KCET: Public Broadcasting in Los Angeles

• KCET (now PBS SoCal) was a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station in Los Angeles, California.
• KCET was owned by the Public Media Group of Southern California, a non-profit organization.
• KCET began broadcasting on September 28, 1964.
• It originally broadcast from Mount Wilson, sharing a tower with KNXT (now KCBS-TV).
• KCET was the first community-owned public television station in the United States.
• The station's call letters, KCET, stand for "Community Educational Television".
• From its launch until 1971, KCET was jointly operated by the University of Southern California and Los Angeles City College.
• In 1971, KCET became an independent community-owned station.

Programming

• KCET produced and broadcast a wide range of educational, cultural, and public affairs programming.
• It was known for producing local programs such as "Visiting… with Huell Howser", "California's Gold", and "Life & Times".
• KCET also aired PBS programs like "Masterpiece", "Nova", and "Sesame Street".
• The station played a significant role in producing programs about the arts, science, history, and current events.
• KCET was a major producer of Spanish-language programming for PBS.

Funding

• KCET relied on a variety of funding sources, including individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants from foundations and government agencies.
• Viewer support was a crucial part of the station's funding model.
• KCET held on-air pledge drives to solicit donations from viewers.

Digital Television

• KCET shut down its analog signal on February 17, 2009, as part of the digital television transition.
• The station continued to broadcast its digital signal on its pre-transition UHF channel 59.
• Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers displayed KCET's virtual channel as 28.

Sale to Educational Broadcasting Corporation

• In 2010, KCET faced financial difficulties and sought a new partner.
• KCET was sold to the Educational Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), the parent company of WNET in New York City.
• The sale was completed on December 20, 2010.
• As a result of the sale, KCET disaffiliated from PBS.

Transition to Independent Public Television Station

• After the sale to EBC, KCET became an independent public television station.
• The station no longer aired PBS programs.
• It focused on producing and acquiring its own programming.
• KCET's programming continued to emphasize local and regional topics.
• It also continued to offer educational and cultural programming.

Acquisition by Public Media Group of Southern California

• In April 2011, KCET was acquired by the Public Media Group of Southern California (PMGSC).
• PMGSC also owns and operates PBS SoCal (KOCE-TV).
• KCET and PBS SoCal merged their operations.
• KCET moved its studios from its historic location in Hollywood to the PBS SoCal studios in Costa Mesa.

Return to PBS

• After a period as an independent station, KCET rejoined PBS on January 1, 2019.
• At that time, KCET became known as KCET PBS SoCal.
• The station once again offered PBS programming in addition to its own local productions.
• The merger and return to PBS allowed for a stronger public media presence in Southern California.

Visiting… with Huell Howser

• "Visiting… with Huell Howser" was one of KCET's most popular and longest-running local programs.
• The show featured Huell Howser traveling throughout California, exploring its unique places, people, and stories.
• Howser's enthusiastic and engaging style made the show a beloved part of KCET's programming.
• "California's Gold" was a spin-off of "Visiting… with Huell Howser," focusing specifically on California's history and landmarks.
• Episodes of "Visiting…" and "California's Gold" continue to air on PBS SoCal.

The Future of KCET PBS SoCal

• As KCET PBS SoCal, the station remains a vital part of the Southern California media landscape.
• It continues to provide high-quality programming that informs, educates, and entertains viewers.
• KCET PBS SoCal is committed to serving the diverse communities of Southern California.
• The station's programming reflects the region's rich cultural heritage and its ongoing evolution.
• KCET PBS SoCal plays an important role in promoting civic engagement and fostering a sense of community.

KCET (now PBS SoCal) was a PBS member television station in Los Angeles. It was the first community-owned public television station in the United States. KCET produced educational, cultural, and public affairs programming, including local shows.