KRET-TV

KRET-TV, UHF analog channel 23, was an educational television station licensed to Richardson, Texas, United States, which was on the air from 1960 to 1970. Owned by the Richardson Independent School District, it was the first broadcast TV station in the nation to be wholly owned by a school district.[1] The call letters "RET" stood for "Richardson Educational Television".

For the television station in Cathedral City, California, see KRET-CD.
KRET-TV
Richardson, Texas
United States
ChannelsAnalog: 23 (UHF)
Programming
AffiliationsDefunct
Ownership
OwnerRichardson Independent School District
History
First air date
February 29, 1960 (1960-02-29)
Last air date
August 31, 1970 (1970-08-31)
(10 years, 184 days)
(transitioned to closed circuit system)
Call sign meaning
Richardson Educational Television
Technical information
ERP3.39 kW visual, .676 kW aural
HAAT260 ft (79 m)

History

KRET began broadcasting February 29, 1960 with a broadcast range of about 20 miles (32 km); it broadcast only on weekdays eventually matching school hours, and not during the summer. It was actually the first educational television station in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, signing on about six months before KERA-TV.

The studio was first located at Richardson Junior High School from 1960 to 1963, then at Richardson High School from 1963 to 1970. The station was converted on August 31, 1970 into a closed-circuit network named "TAGER".

The tower stood on the campus of Richardson High School before being taken down in the mid-2000s, to make room for expansion of the school building.

Channel 23 was later reallocated to nearby Garland. The frequency remained dark until 1985 when religious broadcaster KIAB-TV signed on the air. The station was later sold to Univision and became KUVN-TV, the network's O&O for North Texas.

Station personnel

The 1969-1970 Television Factbook/Stations volume listed the following station personnel for KRET-TV:

  • Lloyd J. Collins, Station Manager
  • Richard F. Hays, Director Of Programming
  • Bob Ramsey, Chief Engineer
  • Jay Garrett (Marcom) Audio Tech

References
  1. "Educational TV Rates Top Grade in Classes". The Dallas Morning News. March 31, 1960. section B, p. 6.
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