KOCE

KOCE-TV FOUNDATION SECURES FUNDING
FOR PURCHASE OF KOCE-TV

Strong funding commitments from private donors and corporations secure bright future for Orange County’s only public television station

Huntington Beach, CA, October 13, 2004 -- The KOCE-TV Foundation announced today that it has successfully secured the funds required to finalize its purchase of KOCE-TV, the Orange County based PBS station, from the Coast Community College District. The announcement comes at the conclusion of a seven-month campaign during which the Foundation secured cash and pledges required to close the sale.

“Many generous and committed Orange County individuals and companies stepped forward to make this possible,” said Bob Brown, Chairman of the KOCE-TV Foundation. “This entire process of acquiring the license for KOCE has been a remarkable and largely unprecedented achievement, from winning the competitive bid process to securing our financing. KOCE is a special community asset that had to be protected, and we had a very narrow window to raise the money. But this is just a start. As we launch the new KOCE, all of us in Orange County must step up and support the only electronic medium that exists to inform, enlighten and unify us as a community.”

The Foundation led the campaign to acquire the station on behalf of the people of Orange County. To keep the station public, the Foundation had to compete with four other broadcasting organizations, all of which intended to convert the station to largely religious programming in what they considered a highly lucrative Southern California market.

“Our donors shared with us the importance of preserving the one station that could serve the educational, informational, cultural, business and entertainment needs of our community,” said Jerry Cwiertnia, vice-chair of the KOCE-TV Foundation. “As we move forward, we will continue to involve and seek the support of the community to guide us and help us grow.”

The FCC issued preliminary approval for the transfer of the KOCE broadcast license to the KOCE-TV Foundation in mid-September, and in the process, dismissed a petition to deny the transfer filed by one of the unsuccessful bidders. Final federal approval is expected on October 25th.

“The KOCE-TV Foundation has accomplished a great deal in a very short period of time,” said Andrew Kho, Managing Director, NCB, FSB, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Cooperative Bank, the financial institution that is funding the Foundation’s down payment to buy the station. “We’re proud to play a part in making this deal happen. We hope to see KOCE-TV grow and thrive as it meets the needs of the communities it serves.”

Mel Rogers, KOCE-TV President, said that operating KOCE-TV on a self-sustaining basis is critical to the station’s future success. “Some people believe that not-for-profit companies are not real businesses,” Rogers said. “But nothing could be further from the truth. The new KOCE will execute a business plan that emphasizes both service to our communities and long-term fiscal sustainability and growth”.

Rogers is most excited about the promise of digital television. “The new, community-based KOCE won’t just be a television channel. It will be a suite of digital services available both on the air and online.”

Rogers added, “What you will see with the new KOCE can best be summed up as-

Be live. Be local. Create content. Create community.”





PRESS ROOM Contact: Bob Brown KOCE-TV Foundation Chair (949) 706-1789 Ardelle St.George KOCE-TV Foundation Legal Counsel (949) 854-8405 KOCE-TV FOUNDATION SECURES FUNDING FOR PURCHASE OF KOCE-TV Strong funding commitments from private donors and corporations secure bright future for Orange County’s only public television station Huntington Beach, CA, October 13, 2004 -- The KOCE-TV Foundation announced today that it has successfully secured the funds required to finalize its purchase of KOCE-TV, the Orange County based PBS station, from the Coast Community College District. The announcement comes at the conclusion of a seven-month campaign during which the Foundation secured cash and pledges required to close the sale. “Many generous and committed Orange County individuals and companies stepped forward to make this possible,” said Bob Brown, Chairman of the KOCE-TV Foundation. “This entire process of acquiring the license for KOCE has been a remarkable and largely unprecedented achievement, from winning the competitive bid process to securing our financing. KOCE is a special community asset that had to be protected, and we had a very narrow window to raise the money. But this is just a start. As we launch the new KOCE, all of us in Orange County must step up and support the only electronic medium that exists to inform, enlighten and unify us as a community.” The Foundation led the campaign to acquire the station on behalf of the people of Orange County. To keep the station public, the Foundation had to compete with four other broadcasting organizations, all of which intended to convert the station to largely religious programming in what they considered a highly lucrative Southern California market. “Our donors shared with us the importance of preserving the one station that could serve the educational, informational, cultural, business and entertainment needs of our community,” said Jerry Cwiertnia, vice-chair of the KOCE-TV Foundation. “As we move forward, we will continue to involve and seek the support of the community to guide us and help us grow.” The FCC issued preliminary approval for the transfer of the KOCE broadcast license to the KOCE-TV Foundation in mid-September, and in the process, dismissed a petition to deny the transfer filed by one of the unsuccessful bidders. Final federal approval is expected on October 25th. “The KOCE-TV Foundation has accomplished a great deal in a very short period of time,” said Andrew Kho, Managing Director, NCB, FSB, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Cooperative Bank, the financial institution that is funding the Foundation’s down payment to buy the station. “We’re proud to play a part in making this deal happen. We hope to see KOCE-TV grow and thrive as it meets the needs of the communities it serves.” Mel Rogers, KOCE-TV President, said that operating KOCE-TV on a self-sustaining basis is critical to the station’s future success. “Some people believe that not-for-profit companies are not real businesses,” Rogers said. “But nothing could be further from the truth. The new KOCE will execute a business plan that emphasizes both service to our communities and long-term fiscal sustainability and growth”. Rogers is most excited about the promise of digital television. “The new, community-based KOCE won’t just be a television channel. It will be a suite of digital services available both on the air and online.” Rogers added, “What you will see with the new KOCE can best be summed up as- Be live. Be local. Create content. Create community.”	KOCE on Satellite KOCE Now on Cable
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