digital subchannels are identical for both WPBS-TV and WNPI-DT. The station had requested an increase in power from 40 kW to 60 kW for each digital transmitter. While this request had not been addressed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in time for WPBS/WNPI's April 12, 2009 analog shutoff date, which was sooner than the June 12, 2009 date for American analog stations to end, a construction permit was issued later that year for the increased-power digital facilities. WPBS-TV's former analog channel number (UHF 16) was in use by WXXI-TV in Rochester from 2003 until 2019. WNPI-TV's former analog channel number (UHF 18) and antenna location has been reassigned to WWNY-CD, a Massena rebroadcaster of Fox affiliate WNYF-CD. Coverage area WPBS-TV can be seen by a total of 2.2 million viewers. This is despite the fact it is the smallest PBS member in New York State; there are only 252,000 people in its American viewing area. However, the signal from its two towers reaches far enough to serve the Ottawa Valley region via cable. This market, with over 1.5 million people–almost six times the population of WPBS' American viewing area–is the fourth-largest in Canada. Much of WPBS' viewer support has also come from Canadian viewers, as 70% of donations during recent pledge drives came from viewers in Ottawa. The station also maintains a mailing address in Gananoque, Ontario to service its Canadian donors. WPBS' service area comprises mostly rural areas and small towns. The only major urban areas in its service area are Ottawa and Kingston. In the past, reflecting its two-nation audience, the U.S. and Canadian national anthems were played on station sign-on and sign-off. References External links PBS member stations Television channels and stations established in 1971 1971 establishments in New York (state) PBS-TV First Nations Experience affiliates