WABE

WABE
Brand	WABE - Amplifying Atlanta
City of License	Atlanta, Georgia
Market	Atlanta Georgia
Channel	21.3 digital 30 virtual Subcarrier: 30.2 (NHK World) Formerly: 30 analog (1958-2009)
Network Affiliation	Current: PBS Formerly: NET (1958-68)
Founded	1958
Company	Atlanta Board Of Education
President
Current Popular Non-Network Shows

WABE is the call sign for Atlanta's in-city PBS affiliate, broadcasting on digital channel 21.3, displayed on tuners as virtual 30. It has a subcarrier, Japanese-based NHK World on digital 21.4 (virtual 30.2).

WABE went on the air in 1958 as WETV with its channel 30 (analog) allocated for educational purposes (WETV was also the call for what was Macon, Georgia's first NBC affiliate in 1953). Their programming consisted of daytime classroom instructional programming. Two years later, WGTV/channel 8 went on. WGTV's channel was allocated for educational (having been previously occupied by NBC and ABC affiliates) but as it was based in Athens, its signal never adequately penetrated metro Atlanta, even though its transmitter was atop Stone Mountain. When PBS came into the fold in 1968, channels 8 and 30 were made its affiliates for the Atlanta market. At first, programs in dayparts and prime time were simulcast. By the 80s, channel 30's programming was more staggered as to not match channel 8's. In 1984, channel 30 changed its call to WPBA.

WPBA changed its call to WABE in January 2022, joining its radio counterpart (90.1 FM) in a joint rebranding as "WABE--Amplifying Atlanta." This is to differentiate itself from WGTV, although on-screen the WPBA call is still displayed.

Effective July 1, 2024, WABE shaved off 75% of PBS prime time programming for locally produced fare as a cost-cutting move. For years they had been bested in the ratings by WGTV.

Digital programming

Virtual	Physical	Name	Programming
30.1	21.3	WABE-DT	Main WABE (PBS)
30.2	21.4	WABE-DT2	NHK World

External Links

Official website for WABE