Getting to The Pointe: KCET Moving Studios to Burbank

The Pointe (via The Pointe site)

Indie TV station KCET has had a big year so far, after breaking from PBS and selling their historic Los Feliz-area studios to the Church Scientology. Next year, the station will pack up and move to beautiful downtown Burbank, to a building called The Pointe that was once a part of the NBC campus, according to the LA Times.

The Pointe is a 14-story office building located on Alameda. They will have new equipment in two production studios, as their old equipment was part of the sale deal with the Church of Scientology for their Sunset Boulevard property, which went for an undisclosed sum. However, the new space is approximately 55,000 square feet, nearly half as much space as their approximately 105,000 square feet at their current studio. They will lease 1 and 1/2 stories of the Pointe.

KCET has had a hard time getting viewership since cutting ties with PBS and their popular, stalwart programming. However, the station's finances are, according to KCET President Al Jerome, doing well. Jerome has said they are "debt free" and are "in very good shape" financially, and can thus afford making the big move.

The move is expected to happen in early 2012. They must vacate their current facility, which they rent from the Church of Scientology, by April.

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By Lindsay William-Ross in News on June 20, 2011 5:00 PM

Comments [rss]

Geo Caliban

Hope KCET makes it. Takes guts to do what they're doing

GretaBusby

Good deal for KCET.

Hawkins

Love that the LA City Council seems perplexed as to why KCET would want
to go to incorporated Burbank which can offer them a lower tax rate

Doran

Sounds like a good move. This is right across the street from KNBC, a block from Disney, and very near other media companies. Also good for Burbank. That said, this will mess up traffic in the area even more than it is.

Colin Hale

Yeah, I bet KCET's 8 employees will be a real hassle.

PicoPhreako69

Hmmm.... well, the best part is hearing they're "in the black" (or at least "debt free"). So few organizations can claim that these days.

choocho

One more step in Scientology's evil plan to take over/own downtown LA, just like they did with Clearwater, Florida. Google "Project Normandy" to read about that.