BYU Broadcasting Consolidates TV and Radio Operations

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BYU Broadcasting today announced plans to consolidate its television operations, BYUtv, KBYU Channel Eleven and BYUtv International, into one, nationwide television network. Similarly, BYU Broadcasting said it plans to consolidate its radio operations, BYUradio (on SiriusXM Satellite Radio) and KBYU-FM/Classical 89, into a single radio network. The changes will take effect on June 30, 2018, at which time BYU Broadcasting will center all its resources and attention on two closely-correlated, multiplatform products, BYUtv and BYUradio.

In the Utah market, KBYU Eleven is currently available in HD across all platforms, including over-the-air, and on cable and satellite, while BYUtv is only available in HD on some of these platforms. Beginning in June, BYUtv will enjoy full HD availability on all platforms across Utah through KBYU's broadcasting license. With this change, KBYU Eleven will no longer be a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

"KBYU Eleven has long been a proud member station of PBS. But as such, our schedule has been duplicative of KUED, the PBS member station at the University of Utah," said Michael Dunn, managing director of BYU Broadcasting. "By consolidating our services, we will be able to focus all our attention on creating and offering new original programming for both Utah and our growing nationwide audiences on BYUtv. We have valued our relationship with KUED and appreciate that PBS fare will continue to be enjoyed across Utah through KUED. We look forward to continued collaboration with KUED and other PBS member stations on original content opportunities in the future."

In a similar fashion, Classical 89, heard over-the-air in Utah at 89.1 and 89.5 on the FM dial, will become BYUradio, which up to this point has been available on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, on the Internet and through various digital platforms. BYUradio will continue to offer its current mixed format of live locally-hosted talk, public affairs, educational and classical music programming.

Going forward, BYU Broadcasting will also continue to invest in and expand its Spanish-language content for audiences throughout Latin America as well as domestically in the United States. BYUtv International, which had limited distribution across Latin America, will discontinue over-the-air, satellite and cable broadcasts. This will enable BYU Broadcasting to further invest in international content available over its state-of-the-art streaming services offered at BYUtv.com.

These changes will allow BYU Broadcasting to streamline and utilize all employees and internal resource services for two media portals instead of five. This change will not require a reduction in force.

"BYU Broadcasting will continue to emphasize original, values-oriented, family content on BYUtv and BYUradio," said Dunn. "This consolidation of services will allow our organization to focus, simplify and unify the future of our media portals. At the same time, we will also be able to offer the Utah market comprehensive HD access to these major investments in content, including more than 500 hours annually of live HD collegiate sports programming."

BYUtv's original programming, including Studio C, Granite Flats, Random Acts, American Ride and Story Trek as well as original music specials, feature films, docudramas and sports programming, has garnered 77 Emmy Awards over the last six years. At the same time, BYUradio has continued to grow its nationwide audience on satellite radio by offering more than 3,000 hours of original content each year, including unprecedented growth in podcasts. BYUtv is the only national network originating from Utah and creates more original entertainment and live sports content than any other channel in Utah. Likewise, BYUradio is the only Utah-based radio service available nationwide on SiriusXM.

In addition to BYU Broadcasting's offerings on traditional television and radio platforms, such as over-the-air, cable and satellite delivery, BYU Broadcasting has been a pioneer in digital delivery of its content. BYUtv was the first television network in the United States to stream all of its content live and unencrypted over the Internet. Today, BYUtv content is available live and on-demand on multiple digital platforms, including over the Internet, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Xbox One, Windows Media and digital apps for iOS and Android. BYUradio is also available as a streaming audio channel on the Dish Network as well as www.tunein.com. BYUradio podcasts can be heard on iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein and Google Play.

About BYU Broadcasting
Owned by Brigham Young University, BYU Broadcasting operates BYUtv and BYUradio from its state-of-the-art production studios and distribution facility in Provo, Utah. BYUtv is a High Definition, non-commercial cable television network that creates original programming the entire family can enjoy together, including sketch comedy, history, music and documentary offerings. The non-commercial station is available in more than 60 million households in every state on Dish Network, DirecTV and over 800 cable systems. It offers approximately 1,200 hours of original programming annually, including 500 hours of live HD collegiate sports and is streamed free of charge over the Internet at www.BYUtv.com.  

BYUradio is a 24/7 non-commercial radio network available nationwide in the United States on Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, channel 143. BYUradio also streams free of charge on the Internet at www.byuradio.org/listen and will be broadcast over-the-air in Utah at 89.1 and 89.5 on the FM dial in June. BYUradio's mixed format of live-hosted talk, entertainment, public affairs and classical music programming includes over 3,000 hours of original content each year, including hundreds of hours of live collegiate sports broadcasts.

Contact:          
Michelle Prince 
Thatcher+Co.
[email protected] 
914.523.8937

SOURCE BYU Broadcasting