Pl a nnerMichiana’s bi-monthly Guide to WNIT Public Television Issue No. 2 March — April 2016 A Message from Greg Giczi President and GM, WNIT Public Television Board of Directors Chairman Susan Ohmer, Ph.D. Dear WNIT Supporters: Vice Chair Rodney F. Ganey, Ph.D. Happy Spring! Or, at least I anticipate that spring will be here within the next two months. James Hillman It’s nice to have more daylight. I always enjoy writing these cover letters for the Planner President and because it gives me a chance to speak to you individually. I hope you can sense my continual General Manager appreciation for your support, your viewership, your advocacy, and your financial support. Greg Giczi Treasurer March kicks off with special Membership Drive programming. Many of you become Thomas E. Slager members of WNIT because of these drives, likely motivated by the thank you gift offered. Secretary I hope that you will continue your support by renewing because you now recognize how Cari Shein WNIT’s everyday programming is just a cut above what you find elsewhere, and worthy of Directors David L. Bankoff, MD your support. Thomas G. Coley, Ph.D. Marvin Curtis March is also “Women in History” month, and there will be several programs featuring Katy Demarais women who have made a huge difference in the world. We have one of those in Michiana, Robert G. Douglass Rebecca Espinoza-Kubacki Ernestine Raclin. I hope you will tune in for an encore broadcast of our Legends of William A. Gitlin Michiana documentary, Ernestine Raclin: Leading the Way. We will also make it available Mary Horan online at wnit.org. Katherine Humphreys Christine M. Maziar History buffs, there is a local connection to a major national documentary being presented Brian McMahon Mary Louise Miller each Thursday in April at 9pm (repeats on both channels 34.1 and 34.2).1916: The Irish Pat Moody Rebellion, narrated by Liam Neeson, tells the dramatic story of the events which took place Oluwaferanmi Okanlami, MD MS Steven J. Perlewitz in Dublin during Easter Week 1916, when a small group of Irish rebels took on the British Roger Rader Empire. The film series is an initiative of the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies Ida Reynolds Watson at the University of Notre Dame. Following each episode, WNIT will also host a special Maritza Robles William J. Schmuhl, Jr. behind-the-scenes look at the making of the documentary featuring the production team Jill Sigsbee from Notre Dame who worked on the project. Joyce F. Stifel James M. Summers Did you see The Raising of America, WNIT’s 6-part series of programs about the benefits of Michael Wargo Patrick Welch early childhood education? We ran the series in January and February and simultaneously Charter Directors had discussion groups all over Michiana getting involved. We counted over 1,000 Arthur J. Decio participants in these groups. We will be repeating this series in April, “The Month of the Jerry Hammes Young Child.” As a WNIT viewer, we not only want you to find our programs interesting, Ernestine M. Raclin Jane Warner* but we hope they will motivate you to take action on what you have learned. Dar Wiekamp* There’s lots of great information in your describing so many of our great upcoming Honorary Life Director Planner Carmi Murphy programs. And, I always remember, the programs don’t happen without your support. *Deceased Charter Director Thank you! Best wishes, Greg Giczi President & General Manager 2 What’s Worth Watching March 6 Production News 25 Worth Watching April 10 WNIT Kids Club 26 Inside? Primetime March 14 WNIT Supporters 28 Primetime April 16 Honor Roll Members 30 Daytime Programming 18 Supporter Spotlight 31 Overnight Programming 20 Directors’ Circle 31 Membership Corner 24 On The Cover Ready Jet Go! Ready Jet Go! follows two neighborhood kids: Sean, who has an all-consuming drive for science facts, and Sydney, who has a passion for science fiction and imagination. They both befriend the new kid on their street, Jet Propulsion, whose family members happen to be aliens from the planet Bortron 7. Together, they explore our solar system and the effects it has on the science of our planet, all while learning about friendship and teamwork along the way. Ready Jet Go! airs weekdays at 7:30am and 4pm on 34.1. STRONGER EVERY DAY 1005 Hickory Road South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 233-5754 Monday - Thursday 7:00 am-8:00 pm Friday 7:00 am-5:00 pm Mcdonaldpt.com WNIT Channel Guide DISH/DIRECT COMCAST OR AT&T MEDIACOM U-VERSE * SD SD SD HD SD HD SD HD 34.2 34.2 INDIANA Argos - - - 34 - 4 704 - Bourbon - - - 34 - 4 704 - Bremen - - - 34 - 4 704 - Bristol 10 191 371 34 - - - - Culver - - - 34 - 4 704 - Elkhart 10 191 371 34 - - - - Goshen 10 191 371 34 - - - - Jefferson Township 10 191 371 34 1034 - - - Knox - - - 34 1034 4 704 - LaGrange County - - - 34 1034 2 704 - Lakeville - - - 34 1034 4 704 - LaPaz - - - 34 1034 4 - 371 LaPorte (city) – 26 371 34 1034 - - - LaPorte County (Eastern) 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - LaPorte County (Western) – 26 371 34 1034 - - - Mishawaka 10 191 – 34 1034 - - 371 Middlebury 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Nappanee 10 191 - 34 1034 4 704 - North Judson 10 191 - 34 1034 4 - 371 North Liberty 10 191 - 34 1034 4 704 - Plymouth 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Porter County – 26 – 34 1034 - - - Rochester 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - South Bend 10 191 – 34 1034 - - 371 Syracuse - - - 34 1034 4 704 - Valparaiso – 26 371 34 1034 - - - Walkerton - - - 34 1034 4 704 - Wakarusa 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Warsaw 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - MICHIGAN Benton Harbor 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Berrien Springs 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Buchanan 10 191 - 34 1034 - - - Cassopolis 10 191 - 34 1034 - - - Constantine 10 191 - 34 1034 - - - Dowagiac 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Edwardsburg 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - New Buffalo 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Niles 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - Stevensville 10 191 - 34 1034 - - - St. Joseph (city) 10 191 – 34 1034 - - - White Pigeon 10 191 - 34 1034 - - - * Dish Network, Direct TV and AT&T do not carry WNIT channel 34.2 (SD) MAILING ADDRESS WNIT Center for Public Media PO Box 7034 Charter Cable in Sturgis, MI South Bend, IN 46634-7034 has reassigned its channels STREET ADDRESS Original positions are: Base Tier 300 West Jefferson Boulevard WNIT 34.1, #2. New assignment: #12. South Bend, IN 46601 WNIT 34.1, #781. New assignment: #785. WNIT 34.1, #135. New assignment: #195. Phone: (574) 675-9648 After Charter’s conversion to all-digital, station will continue to be available to ALL Charter Email: [email protected] customers served by the above lineups in a digital format on the basic tier of service. © 2016 Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation Statement of Frequency: WNIT PUBLIC TELEVISION ROKU PLANNER (USPS 103-650 ISSN 1523-9373) is published bi-monthly by The Michiana Public Broadcasting WNIT is excited to announce the much-anticipated PBS and PBS KIDS channels are now available Corporation, a non-profit corporation in the State of on Roku! The PBS channel features videos from popular PBS programs. Once you activate the Indiana at 300 West Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, PBS channel and choose WNIT as your local station, you can stream content from WNIT’s local IN 46601. Periodical postage paid at South Bend, IN and productions, as well as short, web-original videos from Webby Award-winning PBS Digital Studios. additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address With the arrival of the PBS KIDS channel, junior streamers can enjoy full-length episodes and changes to P.O. Box 7034, South Bend, IN 46634-7034. clips from great shows including Curious George, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train, Editor: Jamal Henry. Super WHY! and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! The Raising of America SUNDAYS AT 3PM FROM APRIL 3 THROUGH MAY 8 With title sponsorship from Beacon Health System and support of And following each episode, we have hosted a live studio discussion with a the sponsors shown below, The Raising of America series has been a panel of experts on each topic to explore how we can all make a difference great success so far for WNIT and the community. Airing Thursdays in our region. from January 21 through February 25, the program has raised The sixth episode was an entire hour devoted to what’s next locally and awareness, generated discussion and with the finale provided a call-to- how we can collectively impact change on our community. action for our community to get involved and make a difference in the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable. WEBSITE The five-part series has explored topics including: Each week’s show, including the local discussion, was posted on our website the following morning. We have averaged 600-1,000 page views • Why the U.S. ranks so low in the investment that we make in per week of this and the additional resources and information posted our children. along with the program. The Raising of America page can be viewed at • How in 1971 Congress passed a bill that would have provided wnit.org/raisingofamerica/. pre-school education for all children that was promptly vetoed and the impact this decision has had on our nation. RE-AIRS Each episode will re-air in April and May to coincide with “The Month • How meaningful education is in the pre-natal to age 5 years on of the Young Child” which falls in April. The re-airs will be on Sundays at brain development and giving our children the tools they need 3pm, as we wanted to add a weekend viewing to the mix.