Lakeland 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 educates, informs and enriches 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 will 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.

Our Values

Lakeland PBS values integrity, truth, transparency, and lifelong learning. At Lakeland PBS, we strive to engage with our citizens and showcase the unique neighborhoods and people that make our region thrive. And as a community public service organization serving northern and central Minnesota, education is a core value for us – from our children’s programming to our local news coverage. Lakeland PBS is committed to being a reliable source for in-depth, thoughtful, and high-quality content. Lakeland PBS follows the Public Media Code of Integrity.

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 Tribal Communities and significant portions of the White Earth and Mille Lacs Tribal Communities. Our viewership, its cultures, economics and lifestyles are Lakeland PBS’ 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.