RI State Board of Education applies to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be granted a license with restrictions to operate on channel 36 as Rhode Island's educational public television station.

The station is given call letters, WSBE-TV. Television stations in the United States stations located east of the Mississippi are assigned the prefix "W," and stations west of the Mississippi are assigned the letter "K," with a few exceptions. "SBE" stands for State Board of Education, establishing WSBE as one of the pioneers of the educational public broadcasting service.

Passage of the Higher Education Act of 1965 gives universities with educational media potential the opportunity to receive federal grants and faculty training to further expand their capabilities.

Rhode Island College and WSBE-TV team up and are granted a federal aid package to develop production studios and other educational media.

1967

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, establishing the Corporation of Public Broadcasting as a funding vehicle for educational public broadcasting stations. Rhode Island Senator John O. Pastore, considered the father of Public Television, is present at the signing as the Senate floor manager.

With the assistance and vision of Robert Danilowicz, Rhode Island College (RIC) becomes a pioneer and innovator of closed-circuit educational television in classrooms across the state.

The existing infrastructure and studios at RIC make it a good place to host the new television station. Because of the pioneering success of WRIC-CCTV, Robert Danilowicz is selected to be the first general manager of the station. In May, WSBE-TV airs for the first time from Rhode Island College, behind the Adams Library. The transmitter is located in Johnston. The facilities are so small, however, that master control and video switches are within arm's reach. There are two GE cameras for black and white programming and two AMPEX VR1100 videotape machines that can be used for programming, but not for editing.

The noise level poses a challenge for the RIC library and WSBE-TV, particularly during production of shows such as the Andy Jackson Show, a program that showcases local talent. Local programs are produced in real time, as no facilities exist for post-production editing.

"You are watching WSBE-TV, Channel 36, Providence."

September 28th - Channel 36 offers a televised course to viewers who want to receive their high school equivalency certificate. Programming includes a 12-week course in five curriculum areas in preparation for high school equivalency test given by the Rhode Island State Agency for Elementary and Secondary Education.

WSBE acquires a remote truck, enabling the station to broadcast live from communities across the state. WSBE-TV covers Model Legislature, Confirmation Hearings, Rhode Island House and Senate, Constitutional Convention, Newport Music Festival, and July 4th Parade.

1972

Producer/Director Irving Amitai suggests producing cultural heritage programs. Arrivederci, Os Portugueses, Not For Blacks Only (later renamed Shades), Chez Nos Gens, and En Español reflect Rhode Island's diversity. Showcase features the local arts scene; The Young Advocates argue important issues, and We, the Women recognizes accomplishments of women.

Showcase features the local arts scene; The Young Advocates debate about important issues and We, the Women recognizes accomplishments of women.

Hosted by Jack Wynne (right), Time of Our Lives, an ongoing series dealing in elderly affairs, is directed and produced by Peter Frid.

Channel 36 covers high school regular season sports and Super Bowl championships, CCRI and Bryant Basketball, and Brown University and Providence College Hockey.

Picture to the left - The broadcast team, cameras, and equipment at the Hendricken Game. The play-by-play action was handled by Tom Shola.

By relocating its headquarters to the former home of WPRI at 24 Mason Street, downtown Providence, WSBE Channel 36 becomes independent from Rhode Island College and gains superior studio space.

1978

The idea of holding an auction to raise money for the station is introduced by General Manager Warren Kratezer, who had community fund raising experience in Philadelphia. The first Art Auction is organized by Joan Isserlis, and is held at the Providence Art Club. In the first two years, only one hundred items were featured.

Shortly after, auctions expand to display general merchandise. Originally, there are 10-12 phones, no erase boards to quickly post bid changes and some difficulty communicating the bids. Early auctions are held at Slater Park in Pawtucket and the old Almacs supermarket in Johnston. Works in the Art Auction are exhibited at the Holiday Inn, Fleet Bank and the lobby of Rhode Island Hospital Trust Bank, until the Art Auction outgrew that location and moved to its current annual exhibition space, the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Under Kratezer's leadership, this year also marks the first time WSBE-TV Channel 36 seeks corporate support. In previous years, the station relied heavily on funding from the state. Underwriting from companies was a novel venture.

March - Tax Forum debuts. Members of RI Society of Certified Public Accountants provide tax preparation tips and answer viewers' call-in questions. The program becomes an annual special, and continues today.

Wake of '38 debuts. The WSBE-produced documentary features clear footage of the furious winds, turbulent tides, floods, and fires, as well as vivid recollections of eyewitnesses who weathered the storm. The documentary wins an Emmy award for WSBE.

Board of Regents reorganizes to establish Rhode Island Public Telecommunications Authority (RIPTA) as the licensee of WSBE-TV.

The stations issues the first edition of Transmitter, a members' program offering station news, events and the program schedule. The name was chosen in a staff contest.

June - The station starts the summer with the Woonsocket Bicentennial Parade.

September 25th - Channel 36 Birthday Bake Off and Friends.

November - The first ever Children 36 Kids Auction is held.

September 24th - In honor of Sesame Streets 20 years of educational programming, Channel 36 hosts the Birthday Cake Bakeoff at Brown University's Meehan Auditorium.

October 8th - Channel 36 participates in the Providence Columbus Day Parade and later in the month, the Pawtucket Octoberfest Parade.

December - New England Monthly features the Transmitter, which improves distribution of program guides to members who live out of state.

The award winning Justice For All premieres. The show focuses on the exploration of the state judicial system and the criminal justice system.

October 22 -To make way for construction of the new Convention Center, Channel 36 temporarily relocates production to 111 Dupont Drive, pending successful preparation of the new station.

A trailer used for temporary storage between the move from Mason Street to Park Lane was destroyed by arson, ruining footage archives and station equipment, including cameras.

January - WSBE-TV Channel 36 moves to a state of the art facility - its current home - at 50 Park Lane in Providence and now has the largest studio in the state. Within two weeks of moving in, there are unsuccessful attempts by newly inaugurated Governor Bruce Sundlun to close the station.

Channel 36 becomes one of the first two stations in the nation to provide Internet access to classrooms and teachers through "Learning Link," developed by WNET for public TV.

Very shortly after, Channel 36 becomes the first of two stations to offer a toll free website accessible to teachers, with hundreds of hyperlinks to educational resources. Channel 36 becomes the 4th Web site on the World Wide Web to offer such a service to educators.

Spring - The first Channel 36 & Company is published. The quarterly newsletter for companies features opportunities to underwrite programs and events.

In May, Rhode Island Monthly begins publishing the WSBE Program Guide in each issue.

September - Channel 36 takes the Wine Auction on the road. The auction, televised for a number of years, becomes the Sunset Soirée, a festive, elegant event celebrating food and fine wine, held at the Roger Williams Park Casino. The first event is overshadowed by the national tragedy of September 11.

Ready to Learn (RTL) Workshops and Video Streaming through Rinet36 are introduced to K-12 educators. RTL enhances early reading and learning skills in children from preschool to eight years old. RTL engages parents and caregivers with support, ideas and information, and free children's books. Video Streaming allows Internet-based on-demand classroom access to thousands of curriculum-based video clips.

Ciao Italia relocates production and national distribution from New Hampshire to Channel 36. A full-size kitchen is constructed and decorated in the studio. Set-up takes four days to complete. A second, fully equipped kitchen is also constructed, off-camera, for food preparation. In what are easily the most deliciously aromatic three weeks in the Channel 36 year, a full season of shows is filmed in only three weeks; the editing takes six to eight months.

Justice Matters, a quarterly program hosted by Chief Justice Frank J. Williams, explores processes and procedures of the least-understood branch of government. It is the first program in which a state Supreme Court Justice answers viewers' questions in a live format.

May 1st - After 17 years as president and CEO, Susan L. Farmer retires. Vice president and CFO David W. Piccerelli is named acting president. A nation-wide search is undertaken for Mrs. Farmer's successor.

New local productions debut:

Costantino's Round Table is hosted by Alan Costantino, owner of Costantino's Venda Ravioli in Federal Hill, and Joe Zito, food critic and host of TV Maitre d'. The weekly program showcases the talents and expertise of local restaurateurs, chefs, vintners, and other professionals in the Ocean State food and tourism industry.

Today's Rhode Island National Guard, hosted by Major General Reginald Centracchio and television news anchor Karen Adams, provides monthly updates to the public about the National Guard troops overseas and the well-being of their families at home.

Rhode Island's Amazing Women, hosted by radio host Deb Ruggiero, profiles women who successfully lead, challenge, motivate, encourage, and inspire other women.

A Slice of Advice, featuring Chef Steven Shipley, professor of culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University, shares cooking tips in a series of interstitials - short program segments that air between other programs.

The history of WSBE Rhode Island PBS was a senior internship project, researched and written by Daisy Garcia, URI '06, under the supervision of Dr. María del Pilar Velásquez, director of Rhode Island PBS Education Services. Completion of the station history project was made possible with the research assistance of Michael Lickwar, Connecticut College 05.