubl|[[Pensacola, Florida]]|[[Mobile, Alabama]]}}
| country                = United States
| callsign_meaning       = [[Santa Rosa County, Florida|Santa Rosa]] and [[Escambia County, Florida|Escambia]] counties
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 23 (UHF, 1967–2009)|'''Digital:''' 31 (UHF, 2001–2019)}}
| owner                  = [[Pensacola State College]]
| licensee               = The District Board of Trustees, PSC
| sister_stations        = 
| former_affiliations    = [[National Educational Television|NET]] (1967–1970)
| erp                    = 859 [[kW]]
| haat                   = {{convert|551.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class                  = 
| facility_id            = 17611
| coordinates            = {{coord|30|36|41|N|87|36|26.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{URL|http://www.wsre.org/}} 
}}

'''WSRE''' (channel 23) is a [[PBS]] member [[television station]] in [[Pensacola, Florida]], United States. It is owned by [[Pensacola State College]] (PSC), with studios located at the Kugelman Center for Telecommunications on the Pensacola State main campus, and its transmitter near [[Robertsdale, Alabama]].

WSRE went on the air in 1967 under the ownership of the [[Escambia County School District|Escambia County board of education]]. Its transmitter and studios were located at what was then known as Pensacola Junior College, and it provided instructional television and production services for local K-12 schools and the junior college as well as evening programming from [[National Educational Television]], later supplanted by PBS. The college became the licensee in 1971, after Florida state law moved junior colleges under the control of the [[Florida Board of Education|State Board of Education]]. In 1991, the WSRE-TV Foundation was established to provide financial support and administration.{{r|hist}} In addition to a range of local programming, WSRE has provided public telecommunications and other services, including a [[radio reading service]].

==History==
The Board of Public Instruction of [[Escambia County, Florida]], applied on May 24, 1965, for a [[construction permit]] to build a new non-commercial television station in Pensacola. The station was initially allocated channel 21, but this was changed to channel 23 before the permit was granted on May 10, 1966.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/91a55de1-c79b-b92d-07fe-bbe33f05c393|title=FCC History Cards for WSRE|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070215/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/91a55de1-c79b-b92d-07fe-bbe33f05c393|url-status=live}}</ref> Though Pensacola was among the last population centers in the state to receive educational television, it already had suitable studio facilities at [[Pensacola Junior College]] (PJC), which would administer the new station.<ref name="Pens660716">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-education-tv-near/133683203/|date=July 16, 1966|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-education-tv-near/133683229/ 2A]|first=George|last=Ellis|title=Education TV Nearing Here|newspaper=[[The Pensacola Journal]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070215/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-education-tv-near/133683203/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The Pensacola educational television system had begun as a closed-circuit setup at Ferry Pass Junior High School in 1963 before moving to PJC; it was already broadcasting closed-circuit programming on the college campus and one educational series for elementary school students on Pensacola commercial station [[WEAR-TV]].<ref name="Pens660717">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-channel-23-there/133683256/|date=July 17, 1966|pages=All Florida Magazine 7, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-on-the-air/133683265/ 8], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-on-the-air/133683283/ 11]|title=Channel 23: There's No Summer Hiatus for Pensacola's Educational TV As The Staff Gets Ready for School|newspaper=[[Pensacola News Journal|The Pensacola News-Journal]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070215/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-channel-23-there/133683256/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

WSRE began broadcasting on September 11, 1967. The station offered courses for K-12 students, junior college courses, and programming from [[National Educational Television]] (NET).<ref name="Pens670911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-educational-stati/133683439/|date=September 11, 1967|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-new-station-gives/133683453/ 2A]|title=Educational Station WSRE-TV Goes on Air at 3 P.M. Today: New Station Gives Varied Program|newspaper=The Pensacola Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070215/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-educational-stati/133683439/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> These programs served as the core of channel 23's offerings; for instance, a fourth-grade science class that was offered in 1968 featured a chimpanzee from the Pensacola Zoo and was accompanied by a 60-page booklet for teachers.<ref name="Pens680908">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-she-has-two-thing/133683581/|date=September 8, 1968|page=1A|title=She Has Two Things Over Shirley Temple: Little Dee to Make TV Debut|newspaper=The Pensacola News-Journal|first=Harold|last=Kennedy|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070216/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-she-has-two-thing/133683581/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The station operated only on weekdays until April 1969, when it was able to add programming on Saturdays and Sundays.<ref name="Pens690420">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-wsre-tv-extends-t/133683604/|date=April 20, 1969|page=E12|title=WSRE-TV Extends Telecasting Schedule|newspaper=The Pensacola News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070216/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-wsre-tv-extends-t/133683604/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> NET was supplanted by PBS in October 1970.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1970/1970-10-05-BC.pdf|via=World Radio History|date=October 5, 1970|title=Does ETV hold key to fairness?|id={{ProQuest|1016855219}}|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|page=50|access-date=October 14, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151630/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1970/1970-10-05-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1971, WSRE obtained equipment to begin broadcasting in color.<ref name="Pens710829">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-video-tape-wsre/133685274/|date=August 29, 1971|page=1D|title=Video Tape: WSRE TV Gets Color|newspaper=The Pensacola News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070216/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-video-tape-wsre/133685274/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> That August, the Escambia County school board transferred the license to Pensacola Junior College; the change was described as a "paper transfer" and followed a reorganization that moved junior colleges from the jurisdiction of county school systems to the [[Florida Board of Education|State Board of Education]]. The school board ceased providing an appropriation for channel 23 after the 1972–73 school year.<ref name="Pens721109">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-school-board-with/133685159/|date=November 9, 1972|page=1B|first=Betty|last=Jackson|title=School Board Withdraws WSRE-TV Budget Funds|newspaper=The Pensacola Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070216/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-school-board-with/133685159/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

WSRE debuted a new local series, ''Gourmet Cooking'' with chef Earl Peyroux, in 1977. The program, originally ordered for 13 episodes, began national syndication to other public television stations in 1982 and was in production with new episodes as late as 1996, even though Peyroux had to take a two-year break to battle throat cancer.<ref name="Pens960523">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-whats-cooking-on/133683965/|date=May 23, 1996|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-earl-peyroux-stil/133683984/ 3B]|first=Mark|last=Bradley|title=What's cooking on TV? Chef Earl Peyroux enjoys sharing gourmet techniques with viewers|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070717/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-whats-cooking-on/133683965/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="Pens031024">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-down-to-earth-t/133683938/|date=October 24, 2003|page=1C|first=Valerie|last=Lovett|title='Down-to-earth' TV chef Peyroux dies after long illness|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070726/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-down-to-earth-t/133683938/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

In 1988, the station became one of the first ten PBS stations to be equipped to broadcast multiple audio channels and thus to participate in a trial of [[Descriptive Video Service]] (DVS) audio description. The ten trial stations and PBS itself shared an [[Emmy Award]] in 1990 for their efforts; by 1991, there were 55 DVS-capable PBS stations.<ref name="Pens911001">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-wsre-one-stop-on/133684622/|date=October 1, 1991|page=1D|first=Mike|last=Suchcicki|title=WSRE one stop on Emmy's trail|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Using the technology, WSRE also launched a [[radio reading service]], Sightline, which operated from 1992 to 2011.<ref name="Pens941114">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-sightline-members/133684508/|date=November 14, 1994|page=1B|first=Donna|last=Freckmann|title=Sightline members 'party on'|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070717/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-sightline-members/133684508/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> WSRE discontinued operation of Sightline when Florida cut all public broadcasting funding and had to lay off five people; production responsibilities were then assumed by public radio station [[WUWF]].<ref name="Pens110811">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-sightline-for-bli/133695056/|date=August 11, 2011|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-sightline/133695066/ 2B]|title=SightLine for blind returning: TV, radio stations to provide service|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070718/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-sightline-for-bli/133695056/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Another service offered by the station was local cable channel "WLNE" (Where Learning Never Ends), which offered telecourses from 1997 to 2008.{{r|hist}}

The Kugelman Center for Telecommunications, which houses WSRE's studios, was completed in 1994. It is named for Jack and Jane Kugelman, whose gift helped finance the construction of the $10&nbsp;million complex.<ref name="Pens941105">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-center-brings-mor/133684369/|date=November 5, 1994|page=1C|first=Mark|last=Bradley|title=Center brings more broadcast technology to PJC, station|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070718/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-center-brings-mor/133684369/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The Kugelmans made a second major gift that financed the construction of a digital transmitter for the station;<ref name="Pens001114">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-more-panhandle-ph/133684447/|date=November 14, 2000|page=3B|title=More Panhandle philanthropists|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070719/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-more-panhandle-ph/133684447/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> WSRE built its digital transmitter in [[Baldwin County, Alabama]], in 2001, increasing its coverage area to include [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]].<ref name="hist">{{cite web|title=History|website=WSRE|url=https://www.wsre.org/about/history/|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=September 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904104442/https://www.wsre.org/about/history/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=July 21, 2005|work=[[Press-Register]]|title=Do you do digital? FCC mandates are aimed at speeding transition to new television standard|first=Mike|last=Brantley|page=D1}}</ref> In 2005, the station opened the Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio; the donor was the founder of insurer [[Aflac]] and his wife.<ref name="Pens021001">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-public-tv-station/133694838/|date=October 1, 2002|page=8C|first=Charlotte|last=Crane|title=Public TV station gets $500,000 family gift|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070719/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-public-tv-station/133694838/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The studio boasted seating for 650 people as well as digital equipment.<ref name="Pens050305">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-wsre-opens-high-t/133694947/|date=March 5, 2005|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-couple-funded-stu/133694960/ 4C]|first=Nicole|last=Lozare|title=WSRE opens high tech studio: Several already have called station to use new facility|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019070726/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-wsre-opens-high-t/133694947/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Another studio at the station was used for the production of [[MSNBC]]'s ''[[Scarborough Country]]'' when its host, former representative [[Joe Scarborough]], was in Pensacola.<ref name="Pens030914">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-joe-tv/133695191/|date=September 14, 2003|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-scarborough-scrip/133695198/ 4A]|first=Doug|last=Haller|title=Joe-TV|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019071221/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-joe-tv/133695191/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

In 2010, Pensacola Junior College was renamed Pensacola State College in anticipation of adding four-year degrees to its offerings.<ref name="Pens100427">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-pjc-will-become-p/133767290/|date=April 27, 2010|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-pjc/133767374/ 3B]|first=Travis|last=Griggs|title=PJC will become PSC: Pensacola State College will offer four-year degrees|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 20, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

==Funding==
In 2021–2022, WSRE had a total revenue of $4.625 million. A total of 4,503 contributors and members donated $461,000, or 10 percent, of the total. The [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]] provided $1.11 million, most of that in the form of a Community Service Grant. Pensacola State College provided another $1.18 million, while $1.36 million of income came from a one-time insurance reimbursement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bento.pbs.org/prod/filer_public/wsre-bento-live-pbs/2023/Public%20File/39301d7aa4_230217_AFR_as_submitted_FY__22.pdf|website=WSRE|date=February 17, 2023|title=Annual Financial Report 2022|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=April 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412184521/https://bento.pbs.org/prod/filer_public/wsre-bento-live-pbs/2023/Public%20File/39301d7aa4_230217_AFR_as_submitted_FY__22.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Local programming==
Local programs produced by WSRE as of 2022 included community affairs show ''Connecting the Community'', discussion program ''Conversations with Jeff Weeks'', and ''Nightmare Theatre'', presentations of horror movies aired by several PBS stations in other Southeastern cities.<ref>{{Cite web|website=WSRE|url=https://bento.pbs.org/prod/filer_public/wsre-bento-live-pbs/2023/Public%20File/4c1942ba99_63576-1122_Annual_Report_2021-2022_R6_sm.pdf|title=Local Content and Service Report 2021–22|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=April 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412203000/https://bento.pbs.org/prod/filer_public/wsre-bento-live-pbs/2023/Public%20File/4c1942ba99_63576-1122_Annual_Report_2021-2022_R6_sm.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WSRE<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSRE#station |title=RabbitEars TV Query for WSRE |access-date=March 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402161837/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSRE#station |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 23.1 
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=4| [[16:9]] || WSRE-HD || [[PBS]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 23.2 
| rowspan=3| [[480i]] || WSRE-2 || [[World (TV channel)|World]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 23.3 
| WSRE-3 || [[The Florida Channel]] / [[Create (TV network)|Create]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 23.4 
| WSRE-4 || [[PBS Kids]]
|- 
|}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
WSRE discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel&nbsp;23, on February&nbsp;17, 2009, in compliance with the [[Digital television transition in the United States|transition from analog to digital broadcasts]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|agency=Associated Press|title=List of TV stations ending analog broadcasts|date=February 17, 2009|work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106052115/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|url-status=live}}</ref> The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition channel&nbsp;31, using [[virtual channel]] 23.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> WSRE relocated its signal from channel 31 to channel 24 on January 17, 2020, as a result of the [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction]].<ref name="Repack Table">{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.wsre.org/}}

{{PensacolaMobileTV}}
{{PBS Florida}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wsre}}
[[Category:1967 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:PBS member stations]]
[[Category:Pensacola State College]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1967]]
[[Category:Television stations in the Mobile–Pensacola market|SRE]]