Twin Cities PBS to Become Minnesota PBS, Expanding Service to Southern Minnesota
Twin Cities PBS announced it will become Minnesota PBS on September 1, expanding its service area to include southern Minnesota through the addition of KSMQ. The name change reflects a commitment to statewide access to public media.
Twin Cities PBS (TPT) announced on August 17, 2026, that it will officially change its name to Minnesota PBS, effective September 1. The rebranding signifies an expansion of the public media organization's reach and its commitment to providing consistent access to trusted public media, educational resources, local storytelling, and community engagement across the entire state.
The expansion includes the addition of KSMQ, Public Television Gateway, to the network. This integration will extend Minnesota PBS's service footprint to cover all of southern Minnesota, encompassing areas such as Albert Lea, Austin, and Rochester. The move aims to bolster the availability of public media content and educational programming throughout Minnesota.
TPT has historically served the Twin Cities metropolitan area and Duluth. The name change and expanded service area underscore the organization's strategic effort to better serve a broader audience within the state.
Minnesota PBS will continue to uphold TPT's legacy of delivering quality programming and community-focused initiatives. The new name and extended reach are intended to support these ongoing efforts in the evolving media landscape.