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’ mission is to educate, entertain, enrich and enlighten our “community” 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 the premier, trusted, indispensable public media resource for the 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 Indian Reservations and significant portions of the White Earth and Mille Lacs Indian reservations. Our viewership, it’s 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.
