Alaska Rural Communications Service
The Alaska Rural Communications Service is a statewide network of low-powered television stations, serving 235 communities throughout the Alaskan Bush areas. The network is based in Anchorage, Alaska and is operated by Alaska Public Broadcasting, a joint venture of Alaska Public Media and Alaska's public broadcasters. Programming is beamed via satellite to the rural transmitters owned by the Alaska state government.
Programming on ARCS is a selection of shows from five commercial broadcast networks and syndication, via the ; plus PBS programming from KAKM and other PBS members in the state; occasionally, ARCS produces some of its own programming. Anchorage stations provide their programming to ARCS free of charge with the condition that advertising is allowed to remain. There is currently no CW programming available on ARCS.
Even though much of ARCS' programming contains commercials, the operation of ARCS is partially funded by donations from its viewers, just like member stations of PBS, as well as those of the Christian-based Trinity Broadcasting Network.ARCS is seen on the following low-powered television stations:
