Opposition Emerges to Sale of KOCE-TV

Calling it an asset worth protecting, several prominent local leaders expressed opposition Thursday to the possible sale of KOCE-TV, Orange County’s public television station.

At the very least, their concerns could complicate talks between KOCE and representatives of USC and Chapman University, two schools that have expressed interest in acquiring the station. It is valued at between $29 million and $35 million, according to a recent appraisal.

Paul Berger, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Coast Community College District, the holder of the PBS affiliate’s broadcast license, said KOCE has raised the district’s profile and benefited students.

“I don’t want to sell it,” he said. “I think it’s a valuable asset to the district and brings us a lot of prestige. Money alone would not convince me to sell. I’m not sure anything would.”

Trustee Jerry Patterson said KOCE’s programming and education courses are of great value to Orange County. “I’m hearing all these great reasons why Chapman and USC should buy it, but those are the same reasons we should hold on to it,” he said.

The five-member Board of Trustees, which must approve any sale, will take up the matter for the first time at its Aug. 18 meeting.

KOCE, located on the Golden West College campus in Huntington Beach, is among the 15 most-watched public television stations in the country, with 2.5 million viewers per week. Its signal reaches as far south as San Clemente, as far north as Van Nuys and as far east as Corona.

USC Chief Financial Officer Dennis Dougherty said the university is simply “gathering information” about KOCE and is a long way from making an offer.

He said he has concerns about the annual $1.5-million subsidy the station requires from the college district and the millions of dollars that must be invested in the next few years to upgrade equipment.