COOKEVILLE — The last few weeks have been historic ones for WCTE. The station doubled the strength of its broadcast signal thanks to a new transmitter and digital antenna, made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Approximately 33 percent of television viewers within WCTE’s broadcast area use antennas to watch TV. Those antenna users who could only receive a weak signal before should now be able to pick up a clearer, stronger signal. Cable viewers will also benefit as cable companies receive their signal from WCTE’s antenna transmission.
“What a long way we’ve come,” said Steve Boots, former WCTE CEO, former Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council board member and current co-host of WCTE’s broadcast of the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree.
“I remember when we used to go into people’s homes and adjust their coat hanger antennas so they could receive our signal. It pleases me that with the increased signal strength, more people can receive the programming I’ve enjoyed for many years,” he said.
One the smallest PBS stations in the country, WCTE produces more local programming than many of the larger PBS stations. More than 1.3 million viewers in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky have access to WCTE via antenna, cable TV and Dish and Direct networks.
“It would be a shame,” said Boots, “if the federal funding dried up and we could not continue our mission.”