Introducing Minnesota PBS

Beginning September 1, 2026, Twin Cities PBS has become Minnesota PBS, welcoming communities in Austin, Rochester, and seven counties in southern Minnesota to its service area with the addition of KSMQ.

Starting September 1, viewers now see the Minnesota PBS name across our broadcast channels, website, email communications, and social media.

The elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting in July 2025 created the real possibility that KSMQ would go dark after more than 50 years on the air. 

Minnesota PBS ensures public media continues serving southern Minnesota, preserving trusted programming and services for its residents. 

As Minnesota PBS, we are committed to ensuring communities throughout the state continue to have dependable access to local and national PBS programming, legislative coverage, high-quality children’s content from PBS KIDS, and critical health and safety alerts. 

This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter and is intended to strengthen our ability to serve our community for years to come. 

The Minnesota PBS name reflects our commitment to serving more communities throughout the state, including Austin, Rochester, Winona, and more. As Minnesota PBS, we are dedicated to reflecting communities across the state while celebrating the local perspectives that make each community unique. 

We are committed to being a trusted neighbor in every community we serve — a welcoming, accessible source for news and information, educational resources, and local storytelling that belongs to all our viewers. 

Minnesota PBS officially launched on September 1, 2026. 

As of that day: 

• Twin Cities PBS and KSMQ joined together to become Minnesota PBS. 
• All five Minnesota PBS channels (MN PBS, Minnesota Channel, MN PBS Life, MN PBS Kids, and MN PBS Ready) simulcast to the KSMQ viewership area, reaching nearly 350,000 viewers in Austin, Rochester, Winona, and seven counties in southern Minnesota. 
• The organization’s website is now MinnesotaPBS.org. TPT.org and KSMQ.org will redirect to the new website.  
• Broadcast, social media, and digital platforms reflect the new Minnesota PBS branding. 
• Email communications will come from Minnesota PBS. Please add us to your contacts or trusted senders list to ensure our emails don’t land in your spam folder.  

Minnesota PBS provides southern Minnesota audiences with more public broadcasting viewing options than ever before while continuing to deliver the trusted programming they rely on today. Viewers have access to an expanded lineup of Minnesota PBS channels, offering more ways to watch trusted local and national programming, children's content from PBS KIDS, legislative coverage, and critical health and safety alerts. 

The Minnesota PBS channel lineup includes: 

• MN PBS – Our flagship channel that offers the best of national PBS programming and original local content including history documentaries, arts, culture, and public affairs programming.  
• This channel was formerly called TPT 2.  
• Twin Cities: Channel 2.1 
• Southern Minnesota: Channel 15.1  
   
• MN Channel – Stories from across our state including legislative coverage when in session. Programmed by Minnesota PBS as a service to all public television stations across Minnesota.  
• Twin Cities: Channel 2.2 
• Southern Minnesota: Channel 15.2 
   
• MN PBS Life – Lifestyle, DIY, arts and culture, and enrichment programming.  
• This channel was formerly called TPT Life.  
• Twin Cities: Channel 2.3 
• Southern Minnesota: Channel 15.3 
   
• MN PBS Kids – 24/7 PBS KIDS programming and trusted educational content for children and families.  
• This channel was formerly called TPT Kids.  
• Twin Cities: Channel 2.4 
• Southern Minnesota: Channel 15.4 
   
• MN PBS Ready – 24/7 weather, public health, preparedness and emergency alerts.  
• This channel was formerly called TPT Now.  
• Twin Cities: Channel 2.5 
• Southern Minnesota: Channel 15.5 

Visit our Channel Guide for major cable and satellite provider coverage information in our region.  

KSMQ DW (Channel 15.2) and KSMQ Create (Channel 15.3) are no longer available to viewers in southern Minnesota as of September 1, 2026. However, southern Minnesota viewers will find similar programming on MN PBS (Channel 15.1) and MN PBS Life (Channel 15.3). Check the TV Schedule for details. 

Minnesota PBS viewers will also have access to NHK World Japan, which streams live in the PBS App. 

Yes. Viewers are able to stream Minnesota PBS content on the PBS App and on MinnesotaPBS.org. Broadcast channels MN PBS, MN PBS Kids, and MN PBS Ready will be available to stream on the Live TV page of MinnesotaPBS.org.

Streaming provides another convenient way to watch our programs, explore local and national content, and access educational resources whenever and wherever you choose. 

Your membership automatically transferred to Minnesota PBS. Your continued support helps preserve trusted public media for communities across Minnesota while ensuring KSMQ's legacy of serving southern Minnesota continues into the future. 

No action is needed. Your membership and financial support will continue with Minnesota PBS. We will communicate any updates directly with you and other members, as needed. 

Yes. Beginning with the September 2026 issue, Twin Cities PBS and KSMQ members will receive the Minnesota PBS Member Magazine, which includes programming highlights, station updates, and a weekly TV schedule. The magazine will continue to keep you informed about upcoming programs, behind-the-scenes stories, community events, and the impact of your support, while providing an easy-to-use television schedule for Minnesota PBS broadcast channels. 

Community support from viewers like you helps ensure Minnesotans continue to have access to trusted public media. Your membership helps sustain trusted programming, educational resources, local storytelling, and community engagement for audiences throughout Minnesota while preserving public media service in southern Minnesota for generations to come. 

Support Minnesota PBS

Please visit the PBS Passport FAQ on the PBS website or contact our Member Services team at 651.229.1300 or [email protected] for assistance. 

No. The name change to Minnesota PBS is a brand change, not a change to our legal entity. Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. remains the legal organization, so you do not need to update your estate plan.

Yes. Beginning September 1, 2026, our website is now MinnesotaPBS.org. The new website makes it easier to discover programs, stream content, access educational resources, and connect with Minnesota PBS.  

Yes. Email communications will transition to Minnesota PBS. You do not need to take any action to continue receiving updates, programming information, and member communications. However, we recommend adding Minnesota PBS to your contacts or trusted sender list to ensure our emails don’t land in your spam folder.  

Yes. Our social media accounts are now Minnesota PBS, and you will continue receiving programming updates, local stories, educational resources, and community news.  

Absolutely. We know viewers value local storytelling, and it remains central to our mission. We are dedicated to reflecting the different people, cultures, and experiences of communities throughout Minnesota and celebrating local perspectives that strengthen our communities. 

We will continue creating programming that informs, inspires, and connects Minnesotans to their communities and the world. 

Yes. We recognize the important role KSMQ has played in southern Minnesota for more than 50 years. Minnesota PBS is committed to honoring that legacy. 

Our commitments include: 

• Maintaining local representation on the Minnesota PBS Board of Trustees. 
• Maintaining a visible presence in southern Minnesota. 
• Continuing to tell local stories and develop local programs that reflect the communities in southern Minnesota. 
• Welcoming KSMQ employees into the new organization. 
• Maintaining the KSMQ call letters.  

This transition brings together Twin Cities PBS and KSMQ. Several other independent PBS member stations broadcasting in Minnesota will continue serving their local communities — PBS North, Lakeland PBS, Pioneer PBS, and Prairie Public. Minnesota PBS will continue programming the statewide MN Channel as a service for the other stations in Minnesota.  

There are no plans to expand Minnesota PBS at this time. We believe every local community deserves public media delivering trusted news, educational, and community-focused programming. We will continue to be champions for all public broadcasting stations in Minnesota.  

Check out MinnesotaPBS.org for updates, programming information, and additional details about Minnesota PBS. You can also submit a question on our Contact Us page.  

Yes. The Austin facility will remain open. Following the Austin City Council’s approval of the lease transfer, the facility will become part of Minnesota PBS and continue to support our presence and service in southern Minnesota.