WBGU TV
Campus: Short Feature
On February 10th, 1964, a new era began in Bowling Green, Ohio. A new televisioin station with the call letters WBGU, and licensed to Bowling Green State University, began broadcasting that day from the university campus.
The station was launched through the efforts of Dr. Duane Tucker, then head of the university's Radio/Television/Film (RTVF) department. Also involved was Dr. Kenneth McFall, who was at the time a vice president at the university.
In the beginning, the station broadcast out of a studio in South Hall. Only a few hours of programming were aired each day, generally during the late afternoon and early evening hours. In the 70's the station moved into new space in West Hall also on campus, and later again into a new building at its current location south of campus on Troup St.
The building on Troup St. has been modified more than once to adjust to the stations' growing staff and equipment needs. A new section was also added for what is now called the Northwest Ohio Education Technology Foundation. The organization provides technology and curriculum resources for teachers and schools in the region, and was founded by Margaret Tucker (Duane's wife), who served as its Director for many years.
A major renovation to the facility was undertaken in 1994, with a 2nd floor added to part of the building to provide new office space for production staff, and new ground floor equipment and office space was built for the Television Learning Services department, which provides network-based video programming and other production services for campus.
Over the years WBGU-TV has produced a wide variety of original documentaries, including quite a few about the history and culture of Northwestern Ohio and Southern Michigan.
Some notable programs include “The Hines Farm Blues Club”, about a club in Swanton, Ohio that attracted some of the premiere blues musicians of the 1960s. “Cedar Point Memories” details the 125 year history of the Cedar Point amusement park. And “The Blizzard of ’78,” recounts one of the worst storms to ever hit Northwest Ohio, and examines the effects it had on the area and its people.
Other subjects of WBGU documentaries have included baseball in Japan, Ohio’s oil booms, Irish dancing, and Doyt Perry.
The station also produces and broadcasts weekly series programming focused on area topics. Recently these have included “NW Ohio Journal”, a public affairs show covering current events in Northwest Ohio. “60 Plus” focused on issues affecting senior citizens. And “Coffee Amici” looked in on notable musicians in the region as they performed at a coffeehouse in Findlay, Ohio.
The station often works with other university departments to create original programming. A recent example is a series produced with the College of Business, called “The Entrepreneurial Spirit: A National Treasure”.
From its beginnings within the RTVF department, WBGU-TV has always provided a rich learning environment for students wanting to work in the industry. Through part-time employment, volunteer opportunities and other situations, students have contributed a large amount to the work of the station.
With the renovation work in 1994, the building on Troup St. was renamed the Tucker Center for Telecommunications, in recognition of Duane and Margaret Tucker and their broad work in the fields of telecommunications and education.
Today, WBGU serves 19 counties in Northwest and West Central Ohio. As a PBS affiliate, the station broadcasts a complete schedule of nationally syndicated PBS programming. The station has transitioned to digital broadcasting, and regularly broadcasts select programming in high-definition.