Jul 16, 2025
July 14, 2025
Valley PBS Restores Broadcast Capabilities After Bear Mountain Fire
Fresno, California — One year after a devastating fire on Bear Mountain destroyed the Valley PBS transmitter and damaged the tower, PBS is proud to share that critical repairs and upgrades are now underway — and nearly complete.
This week, Valley PBS is installing a brand-new antenna and has fully replaced the transmitter lost in the fire. These upgrades mark a significant milestone in the recovery and a renewed commitment to serving the Central Valley with the high-quality, educational, and inspiring programming our viewers rely on.
During the installation process, some viewers may experience brief disruptions on channels 18.2 (PBS KIDS), 18.3 (Create TV), and 18.4 (World Channel). Understanding how important your programs are, they are working as quickly as possible to minimize downtime.
What to Do
Once work is complete, viewers will need to re-scan their television channels to regain access to all four Valley PBS channels, including 18.1 in high definition. Full broadcast capabilities are expected to be restored by July 19. Instructions are available at valleypbs.org/transmitter.
PBS Thanks to You
This recovery would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our community. Thanks to generous financial contributions from our viewers and members, Valley PBS was able to purchase and install the new transmitter and antenna.
"This upgrade is not just a technical repair, it's a symbol of how much we value our connection with the communities we serve," said Robert Mollison, President and CEO of Valley PBS. "We’re incredibly grateful for the patience and generosity shown throughout this process."
We look forward to resuming full service shortly and continuing our mission to educate, inform, and inspire Central Valley, without interruption.
Thank you for being part of the Valley PBS family.
