PassportLakeland PBS is a 501c3 non-profit that is unique in the fact that the corporation is owned by the public that it serves. Our headquarters is a state-of-the-art facility located in Bemidji, with a satellite office and studio facility located in Brainerd. The corporation operates two full power digital television broadcast stations: KAWE (Bemidji) serving northern Minnesota and KAWB (Brainerd), serving central Minnesota. Since signing on the air in June 1, 1980 Lakeland PBS has been a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate that produces, acquires and airs programs that are relevant to our rural and culturally diverse region.
Our Mission
Lakeland PBS’ mission is to educate, inform, and enrich our viewers with the programming we produce right here in northern Minnesota and the nationally available programming we choose to air on our channels. Lakeland PBS’ vision is to be a valued and trusted source of news, entertainment, and storytelling that connects and uplifts our diverse region. We strive to empower citizens while serving and connecting the diverse communities across our broadcast region.
Service
The Lakeland PBS signal immediately reaches approximately 383,500 people over an estimated 7,500 square miles in northern and central Minnesota who view the station either off air (with an antenna) or via cable. Our viewing area includes Minnesota communities as far south as Little Falls, as far north as the Canadian border, as far west as Fosston and east to Bovey. Within this coverage area are the Red Lake and Leech Lake Indian Reservations and significant portions of the White Earth and Mille Lacs Indian reservations. Our viewership, its cultures, economics, and lifestyles are Lakeland PBS’s most important indicators in the programming chosen to be broadcast on Lakeland PBS and the stories and events delved into by our locally generated programs including Lakeland News, Backroads, Common Ground, and Lakeland Currents.
PBS Warn
PBS and your local public television station play a crucial role in protecting communities by ensuring uninterrupted distribution of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), including severe weather warnings and AMBER alerts. This service is part of public television’s commitment to strengthening the safety of all our communities.
The Value of Our Public Broadcasting Service
Ways to Take Action
Federal funding ensures that your local TV stations can continue to give you access to essential educational, local, and cultural programming; trustworthy, in-depth news; and emergency and community-based services. Learn about how you can keep public media strong.
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