Opening the History Books
A look at the past and present of your city’s official cable station—Glendale Channel 11
If you rewind the history tape of Glendale Channel 11, you will learn that the cable station has been around for more than 25 years.
Glendale Channel 11 was born in March 1982 through an agreement between the city of Glendale and Camelback Cable Vision. At that time, the agreement required that the city broadcast a minimum of eight hours a week. Throughout the years, the city partnered with several cable companies: Storer Cable, then Republic Cable, then Dimension Cable, and now its current cable outlets Cox and Qwest, followed Camelback Cable Vision.
The Dial Number, Original Studio and Programming
In the early years, Glendale 11 was on channel 104. Eventually, changes were made, and it found its slot on number 11, which is where the majority of Valley cities also have cable TV stations. Glendale 11’s formal call letters are KGLN, but the station is now referred to as Glendale 11.
In the early 1980s, the original studio was set up in a vacant building on the corner of 57th Avenue and Glenn Drive. That’s now a paint store.
The original Glendale 11 production truck in 1988
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Some of Glendale 11’s first programming included: City Council meetings and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. The more sought after original programming in the early days included “Front Porch Stories,” which was basically library story times for preschoolers taped on the porch of one of the Sahuaro Ranch buildings. Plus, the mayor at the time had a show called "On the Spot with the Mayor.” Other original shows were "Live at the Library,” featuring different performing events and story telling at the main library, “Jerome’s Poems,” “Let’s Get Acquainted with Glendale” and one-on-one interview shows with members of the Glendale City Council. When programs were not airing, the channel showed a running list of community events in Glendale.
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| In 1987, the city purchased its first production truck. This allowed the cable department to perform remote broadcasts. In 1995, a second cable production truck replaced the original one. Both trucks have since been retired. |
The second Glendale 11 production
truck purchased in 1995 |
Your Hometown TV Station Today
Remember how way back when Glendale 11 was only on the air for a minimum of eight hours a week? In 2002, the TV station reached a milestone when it began broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Today, the station airs dozens of original shows focusing solely on Glendale and the surrounding community 24 hours a day. (Click here to learn more about the shows on Glendale 11.) |
In addition, Glendale 11 now has a new home within the Glendale Media Center across from the city’s NFL stadium near Westgate City Center. The HD facility is like no other in the country. (Click here to learn more about the Glendale Media Center.)
Research has shown that nearly 140,000 Glendale residents tune in to watch Glendale 11 on a regular basis. The station has been nominated for several Emmy awards and has received numerous Telly awards and NATOA (National Association of Telecommunication Officers and Advisors) awards for original TV shows created by the Glendale 11 staff.
The staff members of Glendale 11 have strong award-winning broadcast backgrounds.(Click here to meet the staff.) Their creativity and high-level skills reflect the diverse and top-quality shows you see on Glendale 11.
We’ve come a long way from being on the air only eight hours a week. More positive changes are on the way; we hope you tune in, and we hope you enjoy watching Glendale 11.
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