Los Angeles PBS affiliate KCET exits network fold to go independent By Scott Collins Los Angeles Times
October 8, 2010 | 12:30 pm http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/10/sorry-charlie-rose-los-angeles-pbs-affiliate-kcet-exits-network-fold-to-go-independent-.html KCET, the Los Angeles PBS member station, has decided to break away from the public broadcasting network and become an independent station. Starting in January, station officials intend to replace such iconic PBS fare as "Charlie Rose," "NewsHour," "Sesame Street" and "Masterpiece" with news and documentaries from Japan, Canada and elsewhere, along with old feature films. (KCET will continue to carry PBS programming through the end of December.) The drastic move comes after a months-long battle over the dues KCET must pay the national organization. Last year, the dues totaled nearly $7 million, or almost one-fifth of the station's $37-million net operating revenue. Station officials say that amount is far too high. PBS, fearing that a reduction in the sum could lead to demands for similar discounts from other member stations, refused to budge. "After four decades as the West Coast flagship PBS station, this is not a decision we made lightly," said Al Jerome, KCET's president and chief executive, in a news release. "We have been in discussions with PBS for over three years about the need to address challenges that are unique to our market as well as our station." "As an independent public television station, KCET will be committed to investing in Southern California by developing, acquiring, producing and distributing content across all media platforms," he added. "We will continue to offer the KCET audience programming from leading national and international sources. Some of these series are currently on our air." Yet a divorce could prove painful for both parties. Independent broadcasting outlets found themselves in perilous times even before the recent recession hit. Without recognizable series to promote, KCET will likely find it difficult to gain traction with viewers. Moreover, the station will find it tough to produce or buy shows that generate strong ratings as program costs keep escalating. A pullout isn't good news for PBS, either, as it signals "to other PBS members that affiliation isn't that important anymore," according to Jeffrey McCall, a media expert at DePauw University. It also increases doubts about the long-term future of public broadcasting. "PBS certainly does not play the essential role it once did in the nation's media landscape," McCall said. "For years, PBS provided things that couldn't be had from the traditional networks," including public affairs and educational programs. "Now, with cable outlets, not to mention the Internet, the public doesn't rely on PBS for such fare." -------------------------------------- Local PBS affiliates meet to discuss consortium plan By T. L. Stanley Los Angeles Times September 29, 2010 | 6:41 pm http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/09/local-pbs-affiliates-meet-to-discuss-consortium-plan.html Amid ongoing speculation that KCET may break away from PBS, representatives from the four Los Angeles area PBS affiliates met Wednesday to discuss a restructuring plan that would prevent the nation's second-largest media market from losing its flagship public television station. The plan explored calls for the KCET to form a consortium with Orange County's KOCE, the Inland Empire's KVCR and the Los Angeles school district's KLCS. The stations then would save money by reducing programming overlap, cross promoting, and better coordinating fundraisers. For months, KCET executives have warned that they may sever ties with the national network and become an independent station if the station's annual payment to PBS cannot be lowered. PBS officials have stated KCET pays about the same rate as other stations and has given no indication it intends to adjust the station's dues. Despite KCET's threats to leave the network, KOCE-TV's President and Chief Executive Mel Rogers said Wednesday after the meeting that a complete break is unlikely. "Both sides have too much to lose" if KCET and PBS part ways, he said. "If I were betting, I wouldn't bet that KCET would leave PBS," he continued. "I believe it would be best for public TV, the viewers in this area and the market for KCET to continue at some level." However, if KCET does leave PBS, KOCE would "step into the breach," Rogers said, and would provide more PBS programming than it does currently. (Its schedule is made up of about 25% PBS-provided programming; the rest is acquired and locally produced). KCET's chief executive, Al Jerome, could not be reached for comment about Wednesday's discussions. The meeting, held at KOCE's Huntington Beach headquarters, had apparently been scheduled more than a month ago. "It's historically been every man for himself, but that doesn't work in this environment," Larry Ciecalone, general manager and president of KVCR in San Bernardino, said Wednesday. "We want to program these stations jointly so we can really super-serve the viewers." If a consortium plan were adopted, it would put all four public TV stations on equal footing, rather than the traditional PBS model of having a primary, then one or more secondary stations. Such a configuration, though, represents a sticking point for PBS, which would probably have less money flowing into its coffers as a result. While the stations in the group have always been competitors, the recession and drastic reductions in vital corporate underwriting and donations have drawn them together. KCET is the biggest PBS station, with nearly 9 million viewers, in the country's second-biggest media market. Of its $40-million budget, KCET pays out about $7 million in programming fees to PBS, a 40% increase over the last several years. The station has laid off employees, shrinking its staff from 170 to 132, cutting salaries and pension contributions. The station is expecting a $10-million hit to its budget this year. The group will try to meet again in November, with a spot at the table reserved for KCET. "We're not spending a lot of time thinking about what this consortium would be like without them because we hope they're still part of it," Ciecalone said. -- ======================================== George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 Mail: antunes at uh dot edu _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list Medianews@etskywarn.net http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
