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Who We Are

Media Block

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Impact Statement

Our Mission

Enriching lives and strengthening our community through the power of media.

Mission & Vision

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AFFILIATION

We're a proud PBS Member Station

We partner with PBS to bring you valued national programs, while also creating and sharing stories that reflect our Minnesota community. Like other PBS stations across the country, we’re independently operated, locally focused, and guided by lifelong learning, local storytelling, and trusted journalism. Together with PBS, we deliver programming for kids, families, and curious minds of all ages – free and accessible to everyone.

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Legacy

Our History of Innovation

From the earliest days of public television to today’s digital platforms, we have continually evolved to meet our community where they are. We embrace new ways to educate, inform, and inspire, while staying true to our mission and the people we serve.

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1950s teacher showing her students a television program

1955

What is now Twin Cities PBS is incorporated as Twin City Area Educational Television.

black & white photo from 1957 showing the original building that housed KTCA-TV

September 16, 1957

KTCA (Channel 2) begins broadcasting as the first non-commercial public television station in Minnesota from a WWII-era wooden structure on the University of Minnesota Agricultural Campus.

May 5, 1965

A second station, KTCI (Channel 17), is launched.

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1967

KTCA becomes the first educational station in the nation to broadcast in color.

1970

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is founded. KTCA becomes a member station.

1984

Almanac premieres on KTCA.

exterior of building that houses Twin Cities PBS in Saint Paul, Minnesota

1989

KTCA moves to Lowertown, St. Paul and into the building that we now occupy.

2000

KTCA officially becomes Twin Cities Public Television (TPT).

Mr. Rogers sitting on the steps of a passenger rail car holding his toy trolley

2003

TPT becomes the first broadcaster in Minnesota (commercial or public) to launch a television channel (TPT HD) fully devoted to high-definition programming.