Koce

More than 80% of Orange County residents favor keeping KOCE-TV as a PBS affiliate, committed to airing local programs, rather than selling it to a religious broadcaster for a higher price, according to a phone survey conducted by the Cal State Fullerton's Center for Public Policy. Of the 506 Orange County residents who participated in the survey, 18% backed the highest bidder, which is a religious broadcaster. KOCE-TV, Orange County's only public television station, has been broadcasting educational programs from Golden West College in Huntington Beach for 30 years.

Jenny Marder Live community broadcasts, an innovative business program and expanded coverage of the county's art scene could all be part of KOCE's future if the KOCE Foundation is awarded final rights to the station's license later this year. The Coast Community College District Board of Trustees voted 4 to 1 on Oct. 15 to pursue the KOCE Foundation's bid to acquire the station's license, a move that would allow KOCE to remain a public broadcasting station.

A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a racketeering charge against KOCE-TV, the embattled Orange County public television station based in Huntington Beach that has been in court since it was sold to its own fundraising foundation in 2004. When the Coast Community College District, which owned KOCE, sold it to the KOCE-TV Foundation, Christian broadcaster Daystar Television Network protested that its bid was higher. This May, an appellate court judge voided the sale. Dallas-based Daystar had filed four federal complaints against KOCE-TV, including the racketeering charge.

Marissa Espino HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Cal Poly Pomona is at least one prospective KOCE buyer continuing to show interest in purchasing the public-television station, although the Coast Community College District school board is trying to keep it at Golden West College. Cal Poly Pomona officials met with KOCE representatives Tuesday. "I can tell you as a university we are certainly looking at the possibility of being a partner of this project," said Ron Fremont, the school's director of public affairs.

While the fate of KOCE-TV lies entangled in the courts, the public broadcasting station's founder follows the action from a quiet home overlooking the Eastbluff neighborhood. Norman Watson is 90 now and walks with a cane, slowed by a pair of hip replacements. Although an emeritus member of the KOCE-TV Foundation, he plays little part in the station beyond watching it. But he clearly remembers the origins of Orange County's only public television service, years before it became mired in litigation.

It seems to be a recurring theme: KOCE-TV needs money, and its board is considering selling it. But this time, rather than entertaining offers from other colleges and universities, most potential buyers for the television station seem to be stations with religious affiliations. In 1999, the station was faced with the cost of going digital, which would cost about $8.5 million over a five-year transition period. Cal Poly Pomona, USC and Chapman University all expressed interest in buying KOCE-TV back then.

KOCE-TV, the only public television station in Orange County, will have a competitor in the near future. KCET, which covers Los Angeles and much of the Southland, announced plans last week to work with Cal State Fullerton to start a new Orange County digital channel. The station and the university plan to launch KCET Orange, a 24-hour network featuring news, local arts and educational programming, by fall of 2007. KCET, which launched in 1964, is the West Coast flagship station of PBS and reaches 11 counties, including Orange County.

KOCE-TV, the only public television station in Orange County, will have a competitor in the near future. KCET, which covers Los Angeles and much of the Southland, announced plans Wednesday to partner with Cal State Fullerton to start a new Orange County digital channel. The station and the university plan to launch KCET Orange, a 24-hour network featuring news, local arts and educational programming, by fall of 2007. KCET, which launched in 1964, is the West Coast flagship station of PBS and reaches 11 counties, including Orange County.

Wednesday night, trustees for the Coast Community College District had their first chance to speak as a group about the latest twist to the sale of KOCE-TV. With the threat of a lawsuit hanging over their heads, it's safe to assume that their words will be careful and measured, if not a bit frustrated and angry. If trustees do show anger, they will only be reflecting how a majority of people who live within the district's boundaries feel. There is widespread disbelief that the district's sale of the public TV station to the KOCE-TV Foundation has been derailed by first a court ruling in June and more recently a request by Christian broadcaster Daystar that the court award it the right to buy the station for as much as $40 million.

After months of debate and discussion, after years of threatening to sell, Coast Community College District's board of trustees must make a decision on Wednesday -- who will it sell KOCE-TV to. Five bidders are poised to take over Orange County's only public television station, although only one prospective buyer would leave the programming as is. The board faces a tough decision. Of the five prospective buyers, four are religious stations that offer sizable bids but will put an end to KOCE's local news and educational programming.