# Kentucky Educational Television
**Kentucky Educational Television** (KET) is Kentucky's statewide public broadcasting network, headquartered at 600 Cooper Drive in Lexington, which provides educational television, classroom resources, and public affairs and cultural programming across the Commonwealth[1](https://www.kentucky.gov/government/Pages/AgencyProfile.aspx?Title=Kentucky+Educational+Television) • [2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/). It signed on the air on September 23, 1968, with the stated goal of equalizing education and opportunity for all of Kentucky's citizens[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/). KET has grown into one of the largest public television networks in the nation[1](https://www.kentucky.gov/government/Pages/AgencyProfile.aspx?Title=Kentucky+Educational+Television).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First broadcast | September 23, 1968, weekdays during school hours, via a statewide 15-transmitter network[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/) |
| Governance | Policy and oversight by the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television, created by the General Assembly in 1962[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/) • [4](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/lrc/publications/ResearchReports/rr189.pdf) |
| Reach | Broadcasts throughout Kentucky and parts of seven surrounding states through 16 transmitters[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/) |
| Audience | More than two million people each week via television, online, and mobile[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/) |
| Channels | Four broadcast channels: KET, KET2, KET KY, and KET PBS KIDS[5](https://ket.org/tv-channels/) |
| Education | Educational resources used in every Kentucky public school district; largest nonprofit GED education publisher in the United States[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/) • [6](https://education.ket.org/) |
| Headquarters | 600 Cooper Drive, Lexington, KY 40502[1](https://www.kentucky.gov/government/Pages/AgencyProfile.aspx?Title=Kentucky+Educational+Television) |
## Founding and early years
The Kentucky General Assembly established the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television in 1962 and named **O. Leonard Press** as its first executive director[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/) • [7](https://ket.org/making-a-difference/o-leonard-press/). Press, who had handled radio and television work for [Boston University](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-university) before coming to Kentucky, recalled seeing the state's struggle to provide equal education thwarted by unequal resources; he argued that television had to be harnessed so that Kentuckians would have every possible opportunity[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/) • [7](https://ket.org/making-a-difference/o-leonard-press/).
KET signed on the air on September 23, 1968, broadcasting weekdays during school hours over what the network describes as the second-largest land-based broadcast network in the world at the time, a statewide 15-transmitter system[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/). Its first instructional production was *Kentucky Is My Land*[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/). Weekday broadcasts expanded to evenings in 1969, the year *Sesame Street* premiered on PBS[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/).
A state historical marker dedicated in 2018 at the network's Lexington headquarters records that KET grew from those school-hours beginnings to become one of the largest public television networks in the nation[8](https://history.ky.gov/markers/ket).
## Growth and production milestones
The network's timeline records a steady expansion of both schedule and production. Broadcasts extended to seven days a week in 1975, the year the *GED on TV* series began national broadcast[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/). In 1976, *Universe & I* became KET's first nationally distributed instructional television series[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/). College telecourses under the *College on TV* banner launched in 1978, and coverage of the Kentucky General Assembly began the same year[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/).
KET's public affairs programming includes *Comment on Kentucky*, which premiered in 1974 with host [Al Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/al-smith) and continues on the schedule today[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/) • [9](https://ket.org/). In production, KET produced public television's first drama in high definition, *American Shorts: "The Ryan Interview,"* starring [Ashley Judd](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashley-judd)[3](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/).
## Channels and reach
KET broadcasts four channels free over the air: the primary KET channel, carrying Kentucky public affairs and cultural programs, PBS programming, adult education, and independent Kentucky films; KET2, focused on how-to, travel, and lifelong-learning programs; KET KY, which carries extensive live coverage of the Kentucky Legislature and the Kentucky Supreme Court along with programs about Kentucky people, places, history, and issues; and KET PBS KIDS, carrying educational children's programming[5](https://ket.org/tv-channels/).
The broadcast signal reaches viewers throughout Kentucky and in parts of seven surrounding states through 16 transmitters[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/). KET is carried on cable systems across Kentucky and on most direct broadcast satellite systems, and its channels are available free to any cable or satellite operator[10](https://ket.org/tv-where-to-watch/). Streaming access includes 24/7 live streams of the primary channel and the KET PBS KIDS channel at KET.org/live and through KET apps, availability on [YouTube TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/youtube-tv) and, since October 2023, Hulu + Live TV[10](https://ket.org/tv-where-to-watch/) • [11](https://ket.org/pressroom/release/ket-now-available-through-hulu-live-tv/). KET members can also access an extended on-demand library through the KET Passport benefit[11](https://ket.org/pressroom/release/ket-now-available-through-hulu-live-tv/).
Beyond broadcasting, KET's 15-tower statewide network supports public safety communications for the Commonwealth[12](https://ket.org/impact/).
## Educational mission
KET describes its mission as education[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/). It produces and provides instructional media tools for the classroom and is present in every Kentucky public school district with educational resources for students[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/). It also provides accredited professional development seminars for educators and training programs for child care providers, and is a producer of video instruction in GED, adult basic skills, and workplace education[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/).
Specific tools include FastForward, an online test-prep system for the GED and other high school equivalency tests, which KET reports is used nationwide with a 90% pass rate[6](https://education.ket.org/) • [12](https://ket.org/impact/). Other offerings include *Workplace Essential Skills* for job-related basic skills, the *Cursive Connection* video collection for elementary handwriting instruction, and curriculum-aligned videos and lesson plans through PBS LearningMedia[6](https://education.ket.org/). KET's education site also notes it is the largest nonprofit GED education publisher in the United States[6](https://education.ket.org/).
## Programming
As Kentucky's source for PBS programs, KET presents primetime series such as *Antiques Roadshow*, *NOVA*, and *Masterpiece*, along with [PBS Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/pbs-kids) children's programming[2](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/). Its schedule also carries *PBS NewsHour*, *Frontline*, *Nature*, *Secrets of the Dead*, and [BBC News](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-news)[9](https://ket.org/).
Locally produced programming covers Kentucky public affairs, history, and culture, including *Kentucky Edition*, *Kentucky Life*, *Kentucky Tonight*, *Comment on Kentucky*, and *Education Matters*[9](https://ket.org/). KET also serves as the state's convenor for discussions on topics such as the drug crisis, workforce and economic development, education, and health[12](https://ket.org/impact/). The network's role as a civic venue extends to statewide events: Governor [Andy Beshear](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-beshear) presented his 2024-2026 budget proposal in a televised speech on KET in December 2023[13](https://apnews.com/article/30bc83b76a244a872cf37034348e3db0).
## Governance and leadership
The Kentucky Authority for Educational Television makes policy and oversees KET's operations[4](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/lrc/publications/ResearchReports/rr189.pdf). KET sits within Kentucky's Education and Workforce Development cabinet structure[1](https://www.kentucky.gov/government/Pages/AgencyProfile.aspx?Title=Kentucky+Educational+Television). Shae Hopkins served as executive director and CEO; in August 2026 KET announced her retirement at the end of the year, with [Authority](https://www.edgepedia.org/authority) chair Dan Griffith crediting her leadership of the network's programming and operations[14](https://current.org/2026/08/shae-hopkins-to-retire-as-ceo-of-kentucky-educational-television/).
## Funding pressures
KET is an agency of the State of Kentucky and receives state funding, but public broadcasting nationally lost federal support when President Donald Trump signed a bill in July canceling about $1.1 billion that had been approved for the [Corporation for Public Broadcasting](https://www.edgepedia.org/corporation-for-public-broadcasting), founded in 1968, which is now winding down operations[15](https://apnews.com/article/fde171259e989cd766d96a95c39f1540). With no future federal funding available, CPB distributed remaining funds to stations, with each public television grantee receiving $15,680 in final payments, and many stations have reduced staff, cut local programming, and scaled back educational partnerships[16](https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/corporation-for-public-broadcasting-makes-final-community-service-grant-payments). KET's own impact materials direct viewers to efforts to restore federal funding for local public media stations[12](https://ket.org/impact/).
## References
1. [Kentucky Educational Television, Agency Profile, Kentucky.gov](https://www.kentucky.gov/government/Pages/AgencyProfile.aspx?Title=Kentucky+Educational+Television)
2. [About KET, KET](https://ket.org/pressroom/about-ket/)
3. [KET History, KET](https://ket.org/about/ket-history/)
4. [Research Report 189, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/lrc/publications/ResearchReports/rr189.pdf)
5. [TV Channels, KET](https://ket.org/tv-channels/)
6. [KET Education](https://education.ket.org/)
7. [Education Pioneer: O. Leonard Press, KET](https://ket.org/making-a-difference/o-leonard-press/)
8. [KET historical marker, Kentucky Historical Society](https://history.ky.gov/markers/ket)
9. [KET homepage](https://ket.org/)
10. [Where to Watch, KET](https://ket.org/tv-where-to-watch/)
11. [KET now available through Hulu + Live TV, KET Pressroom](https://ket.org/pressroom/release/ket-now-available-through-hulu-live-tv/)
12. [KET: Trusted. Valued. Essential., KET Impact](https://ket.org/impact/)
13. [Beshear presents budget plan in televised speech, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/30bc83b76a244a872cf37034348e3db0)
14. [Shae Hopkins to retire as CEO of Kentucky Educational Television, Current](https://current.org/2026/08/shae-hopkins-to-retire-as-ceo-of-kentucky-educational-television/)
15. [The defunded Corporation for Public Broadcasting will get one of TV's biggest prizes, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/fde171259e989cd766d96a95c39f1540)
16. [Corporation for Public Broadcasting Makes Final Community Service Grant Payments, TV Technology](https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/corporation-for-public-broadcasting-makes-final-community-service-grant-payments)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen production organizations › Television networks › Regional and minor networks › US regional terrestrial networks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license