▁( channel ▁ 1 6 ) ▁in ▁H ays ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁station ▁in ▁the ▁network ▁to ▁sign ▁on ▁the ▁air ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁This ▁was ▁followed ▁by ▁the ▁debut ▁of ▁full - power ▁sat ell ites ▁K SW K ▁( channel ▁ 8 ) ▁in ▁Lak in ▁( also ▁serving ▁Garden ▁City ) ▁on ▁March ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁and ▁K D CK ▁( channel ▁ 2 1 ) ▁in ▁D odge ▁City ▁on ▁March ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁K W KS ▁( channel ▁ 1 9 ) ▁in ▁Col by ▁was ▁the ▁last ▁satellite ▁to ▁sign ▁on , ▁debut ing ▁as ▁a ▁digital - only ▁station , ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁ ▁Most ▁view ers ▁watch ▁Sm ok y ▁Hills ▁P BS ' s ▁programming ▁through ▁cable , ▁which ▁is ▁all ▁but ▁essential ▁for ▁acceptable ▁television ▁in ▁most ▁of ▁this ▁vast ▁area ▁due ▁to ▁its ▁h illy ▁terrain . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁satellite ▁prov iders ▁Dire c TV ▁and ▁D ish ▁Network ▁began ▁carrying ▁the ▁network ▁in ▁the ▁W ich ita ▁market , ▁boost ing ▁its ▁potential ▁view ership ▁to ▁over ▁ 1 . 5 ▁million ▁people ▁in ▁Kansas ▁and ▁Neb r aska . ▁ ▁St ations ▁ ▁Notes : ▁ 1 . ▁K D CK ▁and ▁K W KS ▁did ▁not ▁have ▁companion ▁digital ▁channels , ▁and ▁therefore ▁are ▁operating ▁on ▁their ▁pre