The Vision - A Network Begins - The Modern Era - The Digital Future - UNC-TV's Mission - Timeline

After ten years operating the original single station, President Friday, other University officials and the North Carolina General Assembly saw potential for greater service to the state’s citizens, and began to plan for a network that could take the benefits of educational television to all 100 North Carolina counties. By 1962, four more stations were planned with transmitters in Columbia, Linville, Asheville and Concord, and once those transmitters were completed, UNC-TV reached more than 60 percent of the state.

The year 1967 was important for public television stations all over the country. The initial Carnegie Commission Report on Public Broadcasting was issued. It was the first time the educational stations were referred to as “public television.” This act also established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a quasi-governmental corporation to encourage and foster development of public broadcasting and receive Federal funding. CPB, in turn, set up the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to manage the national distribution of programs.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood made its debut in 1968. Sesame Street began its long run one year later. Programs such as Masterpiece Theatre , NOVA , and Washington Week (originally called Washington Week in Review ) went on the air, showing the potential of public television to enlighten, entertain and educate at the same time.

UNC-TV's first director, Dr. George Bair

In 1969, the Office of Director of Educational Television was established, ending a period of independent operations at the separate locations in Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Raleigh. The first person to hold this post was Dr. George Bair. During his tenure, three more stations were soon added to the network – Wilmington in 1971, Greenville in 1972 and Winston-Salem in 1973.

In 1979, the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television was established, the first step toward combining the growing network’s studio operations and administrative headquarters in a single location. A 22-member Board of Trustees was appointed to serve in an advisory capacity representing the public. John W. (Jake) Dunlop, formerly head of Vermont Public Television, became the new director in 1980.

The network’s reach continued to increase with the establishment of stations in Jacksonville in 1982 and Roanoke Rapids in 1985.