History of Alabama Public Television

The Alabama Educational Television Commission, licensee for the nine Alabama Public Television stations, was established by the Alabama Legislature in 1953. In January of 1955, WCIQ on Mount Cheaha began operation as the nation's ninth non-commercial television station. Four months later, with the sign-on of WBIQ in Birmingham, Alabama became the first state in the nation with an educational television network. Alabama Public Television made its first broadcast as a network in April 1955.

Alabama Public Television was a model for other states in the nation and for television broadcasters in other countries. Twenty-five other states copied Alabama's system of operation to provide service through multiple, linked television stations.

Alabama Public Television today operates eighteen transmitters – nine analog and nine digital - that cover the state.  Each digital transmitter broadcasts three separate channels: a digital version of APT’s analog signal, APT-HD, and APT-Create.

The Alabama Educational Television Commission also holds the license for one public radio station, WLRH-FM in Huntsville.