Three Days of Celebration

Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribal members organized every two years by Sealaska Heritage Institute. The Juneau event began in 1982. Since that time, Celebration has been encouraging individuals, families, clans and communities to participate in traditional song and dance, arts and crafts, and the revitalization of Native languages. It is one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples.

In conjunction with Sealaska Heritage Institute, KTOO-TV produced more than 40 hours of Celebration 2008 coverage over three days in June. 360 North will air all of the coverage of this special event during the July 4 holiday weekend.

Celebration 2008
July 4, 5 and 6
9:00 am until 11:00 pm

Fourteen hours a day... the Celebration never stops!

Thanks For Letting Us Know

We've heard from many different people from all around Alaska.

We really like getting comments and opinions from you.
Here's a small sample of recently received messages:

"I am very interested in the documentaries about commercial fishing." -Dillingham

"We're watching you now on the web." -Sitka

"I enjoyed the programs last night, Wild Neighbors and Grand Glaciers." -Anchorage

"Regarding Gavel to Gavel - I don't want to see any other programs aired during the legislative session except legislative meetings..." -Juneau

"I would like to see the Dhar Jamail lecture. I heard about it but don't know when it will be on again." - Juneau

"I would like more information about the Egan Lecture about technology and education... It was interesting." -web inquiry

"We love the channel. No ARCS satellite any more in Ruby so (we) miss this type of Alaska/Bush shows." -Ruby

"Can we get 360 North on DTV here?" -Big Lake

"The World Ocean Day coverage was great. I didn't get to see it all. When will it be on?" -Anchorage

"I watched the memorial service for Judge Tom Stewart. Thank you." -Juneau

"My compliments on 360 North. I love the history and I'm Native so I like to know more. Loved the show about how Alaska got started and want to see more history. Us seniors get together and watch. Keep up the good work." -phone message

Thanks. Keep those comments coming!
We answer them all.

On Screen Listings

Across the state when you watch on GCI Cable you can now find out what is on 360 North!

360 North now is fully integrated into the TV Guide interactive on-screen program listings.

This will make it even easier for you to find and watch your favorite Alaska programming. You have immediate access to the current program name and detailed descriptions along with the ability to search forward in the line-up for later shows.

Look for 360 N
to see all of our program information right on your screen.

World Ocean Day Celebration 2008

The World Ocean Day Celebration 2008 in Southeast Alaska is being sponsored, in part, by KTOO and will be broadcast on 360 North.

On Saturday, June 14, more than 25 organizations will gather at the new Auke Bay NOAA facility - The Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute - in Juneau.

Some of the highlights to be included in the television coverage...

-Whale Disentanglement presented by NOAA

-Invasive Species with the SeaGrant Marine Advisory Program

-Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST)

-Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS)

-Tour of the new NOAA facility

-A demonstration by the United States Coast Guard

World Ocean Day 2008
on 360 North

Saturday, June 14 - 7:00 pm
repeats Sunday June 15 - 8:00 am

Legislature Goes On The Road

And Gavel to Gavel Alaska is going along.


The legislature special session has scheduled public hearings in communities around the state over the next two weeks. 360 North will broadcast Gavel to Gavel Alaska coverage of these AGIA events from Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Broadcasts will be tape delayed:

Fairbanks Sessions - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
June 17-19
10:00 am

Anchorage Sessions - Monday thru Friday
June 23-27
10:00 am

Watch it all on 360 North!

More Communities Watch on Channel 15

The next 360 North channel switch in the GCI lineup occurs this Wednesday, 6/11 and Thursday 6/12. Fairbanks, Nome and Kodiak (currently watching on Ch. 17) make the change this week.

Wednesday, Fairbanks will receive 360 North on CHANNEL 15.

Thursday, Nome and Kodiak switch to CHANNEL 15.

Looking for 360 North?

In some areas GCI Cable has reassigned our channel number. This change is permanent and is a planned part of the digital conversion of the GCI Cable service.

If you can't find us, try
GCI Channel 15

Today, locations going through the change include
Cordova
Kenai
Anchorage
Sitka
Valdez
Wasilla

You can continue to watch 360 North on channel 15 from this day forward.

Special Session of the Alaska Legislature

The Alaska State Legislature meets in special session beginning Tuesday, June 3.

Governor Palin called the special session asking lawmakers to consider AGIA, The Alaska Gasline Inducement Act.

Gavel to Gavel Alaska will cover the proceedings from the opening day.

Watch 360 North for the most comprehensive coverage of the special session.

Permanent Fund Trustees Meet

How is your money doing?


Are they going to move the Permanent Fund Corporation headquarters?


Learn more about these questions and more during the Gavel to Gavel Alaska coverage of the Permanent Fund Trustees. The meetings on 360 North will span two days and include the entire event.

Thursday, May 29 - 8:00 pm
Friday, May 30 - 8:00 pm
(programs repeat this Saturday and Sunday)

Gasline Public Forum

360 North will be broadcasting the Alaska Gasline Determination Public Forum this week for all Alaskans to watch. This Gavel to Gavel Alaska Special will be broadcast over three days.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday
May 29-31
8:00 am - 7:00 pm

360 North Viewer Advisory

Due to great Alaska programming and extensive upcoming
government coverage on Gavel to Gavel Alaska,
the KTOO Department of Home Viewing Security
has raised the 360 North Advisory Level to RED.

You may feel compelled to watch, but don't worry.
Addiction to 360 North is not hazardous.
It's informative, interesting and entertaining.

Films from Albert Karvonen

360 North has reached an agreement with Karvonen Films to broadcast twenty wonderful natural history films.

Founded in 1976 by Albert Karvonen and his wife Pirkko, Karvonen Films has produced over 110 productions. With a keen eye for authenticity and biological accuracy, the Karvonen team has accumulated numerous international nominations and awards.

Dr. Karvonen worked with 360 North to select programs that might hold unique interest to Alaska viewers.


-Wild Encounters: Moose, Antlered Giants
-Island of the Kings
-Tale of the Beaver
-Great Northern Forest
-Land of the Ice Bear
-Circumpolar Bears
-Nomads of Yukon
-World of the Black Bear
-A Flight of Deer
-A Pageant of Grouse
-The Great Bears
-Passage of Migrants


-Country of the Muskox
-Denali: Land of the High One
-Owls at the Northern Edge
-Seadogs and Toothwalkers
-Mountain Sheep: Life on the Edge
-Caribou: Ghost of the North
-Mountain Goat: Lord of the High Country
-Wolves of Labrador





These wonderful programs will begin broadcast later this year as an ongoing weekly series on 360 North.

Alaska Aviation Programs

Were dedicating some time to flying this week.

Wednesday night we will broadcast a national documentary about the Air Force Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds have been seen by millions of people around the world but few have seen what it takes behind the scenes to execute their dazzling air show. The program documents the journey of the first female pilot to fly with them. Join her and the rest of the squadron to see what it's like to be part of America's elite Thunderbird team.

On Thursday, the flying programs are all about Alaska. There are two programs from our sister station in Anchorage, KAKM. And, KUAC-Fairbanks provides a unique history of aviation in the Interior.

There is one program that has never before been seen on television. Tom Stagg, of Stagg Films, has created a program about Cliff Hudson, a bush pilot from Talkeetna. Along with Denali Flyers, Over the Heart of Alaska, and Glacier Pilot Don Sheldon, there is something for everyone who enjoys aviation in the last frontier.

Wednesday, May 14

America's Team: Being a U.S. Air Force Thunderbird
10:00 pm

Thursday, May 15

Denali Flyers
8:00 pm

Glacier Pilot Don Sheldon
8:30 pm

Portrait of a Legend: Talkeetna's Cliff Hudson
9:00 pm

Over the Heart of Alaska
10:00 pm

All of the flying programs repeat on Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18.

Dr. Lani Leary - Back By Popular Demand

"Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before She Died" with Dr. Lani Leary garnered more immediate viewer response than any other single program on 360 North in some time. As the program first aired the 360 North email boxes immediately began filling and the phone rang. People wanted to know when the program would again be broadcast. We have scheduled repeat broadcasts for later this month.

"Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before She Died"
Wednesday, May 28 - 9:30 pm
Sunday, June 1 - 12:30 pm

DVD's available by calling KTOO-TV
907-586-1670

A Great Documentary, Produced By Alaskans

There is a "must see" program on 360 North this week. When The War Got Personal is a very well done documentary. There is more to the story, though. The program was produced by a teacher and students at Petersburg High School.

To see a preview of this 90-minute documentary CLICK HERE.

Broadcast Premier

When The War Got Personal
Thursday at 8:00 pm

World War II Week

We're dedicating much of the 360 North schedule May 7 - 11 to programs about World War II.

Wednesday, May 7

8:30 - 10:00 pm
Alaskan Veterans Remember
10:00 pm
WWII Writers

Thursday, May 8

8:00 pm
When the War Got Personal
9:30 pm
Alaskan Veterans Remember (part 2)
10:00 pm
Voices in Wartime

Friday, May 9

8:00 pm
Government Girls of World War II
9:00 pm
The Enola Gay's Navigator
10:00 pm
Uncle Sam's Men

All of the World War II programs will repeat on Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11.

"Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before She Died"

360 North is broadcasting a special event on Friday, May 5. Together with the Foundation for End of Life Care, we bring you Dr. Lani Leary. Dr. Leary visited Alaska this past week and provided a heartwarming and entertaining presentation full of practical advice about preparing for the end of our lives.

Leary is a specialist in end-of-life care and bereavement with over 24 years experience in private practice. She offers insight, guidance and suggestions on how to empower yourselves and others to make a positive difference about life and death.

"Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before She Died"
with Dr. Lani Leary

Friday, May 2 - 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm
Sunday, May 4 - 8:00 am

More Survey Results

Part of the grant funding that helped start 360 North was earmarked for audience research. Last fall we put out a request for proposals to Alaska companies looking for those who might like to take a shot at media research for 360 North.

Late in 2007 we hired Hays Research Group. Anne Hays has been wonderfully accommodating and crafted a plan to conduct three phone surveys and three focus groups on our limited budget. Two of the focus groups have been facilitated. One of those took place in Bethel and one, earlier this month, in Sitka. The third will soon be conducted in Anchorage.

The first statewide phone survey took place in January, right after we started 360 North. We reported some of those results when they were tabulated. The second phone survey was fielded two weeks ago. The most notable change from January to April was a marked increase in name recognition for both Gavel to Gavel Alaska and 360 North.

•360 North name recognition went from 17 percent to 22 percent during those three months. (+5%)

•Gavel to Gavel Alaska name recognition rose from 48 percent to 60 percent. (+11%)

Gavel to Gavel programming was the predominate block of programming on 360 North from Jan. 15 until April 13 because of the legislative session coverage.

Nuclear Awareness Conference

In accordance with the Hiroshima Peace Museum, The Marshall Island Government, Veteran’s for Peace, Skagway City Council, Haines High School, Alpha Phi Omega (Alpha Zeta Theta Chapter) and the UAS Chancellors office, the University of Alaska Southeast held the Nuclear Awareness Conference on April 18, 19 and 20.

The UAS Campus Technology department at UAS provided television coverage of the three day event. Many of the presentations have been made available for broadcast on 360 North.

University of Alaska southeast
Nuclear Awareness Conference

Wednesday, April 23
Thursday, April 24
8:00 pm

It's Spring

For the past few years, the UAS Spring Forum has provided an opportunity for Juneau and the UAS campus community to come together to learn about important issues, engage interesting questions, and challenge assumptions. This year is no different: a full slate of interesting panelists present ideas and participate in discussions.

The Forum turns to Juneau as a case study to ask an important question facing many Alaska communities. What will it take to achieve environmentally acceptable and sustainable electricity power generation? The forum involves presentations, demonstrations, and round-table discussions that explore the problems of achieving energy sustainability.

Topics include:

• Local and global perspectives on sustainability
• Peak oil
• Hydroelectric Power vs. Fossil Fuel Burning
• Prospects for renewable energy in Southeast Alaska
• Impacts of climate change on runoff and hydro-electric potential in Juneau
• Bio-diesel Production
• University of Alaska Southeast efforts toward becoming sustainable
  

Spring Forum

Monday, April 21
starting at 8 p.m.
continuing
Tuesday, April 22
all day

Anyone and Everyone

Anyone and Everyone: An Alaskan Perspective

Statewide Television Special

KTOO-TV, Juneau is proud to announce the statewide broadcast of the national documentary Anyone and Everyone. The film tells the stories of families from across the United States who are all connected by having a son or daughter who is gay. This poignant and often heart wrenching documentary by first-time filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz reveals families struggles and desires to accept their child’s sexual orientation.

Anyone and Everyone features families from a diverse range of religious and cultural backgrounds. These parents share intimate accounts of their experiences when their children revealed to them that they were gay. While some showed unconditional support, many struggled with their child’s sexual orientation. In Alaska, this national program is presented with a local outreach project in conjunction with PFLAG-Juneau and made possible by funding from Iron Zeal Films.

KTOO produced a companion program, Anyone and Everyone: An Alaska Perspective. The program is a discussion of the issues and problems that families face in dealing with the reality that a child may be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in Alaska. Juneau mayor Bruce Botelho hosts Casady Herding, The Reverend Mark Boesser, Willie Anderson and Karen Donovan who bring a unique Alaska perspective, share personal stories and Alaska resources.

Broadcast Schedule

Thursday, April 17

KAKM-TV, Anchorage – 8:00 to 9:30 pm
AlaskaOne and 360 North – 9:00 to 10:30 pm

Saturday, April 19

ARCS and 360 North – 7:00 to 8:30 pm

TONIGHT

The new 360 North news hour starts tonight.

BBC World News - 7:00 pm

Alaska Weather - 7:30 pm

Monday - Friday

Alaska Weather

Alaska Weather is coming to 360 North!

For many, many years our sister station KAKM-Anchorage has produced the nightly Alaska Weather program in collaboration with the National Weather Service.

The program is produced in KAKM's Anchorage studio and broadcast over KAKM, AlaskaOne and ARCS at 5:30 pm. Beginning April 14, Alaska Weather will be broadcast on 360 North weeknights at 7:30 pm immediately following the BBC World News.

Join National Weather Service meteorologist and host Jim Peronto for a half-hour of weather news from around the state.

BBC World News - 7:00 pm
Alaska Weather - 7:30 pm
Weeknights on 360 North

Our Turn

Last week, the Juneau Empire ran an article about 360 North and Gavel to Gavel Alaska. A portion of the article focused on how KTOO's legislative coverage and other 360 North programming was integrated in the schedule.

Bill Legere, KTOO general manager, wrote a My Turn response which appeared on the Empire editorial page last Friday. The text from that piece is included below.

* * *

The Empire story titled “Network cuts back Capitol broadcasting” (4/2) raised some important questions about Gavel to Gavel Alaska and 360 North.

KTOO has produced C-Span-style television coverage of the Legislature since 1994. From humble beginnings when we broadcast the Legislature only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, the service has grown and expanded so now we provide as much as 13 or 14 hours a day of legislative coverage, seven days a week. With major financial support from the community of Juneau and an ongoing investment in new technology on KTOO’s part, we reach nearly every Alaskan on cable, satellite and broadcast television, and a worldwide audience on the web.

In addition KTOO streams the audio from virtually every meeting in the capitol. The audio is archived so that the public can listen anytime. This web service is drawing a very large audience – 21,678 unique users since the Legislature convened in January.

We’re also investigating a number of new initiatives to improve our current service. In the past year, we’ve added DirecTV and Dish viewers to the service, and started offering 360 North on free over-the-air TV channels in Anchorage and Juneau. We’re looking at ways to expand our coverage of state boards and commissions, and how we can add coverage of important events in communities other than Juneau. On the technology front, we’re looking into providing faster and better webcasting service, multiple online video channels, video on demand and two-way video between Juneau and other Alaska communities.

As one of these new initiatives, we launched “360 North” last December as a pilot project to provide a wider range of Alaskan programming to statewide viewers. Gavel to Gavel Alaska is the centerpiece of 360 North, and our goal is to complement Gavel to Gavel by surrounding it with public policy, public affairs, history, science and cultural programming. Until last December, the Gavel to Gavel channel went dark in most communities as soon as the legislature adjourned. We are working hard to build a year-round channel that draws in new viewers, many of whom will stay around to watch Gavel to Gavel.

We have not reduced our coverage of the Legislature. Our policy is to run as late at night as we need to present live and first run recorded legislative coverage, and repeats when the schedule allows. We are preempting regular programming almost every day to present full legislative coverage. We have chosen to do fewer repeats of legislative coverage to allow us time to present other programs of high interest to Alaskans, like coverage of the Permanent Fund trustees, the World Affairs Council, science lectures, Native programming and other shows of interest to Alaskan audiences.

360 North’s Gavel to Gavel programming is aimed at a statewide audience. The programming is designed not only to serve people who live in Juneau and work at the capitol, but for the general public across Alaska. Our goal is to make 360 North and Gavel to Gavel Alaska household words, and to present a year round schedule that’s easy to find on the TV dial and draws a large statewide audience.

Gavel to Gavel was a bold experiment in 1994, and we will continue to experiment with projects to reach more viewers and to become more important to Alaskans. We’ve heard from many who love the new Alaskan programming, and from some who would like to see more of the legislative meetings repeated. In an effort to learn what Alaskans really want from this new channel, we’re launching an online survey at www.ktoo.org/gavel, and within the next two weeks an Anchorage research firm will conduct independent research through a statewide poll and a series of focus group meetings. With that information we’ll adjust our schedules to try to accommodate all Alaskan interests.

KTOO plays an important role in connecting Juneau to the rest of Alaska, and we take that role seriously. Our mission calls for us to use innovative technology to connect our community and to promote civic participation. We look forward to working with Alaskans to make the service even better in the years ahead.

Juneau Empire Listings

The Select TV Sunday section of the Juneau Empire newspaper now includes the listings for 360 North. Starting yesterday, the Empire will run the listings weekly in the Broadcast Station line-up with the other local television offerings.