Still going strong at 30

Mike Sciacca

When you enter the front lobby of KOCE-TV in Huntington Beach,

there, off to one side, rests a television camera that appears

archaic.

The Norelco-brand TV camera serves as a reminder of how things

once were, as well as an indicator of just how far things have come

for the local station.

KOCE has just celebrated its 30th anniversary. There were no bells

and whistles on that day -- Nov. 20 -- but in the unadorned front

lobby a small party was held for the station and its employees.

The celebration, however, was tinged with sadness: one day before,

William A. Furniss, founder and longtime president of KOCE, died at

the age of 66.

Instead of staging a big, birthday bash celebration, the station

focused on its intent to carry on Furniss’ original vision. That

vision extends to converting to digital, high-definition television.

“We’re absolutely committed to being connected to the greater

Orange County community than ever before,” KOCE President Mel Rogers

said.

“Digital will allow us to focus on the underserved people of

Orange County, provide better and more educational services, and also

a more compelling program schedule for all viewers in Los Angeles,

the Coachella Valley and beyond,” he said. “Our birthday present to

the people of Southern California is a new digital service of

enlightening, civilized public television, all broadcast from Mt.

Wilson.”

It all begins in January.

The direction in which KOCE is moving reflects the station’s

dedication to growth through local news, information and programming

pertinent to its viewership.

It also is a continuation of the station’s humble beginnings.

KOCE-TV signed on as the 231st PBS station when it debuted Nov.

20, 1972, and had the distinction of becoming Orange County’s first

TV station.

Programming began with a modest, six-hour daily schedule and a

small audience.

Today, just as the county has seen a boom in its population

growth, KOCE’s programming has expanded to 24 hours a day, and its

audience has grown to 4.5 million.

Its educational, informative and cultural programming schedule

includes shows such as “Real Orange,” Orange County’s only locally

produced news show, “Orangeworks,” a televised job-search forum, and

“And Thou Shalt Honor,” a recent TV program and special event about

care-giving.

The programs are just a few of the thousands the station has

produced in its 30 years.

Programs exclusive to KOCE comprise more than 50% of the

programming schedule, the station said. An array of British comedies

and dramas, “The Lawrence Welk Show” and travel, educational, teacher

enrichment and self-improvement programs fill out the lineup.

“Most people get their news and information from television,”

Rogers said. “People living in Orange County haven’t had the

opportunity to really see local stories and events on the news.

Currently, we do our news in a non-live format, but it is our goal to

grow in our local news involvement and live news abilities.

“Where K through 12 and higher education programming is concerned,

we do as much -- perhaps even more -- than others in the rest of the

country,” he said.

KOCE plans to offer viewers mind-expanding TV programs in the next

decade, Rogers said.

“Real Orange,” KOCE’s prime-time news program, garnered the

station’s 20th Golden Mike Award in 2001. The station was presented

the award for “Best Original News Commentary” by the local chapter of

the Radio and Television News Assn.

Veteran Southern California news and sports anchor Ed Arnold and

Ann Pulice serve as co-hosts and managing editors of the program.

“As a resident of Orange County since 1958, I’ve always felt that

our county was overlooked by the Los Angeles news media,” Arnold

said. “KOCE doesn’t have nearly the resources the L.A. stations do,

but we cover Orange County and our people.

“KOCE doesn’t waste time on car chases and stories that are mostly

of a negative nature,” he said.

“For me, after over 30 years as a news and sports anchor/reporter

in Los Angeles, it’s an honor to be with the only television station

that truly serves Orange County,” Arnold said. “There have been many

changes in the 30 years of KOCE’s existence, and you’ll see many more

in the near future, but these changes will be for the betterment of

Orange County.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at [email protected].