Emergency Broadcast System (partially lost Emergency Warning System; 1963-1997)
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Revision as of 16:39, 24 May 2022 by AKA2000 (talk | contribs) (→List of Known EBS Video Slides: WFRV has been uploaded.)
A video slide that was used to announce an EBS test on KEYC-TV in Mankato, Minnesota.
Status: Partially Lost
The Emergency Broadcast System (aka Emergency Action Notification System or EBS for short) was an emergency warning system used in the United States from 1963 in which replaced the CONELRAD up until 1997 when it was replaced by the Emergency Alert System. However, as the EBS was replaced by the EAS, recordings of EBS Tests & Warnings have become obscure and very hard to find.
EBS Broadcasts[edit | edit source]
EBS Stress Test (1963-1976)[edit | edit source]
During the early days of the EBS, stations would turn their transmitters on and off and transmit a 1000 Hz tone for 15 seconds and announce the test message. This became known as the EBS Stress Test by broadcasters due to the repeat nature of turning their transmitters on and off and the high chance for the equipment to malfunction. [1]
Recovery[edit | edit source]
On August 27th, 2020, a YouTuber named Ellis Feaster uploaded a KDKA 1020AM Radio Air Check featuring an EBS Stress Test from December of 1969. This is the oldest known EBS Test recording to date. The rare recording can be heard below.
EBS Video Slides (1976-1997)[edit | edit source]
Beginning around 1976, each station was given a video card, in which various designs became available over the span of twenty years.
Around 100 EBS Video Slides (Mainly EBS Tests) from all different stations resurfaced online. It's unlikely that all EBS Video Slides will ever be recovered as there were hundreds of them made for each station throughout the United States.
List of Known EBS Video Slides[edit | edit source]
| Station | Affiliation | Channel Number | Location | Video Slide Type | Years Used | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KABC | ABC | 7 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1976-1997 | Found |
| KABC | ABC | 7 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1987 | Found |
| KAME | FOX | 21 | Reno, NV | EBS Test | 1986-1993 | Found |
| KARE | NBC | 11 | Minneapolis, MN & Saint Paul, MN | EBS Test | 1996 | Found |
| KATU | ABC | 2 | Portland, OR | EBS Test | c. 1980s | Found (Bad Quality) |
| KATV | ABC | 7 | Little Rock, AR | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| KCAL | Independent | 9 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1989-1997 | Found |
| KCAL | Independent | 9 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Warning | 1992 | Found |
| KCBS | CBS | 2 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1988-1994 | Found |
| KCCI | CBS | 8 | Des Moines, IA | EBS Test | 1979-1991 | Found |
| KDBC | CBS | 4 | El Paso, TX, Carlsbad, NM & Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua | EBS Test | 1989-1997 | Found |
| KDKA | CBS | 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| KELO, KDLO & KPLO | CBS | 3 (KDLO), 6 (KPLO) & 11 (KELO) | Sioux Falls, SD & Others | EBS Test | 1986?-1997 | Lost |
| KESQ | ABC | 42 | Palm Springs, CA, Palm Desert, CA & Indio, CA | EBS Test | 1986–199? | Found |
| KETV | ABC | 7 | Omaha, NE | EBS Test | 1976-1984 | Found |
| KEYC | CBS | 12 | Mankato, MN | EBS Test | 1976-1990? | Found |
| KEYC | CBS | 12 | Mankato, MN | EBS Test | 1990?-1994 | Found |
| KFCB | Independent | 42 | San Francisco, CA | EBS Test | 1983-19?? | Found |
| KFDM | CBS | 6 | Beaumont, TX | EBS Test | 1983-1997 | Found |
| KGMB | CBS | 9 | Honolulu, HI | EBS Test | 1976-1997 | Found |
| KGO | ABC | 7 | San Francisco, CA | EBS Test | 1985-1997 | Found |
| KHOU | CBS | 11 | Houston, TX | EBS Test | 1987-1989 | Found (w/No Attention Signal) |
| KHOU | CBS | 11 | Houston, TX | EBS Test | 1989-1997 | Found |
| KIMA | CBS | 29 | Yakima, WA | EBS Test | 1976-1997 | Found |
| KING | NBC | 5 | Seattle, WA | EBS Test | 1976-1985 | Found |
| KIRO | CBS | 7 | Seattle, WA | EBS Test | 1985-1994 | Found |
| KIXE | PBS | 9 | Redding, CA | EBS Test | 198?-1997 | Found |
| KMBC | ABC | 9 | Kansas City, MO | EBS Test | 1982-1997 | Found |
| KMGH | ABC | 7 | Denver, CO | EBS Test | 1995-1997 | Found |
| KMSP | Independent | 9 | Minneapolis, MN & Saint Paul, MN | EBS Test | 1979-1986 | Found |
| KMTV | CBS | 3 | Omaha, NE | EBS Test | 1986-1997 | Found |
| KNBC | NBC | 4 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1982-1986 | Found |
| KNBC | NBC | 4 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1986-1994 | Found |
| KNBC | NBC | 4 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1994-1997 | Found |
| KNOE | CBS | 8 | Monroe, LA | EBS Test | 1980–1997 | Found |
| KNXT | CBS | 2 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1981-1984 | Found |
| KNXV | ON TV | 15 | Phoenix, AZ | EBS Test | 1982-1986 | Partially Found |
| KOMO | ABC | 4 | Seattle, WA | EBS Test | 1987-1997 | Found |
| KOVR | ABC | 13 | Stockton, CA & Sacramento, CA | EBS Test | 1978-1987 | Found |
| KPIX | CBS | 5 | San Francisco, CA | EBS Test | 1983-1994 | Found |
| KPRC | NBC | 2 | Houston, TX | EBS Test | 1985-1994 | Found |
| KPTM | FOX (from 1988) | 42 | Omaha, NE | EBS Test | 1986-1997 | Found |
| KPTV | Independent (until 1993) | 12 | Portland, OR | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1995 | Found |
| KRIV | FOX | 26 | Houston, TX | EBS Test | 1986-199? | Found |
| KRON | NBC | 4 | San Francisco, CA | EBS Test | 1976-1997 | Found |
| KSCH | Independent | 58 | Stockton, CA & Sacramento, CA | EBS Test | 1986-1995 | Found |
| KSHB | FOX | 42 | Kansas City, MO | EBS Test | 1992-1994 | Partially Found |
| KSPS | PBS | 7 | Spokane, WA | EBS Test | c. 1980s | Found |
| KTLA | Independent | 5 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1981-1997 | Found |
| KTRK | ABC | 13 | Houston, TX | EBS Test | 1976-1997 | Found |
| KTSF | Independent | 26 | San Francisco, CA | EBS Test | c. 1980s | Found |
| KTTV | Independent | 11 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1976-1984 | Found |
| KTTV | Independent | 11 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1984-1986 | Found |
| KTTV | FOX | 11 | Los Angeles, CA | EBS Test | 1986-1994 | Found |
| KTVK | Independent | 3 | Phoenix, AZ | EBS Warning | 198?-1997 | Found |
| KTVO & WOI | ABC | 3 (KTVO) & 5 (WOI) | Kirksville, MO, Ottumwa, IA & Des Moines, IA | EBS Test | 1988-1996 | Found |
| KTVT | CBS | 11 | Dallas, TX & Fort Worth, TX | EBS Test | 1985-1995 | Found |
| KVIA & KAVE | ABC | 7 (KVIA) & 6 (KAVE) | El Paso, TX, Carlsbad, NM & Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua | EBS Test | 1979-1987 | Found |
| KVIA & KVIO | ABC | 7 (KVIA) & 6 (KVIO) | El Paso, TX, Carlsbad, NM & Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua | EBS Test | 1987-1997 | Found |
| KVOS | CBS | 12 | Bellingham, WA & Vancouver, BC | EBS Test | 1979-1988 | Found |
| KWEX | Univision | 41 | San Antonio, TX | EBS Test | 1987?-1990? | Found (in Spanish) |
| KYVE | PBS | 47 | Yakima, WA | EBS Test | 1976-1997 | Found |
| KYW | NBC (Until 1995) CBS (From 1995) | 3 | Philadelphia, PA | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| WABC | ABC | 7 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | c. 1990s | Found |
| WATL | Independent | 36 | Atlanta, GA | EBS Test | 1981-1986 | Lost |
| WATL | FOX | 36 | Atlanta, GA | EBS Test | 1986-199? | Found |
| WAVE | NBC | 3 | Louisville, KY | EBS Test | 199?-1997 | Found |
| WAVY | NBC | 10 | Portsmouth, VA | EBS Test | 1989-1997 | Found |
| WBAL | CBS (until 1995) NBC (from 1995) | 11 | Baltimore, MD | EBS Test | 1990-1997 | Found |
| WBNG | CBS | 12 | Binghamton, NY | EBS Test | 1995-1997 | Found |
| WBZ | NBC (until 1995) CBS (from 1995) | 4 | Boston, MA | EBS Test | 1987-1997 | Found |
| WCBS | CBS | 2 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1976-1981 | Found |
| WCBS | CBS | 2 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1981-1984 | Found |
| WCMH | NBC | 4 | Columbus, OH | EBS Test | 1980-1997 | Found |
| WDCA | Independent | 20 | Washington, D.C. | EBS Test | 1986-1993 | Found |
| WDIV | NBC | 4 | Detroit, MI | EBS Test | 1979-1989 | Lost |
| WEAR | ABC | 3 | Pensacola, FL & Mobile, AL | EBS Test | 1987-1997 | Found |
| WEWS | ABC | 5 | Cleveland, OH | EBS Test/Warning | 1976-198? | Partially Found (Not an EBS Alert but the slide has been used in EBS Alerts.) |
| WFAA | ABC | 8 | Dallas, TX & Fort Worth, TX | EBS Test | 1976-1983? | Found |
| WFAA | ABC | 8 | Dallas, TX & Fort Worth, TX | EBS Test | 1983?-1992? | Partially Found |
| WFAA | ABC | 8 | Dallas, TX & Fort Worth, TX | EBS Test | 1992?-1997 | Lost |
| WFLD | Independent | 32 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | 1983-1986 | Found |
| WFMJ | NBC | 21 | Youngstown, OH | EBS Warning | 1986-1994 | Found |
| WFRV | ABC (Until 1992) CBS (From 1992) | 5 | Green Bay, WI | EBS Test | 1976-1997 | Found |
| WFSB | CBS | 3 | Hartford, CT & New Haven, CT | EBS Test | 1983-1993 | Found |
| WFTS | FOX | 28 | Tampa, FL | EBS Test | 1987-1994 | Lost |
| WGBH & WGBX | PBS | 2 & 44 | Boston, MA | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| WGGT | Independent | 48 | Greensboro, NC | EBS Test | 1981-1991 | Found |
| WGN | Independent | 9 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | 1976-1983 | Found (w/only 853hz tone) |
| WGN | Independent | 9 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | 1983-1992 | Found |
| WGN | Independent | 9 | Chicago, IL | EBS Warning | 1983-1992 | Found |
| WGN | Independent | 9 | Chicago, IL | EBS Termination Message | 1983-1992 | Found |
| WGN | Independent | 9 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | 1992-1997 | Found |
| WGTE | PBS | 30 | Toledo, OH | EBS Test | c. 1980s | Partially Found |
| WHAS | ABC | 11 | Louisville, KY | EBS Test | 1991-1997 | Found |
| WHLL | Independent | 27 | Boston, MA | EBS Test | 1986-1993 | Partially Found (w/wrong 1Khz Tone) |
| WHME | Independent | 46 | South Bend, IN | EBS Test | 1991?-1997 | Found |
| WHO | NBC | 13 | Des Moines, IA | EBS Test | 1996 | Found |
| WHP | CBS | 21 | Harrisburg, PA | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1988 | Found |
| WJAR | NBC | 10 | Providence, RI | EBS Test | 1980-1997 | Found |
| WJBK | CBS | 2 | Detroit, MI | EBS Test | 1983-1988 | Found |
| WJLA | ABC | 7 | Washington, D.C. | EBS Test | 1984-1997 | Found |
| WJRT | ABC | 12 | Flint, MI | EBS Test | 1982-1997 | Lost |
| WKBD | FOX | 50 | Detroit, MI | EBS Test | 1989-1994 | Lost |
| WLEX | NBC | 18 | Lexington, KY | EBS Test | c. 1980s | Found |
| WLNE | CBS (until 1995) ABC (from 1995) | 6 | New Bedford, MA & Providence, RI | EBS Test | 1993-1997 | Found |
| WLS | ABC | 7 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | Early 1980s-Late 1980s | Found |
| WLS | ABC | 7 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | Late 1980s-1997 | Found |
| WLUK | NBC | 11 | Green Bay, WI | EBS Test | 1987-1992 | Found |
| WMAQ | NBC | 5 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | 1976-1992 | Found |
| WMAQ | NBC | 5 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | 1992-1997 | Found |
| WMC | NBC | 5 | Memphis, TN | EBS Test | 1995-1997 | Found |
| WNAC | CBS | 7 | Boston, MA | EBS Test | 1977-1981 | Found |
| WNBC | NBC | 4 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1979-1986 | Found |
| WNBC | NBC | 4 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1986-1992 | Found |
| WNDU | NBC | 16 | South Bend, IN | EBS Test | 1986-1994 | Found |
| WNYB | Various | 49 | Buffallo, NY | EBS Test | 1987-1997 | Found |
| WNYT | NBC | 13 | Albany, NY | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| WNYW | FOX | 5 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1986-1993 | Found |
| WNYW | FOX | 5 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1993-1997 | Found |
| WOR | Independent | 9 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1976-198? | Partially Found |
| WOR | Independent | 9 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 198?-1987 | Existence unconfirmed |
| WOR/WWOR | Independent | 9 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1986-1995 | Found |
| WOSU | PBS | 34 | Columbus, OH | EBS Test | 1980-1992 | Found |
| WPIX | Independent | 11 | New York City, NY | EBS Test | 1976-1990 | Found |
| WPTF | NBC | 28 | Durham, NC & Raleigh, NC | EBS Test | 1987-1991 | Partially Found |
| WPTF | NBC | 28 | Durham, NC & Raleigh, NC | EBS Warning | 1987-1991 | Found |
| WPVI | ABC | 6 | Philadelphia, PA | EBS Test | 1986-1997 | Found |
| WPXI | NBC | 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | EBS Test | 1987-1997 | Found |
| WRAU | ABC | 19 | Peoria, IL, Bloomington, IL & Normal, IL | EBS Test | 1976-1985 | Partially Found |
| WROC | NBC | 8 | Rochester, NY | EBS Test | 1986-1989 | Found |
| WSAZ | NBC | 3 | Huntington, WV | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| WSB | ABC | 2 | Atlanta, GA | EBS Test | 1985-1997 | Found |
| WSET | ABC | 13 | Lynchburg, VA & Roanoke, VA | EBS Test | 1992-1997 | Found |
| WSM | NBC | 4 | Nashville, TN | EBS Test | 1976-1981 | Found |
| WSMH | FOX | 66 | Flint, MI | EBS Test | 1984-1997 | Found |
| WSNS | ON TV | 44 | Chicago, IL | EBS Test | 1976-1985 | Partially Found |
| WSYX | ABC | 6 | Columbus, OH | EBS Test | 1987-1995? | Found |
| WTBS | TBS | 17 | Atlanta, GA | EBS Test | 1981-1990 | Found (w/No Attention Signal) |
| WTBS | TBS | 17 | Atlanta, GA | EBS Test | 1990-1997 | Found (Bad Quality) |
| WTCN | NBC | 11 | Minneapolis, MN & Saint Paul, MN | EBS Test | 1979-1984 | Partially Found |
| WTSP | ABC (until 1994) CBS (from 1994) | 10 | Tampa, FL | EBS Test | 1992-1997 | Found |
| WTTG | Independent | 5 | Washington, DC | EBS Test | 1984-1986 | Partially Found |
| WTVD | ABC | 11 | Durham, NC & Raleigh, NC | EBS Test | 1984-1997 | Found |
| WTVH | CBS | 5 | Syracuse, NY | EBS Test | 1980-1993 | Found |
| WTVT | CBS | 13 | Tampa, FL | EBS Test | 1978-1989 | Found |
| WVIA | PBS | 44 | Scranton, PA & Wilkes-Barre, PA | EBS Test | 199?-1997 | Partially Found |
| WVIT | NBC | 30 | Hartford, CT & New Haven, CT | EBS Map Display | 1976-1986 | Found |
| WVIT | NBC | 30 | Hartford, CT & New Haven, CT | EBS Map Display | 1986-1997 | Found |
| WVTV | Independent | 18 | Milwaukee, WI | EBS Test | 1978-1987 | Found |
| WVTV | Independent | 18 | Milwaukee, WI | EBS Test | 1987-1991 | Found |
| WVTV | Independent | 18 | Milwaukee, WI | EBS Test | 1991-1997 | Found |
| WXIN | FOX | 59 | Indianapolis, IN | EBS Test | 1994-1997 | Found |
| WXYZ | ABC | 7 | Detroit, MI | EBS Test | 1976-1989? | Found |
| All Prarie Public PBS TV Stations | PBS | Various | North Dakota | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| All Twin Cities Public PBS TV Stations | PBS | Various | Minneapolis, MN & Saint Paul, MN | EBS Test | Early 1980s-1997 | Found |
| W??? | ?? | ?? | Cleveland, OH | EBS Test | c. 1993 | Found |
| W??? | ?? | ?? | Louisville, KY | EBS Test | c. 1986 | Found |
| K??? | ?? | ?? | Salt Lake City, UH | EBS Test | c. 1988 | Found |
Reference[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Website that contains info on the EBS. Retrieved 23 Nov '17