Here's The Press Release Announcing KOCE As SoCal's New Primary PBS Affiliate

Here's the press release from PBS, officially naming Orange County's KOCE-TV as Southern California's new primary PBS affiliate. As widely reported, Los Angeles' KCET goes independent on Jan. 1.

KOCE-TV TO BECOME THE NEW HOME OF PBS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Huntington Beach, CA and Arlington, VA – December 1, 2010 - Starting January 1, 2011, KOCE-TV will become the full service PBS station for the Southern California region, and will begin broadcasting the full line-up of PBS programs for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties and the City of Santa Barbara.

KOCE will offer PBS’ Emmy award-winning news and public affairs, history, drama and performing arts programming, including PBS NEWSHOUR, FRONTLINE, NOVA, MASTERPIECE, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, AMERICAN MASTERS, TAVIS SMILEY and GREAT PERFORMANCES. According to a 2010 GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media poll, PBS was rated the most trusted institution among nationally known organizations for the seventh consecutive year.

KOCE will also feature seven hours of PBS KIDS programming each weekday. PBS KIDS is the nation’s most trusted educational media brand and has been proven to help children succeed in the classroom and in life. PBS’ children’s programming, such as SESAME STREET, CURIOUS GEORGE, DINOSAUR TRAIN, ARTHUR, SUPER WHY!, THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT and the upcoming WILD KRATTS, which premieres in January 2011, invites kids to explore the world around them with educational, age-appropriate content that offers positive role models for children.

KOCE will look to expand its outreach services in coming months, including KOCE Classroom – KOCE’s educational initiative that currently serves nearly a half-million students and teachers in Southern California schools.

"KOCE-TV is delighted to expand our lineup of award-winning PBS programming that serves as a mainstay in homes across the country," said KOCE President and CEO Mel Rogers. "We are excited to be the new home of PBS in Southern California and continue to work with PBS stations KVCR-TV and KLCS-TV to build a Southern California Consortium of stations for the region."

"PBS continues to focus on ensuring the people of Southern California are able to benefit from the full range of high-quality PBS content and services," said PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger. "We look forward to working with KOCE and our other PBS stations, KVCR-TV and KLCS-TV, to offer the very best of PBS' national and locally produced content to the people of Southern California."

Beginning in January, KOCE will also present PBS’ new Winter/Spring 2011 season of original programs that enrich lives and expand horizons.

Highlights of the new schedule can be found KOCE's website.

Meanwhile, PBS was also in the awkward position of announcing today that KCET is one of nine public broadcasters that has received matching “membership challenge” grants totaling $2.2 million from Newman’s Own Foundation.

The fund, split between PBS and the nine stations, is meant "to help strengthen fundraising efforts and increase support for programs and services that inform, educate, entertain and inspire audiences."

Besides KCET, money went to CPTV (Connecticut Public Television), KCTS Seattle, TPT (Twin Cities Public Television), WETA Washington, WNET New York, WTTW Chicago and New England public radio stations WAMC and WSHU.