Judge Orders ‘Channel One’ Trial but Rejects Calls for Ban

A judge on Thursday refused to ban the Channel One current events TV program from a California school, but ordered a trial before classes resume in the fall on whether it may continue in its present form.

The case is being closely followed by U.S. school districts that use or are considering using Channel One. About 7.1 million students in nearly 11,800 public and private high schools in 45 states watch the program each school day.

Superior Court Judge Jeremy Fogel denied a preliminary injunction sought by the state that would have immediately banned Channel One’s use by San Jose’s East Side Union High School District.

But he said the state Department of Education’s suit will go to trial Sept. 2 to determine whether ads belong in TV programs designed to teach current events.

“The school now has the burden of proving they can’t do it any other way,” the judge said.

Proponents say that Channel One programs teach students about current events and stimulate them to read newspapers, and that its operator, Knoxville-based Whittle Communications, provides schools with high-tech video equipment they could not afford to buy. Whittle gives the equipment to schools that sign up in exchange for their requiring students to watch.

But critics maintain that Whittle and the program’s sponsors want a captive audience for commercials for such items as candy bars, cars and athletic shoes.

“I was impressed by the content of Channel One,” Fogel said. “But when the ads came on, I have to tell you I was jarred. But it may well be it is necessary.”

California Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig sued in December to ban Channel One from the San Jose district, one of several in the state that has defied his ban on the program.