PBS TO LOSE KCET AFFILIATE?

[dave73]

Sad to see KCET in such dire straits but they really have only themselves to blame. They haven't produced any content for PBS since Carl Sagan's Cosmos in 1980........

Not true, they produce a children's series, Sid the Science Kid.

If KCET is producing Sid The Science Kid, then I wonder how that affects PBS or KCET. If the show continues for PBS, then I wonder if KCET will have to drop production of that show, and allow another PBS station take over production. I don't know how that'll work.

 

[BRNout]

Sad to see KCET in such dire straits but they really have only themselves to blame. They haven't produced any content for PBS since Carl Sagan's Cosmos in 1980........

Not true, they produce a children's series, Sid the Science Kid.

If KCET is producing Sid The Science Kid, then I wonder how that affects PBS or KCET. If the show continues for PBS, then I wonder if KCET will have to drop production of that show, and allow another PBS station take over production. I don't know how that'll work.

No "if" about it; KCET DOES produce Sid the Science Kid.

I find it very difficult to believe that this will be allowed to happen. KCET's relationship with PBS is such that something will almost certainly be worked out. This is a lose-lose for all involved. PBS would lose a heritage affiliate (or outlet) in the number 2 market. As for KCET, well, take a look at that list of former PBS stations that was cited earlier in the thread. Does anyone watch any of them now? The answer is essentially NO.

For KCET to let PBS go would be to consign themselves to irrelevancy. Surely their management knows this.

 

[azumanga]

So KCET will be like KCSM and KMTP in San Francisco, WYBE in Philadelphia, WNYE in New York City, WNVZ and WNVT in Washington, KULC in Salt Lake City, and WBEC Miami. All of them were part of PBS in the past.

KULC (now KUEN) and WBEC were never part of PBS -- they both broadcast educational programming and documentaries.

As for KCET, well, take a look at that list of former PBS stations that was cited earlier in the thread. Does anyone watch any of them now? The answer is essentially NO.

Of course, all of the above affiliates were formerly secondary PBS affiliates, showing only some PBS shows after airing on the main PBS channel in their areas.

KCET's disaffiliation will probably be the first involving a primary PBS station.

 

[Ultimajock]

...as Sid the Science Kid is a Jim Henson Productions property, it could just as easily be added to ABC's Saturday Morning lineup by parent Disney...Wikipedia claims PBS' commitment to the series runs out this year...

 

[dgendvil]

Why couldn't they save KCET as a PBS affiliate just like what they did with CHEK 6 in Victoria, Canada last year? They were so close shutting down the heritage Canadian station for good, but Canwest (now CHEK Media Group) found out that they wanted to keep the station going, & they became an independent, & now share sources with CBC News. Can that happen this time with KCET?

 

[TheBigA]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-pbs-future-20101013,0,4835945.story

 

[DToTheJ]

So KCET will be like... WNYE in New York City... part of PBS in the past.

WNYE's ex-sister station, the former WNYC in New York City, would also qualify. The station formerly owned by the City of New York aired some PBS programming, and was sold in 1997 to Dow Jones and ITT for the ill-fated "S+" venture (I believe the license was changed from a non-commercial to a commercial at around that point, as well). Paxson eventually bought it, and it's now WPXN (Ion).

 

[BRNout]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-pbs-future-20101013,0,4835945.story

Stick a fork in KCET, they're done. Without the PBS affiliation - yet saddled with a non-commercial license - it's very tough to get decent programming of any sort. And most of the corporate pledges will be moving over to KOCE, for whom this is a Godsend. Honestly, NOBODY watches the limited appeal shows that non-PBS non-comms offer.

Basically, KCET will end up being one of those channels on cable that all but a handful of people forget exists. Like the all-infomercial channel, the channel with programming from Kazakhstan, the Pentacostal God squad channel, and the one that looks like a public access channel from 1991.

 

[ShawnHill1]

KOCE will be the primary PBS affiliate in Southern California, according to the Orange County Register...

http://pedrowatcher.ocregister.com/...tion-after-kcet-cuts-ties-with-network/28174/

 

[sandiegoinexile]

....Stick a fork in KCET, they're done. Without the PBS affiliation - yet saddled with a non-commercial license - it's very tough to get decent programming of any sort......

This is what is baffling about the change. OK, so the station saves $7M in dues. They are going to take that money and program themselves? How many hours of decent TV can be bought/created for that amount. Are they just going to show classic movies in the evening with some hoity-toity host and reinvent themselves as the "old AMC"? Or maybe 80s sitcoms? And no commercials means that pledge breaks and donations are essential. Plus there are two sub-channels to program as well. I wonder if this is all just a big bluff to get PBS to reduce their fees.

 

[TheBigA]

This is what is baffling about the change. OK, so the station saves $7M in dues. They are going to take that money and program themselves?

Well here's a theory...I'll just throw it out for your discussion:

Back in 1980, Minnesota Public Radio went to NPR in Washington with an idea for a weekly radio show called Prairie Home Companion, hosted by a local author and folklorist Garrison Keillor. The show was already airing in Minneapolis/St. Paul and had become a hit. NPR pitched the idea around the affiliates, and concluded there was no market for this concept. So Minnesota Public Radio took their local show, and began to syndicate it themselves to other stations. Within a few years, it caught on and has lasted 30 years.

I tell that story because the possibility exists that what KCET could do is start its own network to compete with PBS. There is no law saying PBS must be the one and only program service. This would require a lot of energy and programming expertise. The station doesn't have much of a track record now, but that doesn't mean they can't come up with a bunch of locally produced shows using LA talent and offer it for national distribution.

Just a theory. I have no inside info, but it might explain their unusual decision.

 

[dave73]

This is what is baffling about the change. OK, so the station saves $7M in dues. They are going to take that money and program themselves?

Well here's a theory...I'll just throw it out for your discussion:

Back in 1980, Minnesota Public Radio went to NPR in Washington with an idea for a weekly radio show called Prairie Home Companion, hosted by a local author and folklorist Garrison Keillor. The show was already airing in Minneapolis/St. Paul and had become a hit. NPR pitched the idea around the affiliates, and concluded there was no market for this concept. So Minnesota Public Radio took their local show, and began to syndicate it themselves to other stations. Within a few years, it caught on and has lasted 30 years.

I tell that story because the possibility exists that what KCET could do is start its own network to compete with PBS. There is no law saying PBS must be the one and only program service. This would require a lot of energy and programming expertise. The station doesn't have much of a track record now, but that doesn't mean they can't come up with a bunch of locally produced shows using LA talent and offer it for national distribution.

Just a theory. I have no inside info, but it might explain their unusual decision.

It could be possible. Looking back on the history of public television, the government didn't like NET (National Educational Television), and was eager to get that network shut down. I wish we had that competition now, instead of PBS or Independent for stations with non-commercial licenses.

 

[sandiegoinexile]

OK, yes, I suppose it's possible that Channel 28 could become a programming powerhouse, creating all sorts of interesting shows that are needed by other PBS affiliates for their under-programmed subchannels. But Minnesota Public Radio of 1970s is a far cry from TV in 2010. I just don't see Kansas City public TV stations racing to show Huell Howser. A few years ago, I could see them partnering up with the LA Times for some decent public affairs programming, but now the Times is mostly in shambles. And programs with a CA focus aren't exactly going to be of interest beyond Vegas.

I suppose there is plenty of BBC programming that could provide some international newsiness. And there's always the LA arts scene, but broadcasting those events are going to cost $$$$. The January schedule should be interesting.