KOCE-TV to Become PBS SoCal in 2011

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for the New Year, KOCE-TV is launching a series of new initiatives to help Southern California public television viewers make a smooth transition to the new home of PBS throughout the Southland.

Beginning January 2011, KOCE-TV will become PBS SoCal, serving the residents of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties and the city of Santa Barbara, in addition to Orange County.

KOCE-TV's over-the-air broadcast television location is at Channel 50.1, and the station is available on a variety of cable and satellite television providers throughout Southern California.  Providers helping to increase KOCE's geographic reach across the Southland include Charter Communications, Cox Communications, Mediacom, Suddenlink Communications, and Time Warner Cable.  Direct TV, DISH Network, Verizon FIOS and AT&T U verse will continue existing coverage across Orange County.  

Starting today, viewers can begin using a new centralized website, www.pbssocal.org, to find specific PBS programming and channel information for KOCE-TV and its providers, as well as partner stations KLCS-TV in Los Angeles and KVCR-TV in San Bernardino.  Viewers also can call (800) 278-5050 for program information toll free.

"This is a very exciting time for KOCE," said President and CEO Mel Rogers.  "Expanding our services throughout the LA market has been a top priority to ensure that viewers had access to their favorite PBS programs.  Our new identity is the result of extensive viewer research, and I am confident that it fully represents our new role as the full-service PBS station in Southern California."

This January viewers throughout the Southland and long-time PBS fans will be able to continue watching their favorite quality PBS programs at their new PBS SoCal home, including "American Masters," "Tavis Smiley," "California's Gold," "Frontline," "Masterpiece Theater," "NOVA" and "Pioneers of Television," as well as "The Cat In the Hat Knows A Lot About That" and "Curious George," which have both taken a turn ranked No. 1 nationally among kids shows during the past three months, according to Nielsen ratings.

Also in January, KOCE will provide cable access to WORLD TV, one of the premiere outlets for public television non-fiction, science, news, current affairs and documentaries.

The station will continue to provide Orange County with quality programming like "Inside OC with Rick Reiff" and "Real Orange," and expand its OC Channel 50.2 to viewing areas beyond Orange County.

A limited number of PBS network programs can be found at sister stations KLCS-TV in Los Angeles or KVCR-TV in San Bernardino.  KVCR will air "Nightly Business Report" and "Charlie Rose," while KLCS will air "Independent Lens."  Additional PBS programs will be added to KOCE's OC Channel schedule this Spring.

For KOCE's complete primetime and kids schedules, an A-Z listing of shows, and detailed information on finding KOCE on local providers, visit www.pbssocal.org.

About KOCE-TV

KOCE-TV is one of the most-watched PBS stations in America with an estimated five million unduplicated viewers monthly. KOCE's award-winning programming offers a long-standing community hub for local news, culture and features, and broadcasts the best available national PBS programs to the entire Southern California five-county region. Known for its outstanding dedication to education, KOCE Classroom serves more than a half million K-12 students. A national Roper poll ranked PBS as number one in public trust for the seventh consecutive year.* The winner of hundreds of awards including Emmys and Community Service Awards, KOCE continues to be a vital community resource and connector for Southern California.  For more information, please visit www.koce.org.

SOURCE KOCE