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WQED-TV is the flagship of WQED Pittsburgh. The station went on the air on April 1, 1954 as the country's first community-supported television station after school children went door-to-door to collect $2 from families to help get the station on the air. The A. W. Mellon Trust, The Ford Foundation, and the Arbuckle-Jamison Foundation provided major start-up funding. KDKA offered the use of its FM tower, and the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company presented a deed for a building at the corner of Fifth and Bellefield avenues in Oakland.

WQED became an important production center of national programs for the Public Broadcasting Service. Throughout its history, WQED has been consistently devoted to developing, producing and presenting programs and projects of the highest quality, and in recognition has won more than 450 local, national, and international awards for excellence.

In 1973 WQED-FM 89.3 went on the air as the region's only full-time classical music station. WQED-FM 89.3 is committed to providing classical music and other fine arts programming to entertain, inform and enrich the community. All-classical WQED-FM is a lively advocate for the arts both locally and nationally. As the only classical station in the region, WQED-FM is critical to local artists, ensembles and organizations for assistance, support and publicity. WQED-FM staff is out in the community to record over 100 concerts each year. In 1997, WQED-FM expanded its reach into the Johnstown market with WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown. WQEJ-FM simulcasts WQED-FM's programming in the Johnstown market, which has a rich history of support for the arts.

PITTSBURGH Magazine began as a local program guide and arts and culture magazine and has evolved into the city/regional magazine. PITTSBURGH magazine's award-winning cadre of journalists report on the region's lifestyles, arts, culture, and fashion. In-depth articles focus on the region's economic development, transportation issues, health-care breakthroughs that are developed in Pittsburgh, and people that are creating a new era of growth for the region.

Mission Statement:
WQED Multimedia creates and distributes quality products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within its community and around the world.

Tour Information:
If you are interested in discovering the world of public broadcasting in your very own community, come tour WQED Multimedia for free! Groups of about 10 individuals are always welcome. Most tours are given on Tuesdays from 2-5 pm. and last about one half-hour. However, special requests may be arranged for another day of the week. Tours are not available on weekends. Cameras and video cameras are also welcome. Please make reservations for your tour at least two weeks in advance by calling 412-622-1363.