Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
KOCE-TV prepares to take over as LA-area’s main PBS station
Listen
• 1:30
KOCE's new PBS SoCal logo.
(
Courtesy of KOCE/PBS SoCal
)
KOCE-TV takes over as the Los Angeles-area’s main PBS station Jan. 1. The Orange County public television station unveiled its new PBS lineup Thursday.
The lineup adds PBS favorites such as "Frontline" and "American Experience," and personalities Huell Howser and Tavis Smiley.
"We're very excited to have, as we go forward, with this kind of prominence of what we think is the best brand in America, the PBS brand," said KOCE President Mel Rogers.
Rogers said one program that’ll be missing from the KOCE lineup – for now – is talk show host Charlie Rose.
Support for LAist comes from
"He will be available in various other forms, not on KOCE for as long as a year from now just because of commitments we have with our telecourse commitments that are long-standing and our Orange County commitments," Rogers said.
KOCE, which now will go by PBS SoCal, will keep its Orange County-based news shows, including “Real Orange.” But Rogers said repeats of those programs won’t be shown as often - and they probably won’t have room to add more Orange County-based programming.
"We will be a station that doesn’t ignore Orange County. I think that’s how I describe us," Rogers said. "We’re obviously not going to be able to focus on Orange County anymore, but we’re not going to begin ignoring it either."
Rogers said instead, KOCE will focus more on a regional approach to its local programming.
"Let’s suppose, instead of doing a show about the Pacific Symphony, we do a show about classical music in Southern California and we talk a lot about the wonderful, world-class LA Philharmonic with Dudamel, but we also talk about the terrific Pacific Symphony and Carl St. Clair and we encompass everything that’s going on in the market in talking about those things," Rogers said.
He said that’s not done by anybody else right now.
Rogers said KOCE also plans to expand its reach through cable and digital stations in Santa Barbara, Big Bear and Victorville.
Support for LAist comes from
KOCE will also partner with KLCS in LA and KVCR in Riverside-San Bernardino. Those stations will carry PBS programming that KOCE can’t fit into its new schedule.
The new PBS SoCal is also launching a new website, where viewers can search for their favorite PBS shows to see where they will air.
KOCE's takeover as the main PBS program provider in the Los Angeles area came after KCET opted earlier this year to cut ties with PBS and become and independent station.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
Best of LAist