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Mission
Lakeshore Public Television's mission is to bring quality PBS television and original programming to viewers in the unique lakeshore region of Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. We strive to be a notable alternative to commercial television stations by keeping our audience connected to programs that educate, enlighten, and inform. It is our goal to:
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Promote the diversity of our audience while maintaining a focus on our common bonds and interests.
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Present accurate and up-to-date news, weather, and sports information.
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Provide a platform for analyzing and understanding issues relevant to the region.
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Partner with parents and teachers to ensure the healthy development of children.
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Participate in the community by supporting and hosting area events.
Lakeshore Public Television
Positioned in the Chicago Designated Market Area, Lakeshore Public Television serves Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. We broadcast to 14 counties in Indiana and Illinois, reaching thousands of people in rural areas, small towns, and major cities with our unique blend of regional and national programming. We are proud of our dual identity—being your trusted source for local news, weather, and sports, as well as, the community PBS station bringing you all the quality, commercial-free shows you expect from public broadcasting.
Our dedicated staff of 21 full-time and 13 part-time and seasonal employees includes award-winning on-air talent, directors, and producers, as well as a leadership team that ensures the smooth operation of the station while maintaining financial viability. A 25-member Board of Directors selected from our viewing area governs Lakeshore Public Television, and we receive a twice-annual review from a 16-member Community Advisory Board. In addition, a 200 strong volunteer corps assists with on-air pledge drives and special events that support Lakeshore Public Television.
Local Focus
Lakeshore Public Television knows that you count on us to keep you informed about what is going on in the region; that's why we feature Northwest Indiana's only local newscast, Lakeshore News Tonight. We are also proud to offer weather, sports, and public affairs programming with a local flavor, including college basketball games from Valparaiso University and your BIG 10 favorites. Of the 178 PBS stations operating in the US, Lakeshore Public Television ranks 21st for the number of hours of local programming we produce—more than 300 hours annually!
Only The Best of PBS
At Lakeshore Public Television, we realize that our region, and therefore our audience, is diverse in culture and interests. That is why we are delighted to offer top-quality PBS programming, which has something for everyone—the kids, the cooks, the do-it-yourself types, the art lovers, the travel buffs, and so on.
Unlike commercial stations who program by network mandate, we make programming decisions right here in the station. That means we can choose the very best of PBS—shows that educate, enlighten, and inform our viewers. Whether you love the outdoors, crafting, great drama and mystery, or lively political discussion, you will find a show (or two or ten!) to suit your tastes on Lakeshore Public Television.
Past & Present
In the mid-1980's, a group of concerned citizens began looking for a way to give Northwest Indiana a televised broadcast voice. When the Lake Central School District could no longer support local station WCAE, the license was assigned to Gary, Indiana and secured by the founding directors of Lakeshore Public Television. Lakeshore Public Television signed on the air November 1987 as WYIN Channel 56. Today, almost 20 years later, we remain the sole televised source for local news, sports, and weather, as well as information on cultural events and community issues.
Throughout the 1990's, Lakeshore Public Television put into practice the vision of a locally active television station. The first newscast aired with a commitment to cover stories of interest to residents in Northwest Indiana. Our staff was small--at times it was a one-man show--and the anchor sat in front of a curtain to read the day's news, but viewers tuned-in, eager to see a newscast with local flavor and focus. In addition, Indiana Now, the front-runner to our current public affairs programs, debuted with hosts Larry Evans, an area attorney, and now Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez. The show featured interviews with community leaders and state lawmakers like then governor Evan Bayh, and then lietuenant governor Frank O'Bannon. With the station's reputation as a community resource well established, the staff and Board of Directors planned to greet the new millennium with a focused effort to strengthen the quality and power of the broadcast signal.
The 21st century and the dawning of the digital age brought many exciting changes to Lakeshore Public Television. In November 2003, a 950-foot tower with a 54-foot analog antenna was erected at our Crown Point, Indiana transmitter site. The new transmitter allows Lakeshore Public Television to harness our full power of 1.35 million watts, sending a strong, clear signal to viewers in a 65-mile radius. In February 2004, with a $2 million state grant, Lakeshore Public Television installed a digital antenna and digital tuner, adding four digital channels (17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4). 17.1 and 17.4 are currently operating.
Today we continue to upgrade the quality of station production and our broadcast equipment. Some of the revenue is generated through donations from local businesses, and state and federal grants. However, our primary resources come from viewer support, the kind of grassroots funding that truly makes us public television.
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