WPDS-LD

WPDS-LD
Largo, Florida; United States;
Channels	Digital: 14 (UHF); Virtual: 14; ;
Branding	PDS-TV 14
Programming
Affiliations	Educational Independent
Ownership
Owner	Pinellas County Schools
History
Founded	early-1980s (as a cable-only station)
First air date	1990 (34 years ago)
Former call signs	W14AW (1988-1996); WPDS-LP (1996-2009);
Former channel number(s)	Analog: 14 (UHF, 1988–2009)
Call sign meaning	Pinellas District Schools
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	52648
ERP	19.7 kW
Links
Public license information	LMS
Website	www.pcsb.org/wpdstv

WPDS-LD, virtual and UHF digital channel 14, is a low-power educational independent television station licensed to Largo, Florida, United States. The station is owned by Pinellas County Schools of Pinellas County, Florida.

WPDS can also be seen in Pinellas County on cable channel 14 on WOW! systems, and digital channel 614 on Spectrum.

While the station is owned by Pinellas County Schools, the station's call letters are named after "Pinellas District Schools", which is the name used on public school buses in Pinellas County. All public school buses in Florida are named similarly.

The station's studios and transmitters are located at the School Board headquarters in downtown Largo.

History

The station had its start in the early 1980s as a cable-only channel. In 1990, it began broadcasting a low-power station on UHF channel 14, to reach viewers without cable service. Initially W14AW, it changed its call letters to WPDS-LP in 1996. The station transitioned to digital in late 2009 as WPDS-LD, using the same transmitter location and wattage.

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Channel	Video	Aspect	Programming^[2]
14.1	480i	4:3	Main WPDS-LD programming
14.2			PCS Arts Channel (featuring arts-related programming, including simulcasts of Classic Arts Showcase; not available on cable)
14.3			KTC 148 - The Knology Teen Channel (featuring programming for teenagers; also seen on WOW! digital channel 148 (formerly Knology)
14.4			PCS News & Teacher Training (news about the school board and its schools, plus instructional programming for teachers and instructional personnel; not available on cable)