A Show of Appreciation by, for KOCE
How is it possible that Planet Hollywood is filing for bankruptcy protection and KOCE is a hot property? That Tinseltown is trying to figure out what’s gone wrong and KOCE has buyers lined up at the door?
This is like finding out that Tom Cruise can’t find work but George Hamilton has a three-picture deal. Things seem topsy-turvy.
Are you telling me that people have lost interest in “Terminator” and “Indiana Jones” artifacts but are excited about debates between candidates for county auditor? Can it be that the dumbing-down of America finally has come to an end?
KOCE is your father’s TV station, but suddenly it’s hip to be square. Nobody watches Letterman anymore, but they can’t get enough of Lawrence Welk on KOCE?
What’s going on?
Wait just a minute. . . . They haven’t started showing nudity at KOCE, have they?
The public broadcast station is tucked away on the Golden West College campus in Huntington Beach, but it’s attracted more fan interest recently than the Angels. In fact, if someone gives you the choice of buying the Angels or KOCE, take the station and don’t look back.
Talk of a possible sale has been in the news for about two weeks. Originally, Chapman University and USC indicated interest. Since then, Cal Poly Pomona has queried.
KOCE people must be getting a bit lightheaded at all the attention. The station has grown accustomed to being the ugly duckling sister of bigger KCET in Los Angeles.
No more. Nothing like multiple suitors to make you feel special.
I can understand why Chapman wants in. Businessman George Argyros is its patron saint and he could use KOCE’s airwaves to run 24-hour subliminal advertising for a new El Toro airport.
USC’s interest is more puzzling. One theory: No one else will air Trojan football.
As for Cal Poly, it’s entirely possible they misdialed.
I jest, but KOCE is no chump operation. It reportedly is among the 15 most watched PBS stations in America and claims 2.5 million viewers a week. As the sales talk got going recently, the station was appraised at potentially more than $30 million.
But a funny thing has happened as buyers have elbowed for position.
KOCE is now playing it very cool. Last week, the trustees who run the district that operates the station didn’t close the door on a future sale but stressed that the station isn’t on the block either.
The Coast Community College District trustees acknowledged that money from a sale would be nice but sounded reluctant to give up their property. After all, it’s not every community college district that has its own flagship station capable of providing a broadcast of Jose Feliciano in concert, which KOCE did last week.
Still, the district says it will have to raise several million dollars in the next few years to invest in digital-television equipment. It already budgets about $1.5 million a year in support of KOCE.
I’m afraid I have no rock-ribbed position on whether the district should sell or not. I would only ask that any potential buyer not discontinue programs like “The Story of Golf” that aired last week.
In the end, the money that Chapman or USC could dangle in front of the community college district may prove too irresistible.
Nothing to be ashamed of. After all, it does have students to educate, and that costs money.
The trustees can take solace in knowing they have something someone else wants.
That’s more than the folks at Planet Hollywood can say.
Which should give them pause.
Maybe what the local celebrity-crazy franchise needs is a little less Stallone and a little more Welk.
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Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Parsons by calling (714) 966-7821, by writing to him at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or by e-mail at dana.parsons@latimes.com.
