▁for ▁all ▁of ▁the ▁stations ▁lic ensed ▁in ▁the ▁network . ▁The ▁broadcast ▁signals ▁of ▁the ▁four ▁stations ▁cover ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁western ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁state ▁outside ▁W ich ita . ▁ ▁The ▁network ▁produces ▁public ▁affairs ▁programming ▁and ▁holds ▁the ▁broadcast ▁rights ▁to ▁several ▁Kansas ▁high ▁school ▁athlet ic ▁championship ▁events ▁san ction ed ▁by ▁the ▁Kansas ▁State ▁High ▁School ▁Activ ities ▁Association . ▁The ▁network ' s ▁offices ▁and ▁network ▁operations ▁center ▁are ▁located ▁in ▁B unker ▁Hill ▁( just ▁east ▁of ▁Russell ), ▁in ▁a ▁historic ▁native ▁stone ▁building . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁Sm ok y ▁Hills ▁Public ▁Television ▁Corporation ▁was ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁with ▁the ▁intent ▁to ▁start ▁a ▁non - com mer cial ▁educational ▁television ▁station ▁in ▁western ▁Kansas . ▁This ▁region ▁is ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁W ich ita – H utch inson ▁Plus ▁market , ▁an ▁unus ually ▁large ▁market ▁that ▁covers ▁over ▁ 7 0 ▁count ies ▁stretch ing ▁from ▁the ▁Fl int ▁Hills ▁to ▁the ▁Colorado ▁border – al most ▁three - four th s ▁of ▁the ▁state . ▁It ▁is ▁the ▁largest ▁designated ▁market ▁area ▁( D MA ) ▁by ▁number ▁of ▁count ies ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁Pre viously , ▁much ▁of ▁the ▁area ▁received ▁P BS ▁programming ▁on ▁cable ▁via ▁either ▁W ich ita ▁member ▁station ▁K PT S ▁( channel ▁ 8 ) ▁or ▁Den ver ▁member ▁station ▁K R MA ▁( channel ▁ 6 ). ▁ ▁Fl ags hip ▁station ▁K O OD