KOCE still faces uncertain future

It has fire-breathing dragons, freakishly huge house pets, arts,

crafts, business, news and medicine. Huntington Beach-based public

television station KOCE has got it all.

Programs include the “News Hour with Jim Lehrer” and the animated

“Clifford the Big Red Dog.” One program, “Destinos,” helps people

learn to speak Spanish, while “Dragon Tales” helps children learn to

take responsibility, follow directions and problem solve.

Ah, it’s got it all -- except a certain future.

Because it has no dial-a-lawyer commercials or catchy jingle

advertisements and because it survives mostly from people’s

generosity and helpful funds from local community college district,

it is in trouble.

Coast Community College District holds the license for the

station, giving it ultimate responsibility to fund the station,

although it only provides 25% of the budget. In these financially

uncertain times, trustees are looking at ways to cut district

expenses. The KOCE Foundation, a group dedicated to raising funds,

gives about $6 million of the station’s $8-million budget, leaving

the district with about $2 million to cover.

Because of the budget shortfall, the district is looking to

improve its own financial standing by selling the 30-year-old

station. Not only will the district save $2 million a year, it will

also receive a one-time lump sum of anywhere from $10 to $25 million

-- money that is badly needed.

But now a group of KOCE supporters, including many residents of

Newport-Mesa, have started to rally around the station, pressuring

the district board of directors to keep the local station.

The public station broadcasts 40 hours of community college

courses to the homes of students and shows 15 hours of kindergarten

through high school educational programs. I remember flipping through

the channels after school, looking for something mindless to erase

everything I learned in anatomy, and seeing some bearded man in a bow

tie explaining algebra on a large black board. For some reason, I

watched and learned a better way to solve for X.

Costa Mesa resident Eleanor Klein is one of the many who has

joined the fight to save KOCE. Klein plans to attend the district’s

meeting Aug. 20 to ask that trustees recognize the importance of the

channel.

“I love KOCE,” Klein said. “You see, the thing is, my husband and

I don’t have cable, and we only have three public channels, so this

is exceedingly important to us.”

Klein is more than just an entertainment fan, she is also thankful

for the educational programs. Her nephew, who is a quadriplegic and

confined to a wheelchair, supplemented his on-campus classes with

some at home.

“It got very difficult for him to move around to so many classes

but instead of give up, he studied from home. TV was really important

to him. I think it was essential.”

Klein is not the only local who loves KOCE. Fletcher Motorcars,

the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Ebell Club, Diedrich

Coffee and Wahoo’s are among the sponsors listed on the station’s Web

site.

District spokeswoman, Erin Cohn, said it is not certain the board

will take action Aug. 20 -- the item hasn’t even been placed on the

agenda.

“The agenda hasn’t been made yet,” she said “I’m sure it will be

on there but exactly how and what and when, I don’t know.”

The KOCE Foundation has submitted a proposal to the district, Cohn

said. But she would not disclose details.

“It’s definitely in consideration with the other nine who have

submitted proposals,” Cohn said.

A buyer must be a nonprofit organization, be licensed by the

Federal Communication Committee and use the station for educational

purposes, Cohn said.

There is no mandate the station remain public, which is what has

most people up in arms.

“I think it would just be tragic,” Klein said.

KOCE also provides local Orange County news, coverage of city and

county events and local elections, hundreds of public service

announcements, emergency service announcements and the “Help Me Grow”

series of pre and post natal child care.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at [email protected].