Defending Educational Television
Help Preserve KOCE's Future
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Message from Mel Rogers, President of
KOCE-TV:
Everywhere I go I get to tell people about the great successes we are enjoying at KOCE in audience growth, enhanced Orange County news and event coverage, educational services for students and teachers and growing member and viewer support.
I have been asked about the status of recent attempts by an out of state religious broadcaster to use the court system to obtain the KOCE license and turn it into a transmitter for a distant stream of non-local and non-PBS programming. Inevitably, people throughout Southern California have expressed concern and support for KOCE.
The sale of KOCE to the non-profit KOCE-TV Foundation occurred last November. A broadcast license in the second largest television market in the country is rare and valuable. This has prompted our well-financed out of state challenger to use the courts in an attempt to be awarded ownership of KOCE. The validity of the KOCE-TV Foundation as the licensee of the station has been affirmed in Superior Court and at the Federal Communications Commission in response to a lawsuit filed in State Court.
That same religious broadcaster has also filed personal suits with unfounded claims in Federal Court against the Foundation, and several Trustees of the Coast Community College District who voted for the KOCE-TV Foundation as highest responsible bidder for the station.
While the State Appellate Court initially questioned the sale, they have vacated that decision and granted a re-hearing in late November. We are confident that we will get a positive result. Even if that is not the case, we expect that the KOCE-TV Foundation, as station owner or otherwise, will continue to operate the station on behalf of the people of Orange County and Southern California for decades to come.
How Can You Help?
We need your help. It is a shame that we must use station resources to fight battles in court however; we are up against big money and challenging tactics. It is critical that the viewers of KOCE continue to support us at this crucial time. Here’s what you can do to help:
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Contact the Coast District Trustees, thank them for their community-minded decision in selecting the KOCE-TV Foundation as the most responsible bidder for the station. Then encourage them to not yield to the pressure and lawsuits. To send an e-mail to any of the Coast District Trustees, click here.
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KOCE Defense of Education Fund. Those attempting to take away our local educational PBS station are very well funded. Please help defend KOCE’s educational services by assisting us financially. To make a tax-deductible donation, click here.
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Tell Everyone you know that an indispensable community resource for education, citizenship, and culture is in jeopardy. Orange County’s virtual downtown, the only station that regularly covers the issues, events and people, needs your moral and financial support. Write letters to community leaders and local newspaper editorial pages. Every expression of support helps. To contact local papers, click here.
My thanks to the thousands of you who have already stepped up to help! If you have yet to join the fight to defend KOCE, we need you now. Thank you.
Mel Rogers
President, KOCE-TV
