K45AR

K45AR was a low-power UHF television station located in Eagle Bend in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It started in the late 1970s under the call Sign KXG2CB then transmitting on a 100-watt transmitter under an experimental license from the FCC. Channel 45 as it was referenced in the local area was used for the first educational instructional television (ITV) system in the state. The station was run by the schools of Bertha-Hewitt, Clarissa, and Eagle Bend.

History

K45AR was the idea of the Eagle Bend High School Principal Richard Lundgren. Mr. Lundgren was in search of getting a way to provide more educational opportunities to his students at a low cost way of doing it. What better way to do this then over ITV, with sharing teachers with out the teachers or students leaving their respective schools.

When K45AR first went on the air it was called KXG2CB. It was granted an experimental license from the FCC in 1980. Its first transmitter was located in Eagle Bend Minnesota. It’s power was 100 Watts and it’s tower was about 190 ft. Along with Eagle Bend Public School, Bertha-Hewitt, and Clarissa Public Schools each owned a ITFS Microwave transmitter to broadcast closed circuit TV between the schools. Each school was located approximately 5 miles apart from each other. With this system the schools could teach classes from each site and the students could interact with the teachers at each site. Because KXG2CB was a UHF channel people with a regular antenna could receive the signal at home and watch the classes being offered by the schools.

In January of 1981 the system was dedicated. There were people from all over that state and the country that came to see this technical marvel of its day. (more information needed)

In October of 1984 the FCC granted a license to upgrade KXG2CB to become K45AR a low-power UHF TV station. It now had a new tower of 365 ft. and a new transmitter capable of 1,000 Watts. Because of its new height and power the three schools added 2 more schools to it’s ITV system. Those being Parkers Prairie and Staples Public School. Because they added these schools they now had an even bigger range of classes that they could offer students.

K45AR was a great asset to the community’s it served. Along with providing ITV servers to schools it also produced locally made shows in and around the community.

Shows on K45AR

Todd County Today, Loretta’s Little People, Sound Image, Eagle Bend Local News, Crafts for Kids, Sharon’s Circle of Friends, Jazzersize, Strechersize, Live Coverage of Sporting Events in each local school, Dollars for Scalars Tela-Auction’s and School Christmas Concerts

Because of growing cost issues to the stations up keep the station was taken off the air and sold in 1998.

References: [1] FCC [2] TV Stations Listed for Eagle Bend MN. [3]