KCET
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| KCET | |
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| Los Angeles, California | |
| Branding | KCET |
| Slogan | Infinitely More |
| Channels | 28 (UHF) analog, 59 (UHF) digital |
| Affiliations | PBS |
| Owner | Community Television of Southern California |
| Founded | September 28, 1964 |
| Call letters meaning | Community Educational Television |
| Former affiliations | NET (1964-1970) |
| Transmitter Power | 2450 kW/926 m (analog) 340 kW/913 m (digital) |
| Website | www.kcet.org |
- For the Japanese computer game developer, see Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
KCET, public television for southern and central California, is watched by four million viewers a week in 11 counties, the largest broadcast reach of any public television station in the United States. It is the West Coast flagship station of PBS. Throughout its 40-plus year history, KCET has garnered hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, and its outreach and community services.
It is one of four PBS member stations serving Los Angeles and Southern California, the others being KVCR-TV, KOCE-TV, and KLCS. Broadcasting on channel 28, the studio is located at 4401 West Sunset Boulevard. Its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson, one of the highest points in Los Angeles County.
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[edit] Mission Statement
KCET is your personal gateway to the world in all its complexity and wonder. It is a theater showcasing the finest drama and music... a gallery of art and design and craft... a museum illuminating the natural world... a forum for discourse and news... a library of history come alive... and a classroom where the children we love learn to become joyful, productive adults.
As an independent media voice, KCET enriches our understanding of the past, enlivens our present, and prepares us for the future.
[edit] History
KCET signed on September 28, 1964 as an affiliate of National Educational Television, or NET. It was actually the second attempt at an educational station in the Los Angeles area. KTHE, operated by the University of Southern California, had previously broadcast on channel 28, beginning on November 29, 1953. It was the second educational television station in the United States, signing on six months and four days after KUHT in Houston, Texas, but it went dark after nine months due to its primary benefactor, the Hancock Foundation, determining that the station was too much of a financial drain on its resources.
The call letters KCET stand for Community Educational Television, not to be confused with the organization of the same name formed by Daystar Television Network in 2003, which made an unsuccessful bid to purchase Orange County public television station KOCE.
KCET is located in a historic area in Hollywood, California. It purchased the property for their studio in Los Angeles in 1971, assisted financially in part by both the Ford Foundation and the Michael Connell Foundation. The newest building is named the Educational Telecommunications Center which houses California Connected, Life and Times, and the KCET's master control area.
In 2000, channel 59 was designated as KCET-DT.
Al Jerome is the current president and CEO.
[edit] Programming
KCET produced the acclaimed Carl Sagan series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage in 1978-1979.
Current productions include its award-winning and signature news and public affairs program Life & Times hosted by Val Zavala (underwritten by The Whittier Foundation, Jim & Anne Rothenberg, QueensCare, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Boeing, and the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department).
Huell Howser's California's Gold (underwritten by AAA, BP, Toyota, and Sempra Energy) is produced at the KCET lot.
KCET also produces the weeknight talk show Tavis Smiley and the award-winning California Connected. Peabody award-winning shows A Place of Our Own and the Spanish language equivalent, Los Niños en Su Casa are taped at the KCET studios. Both programs, part of the KCEd initiative, have received a generous grant to expand its coverage as a nation-wide television program designed for care-givers.
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, KCET produced a six-part miniseries in conjunction with the BBC called Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State.
KCET is also home to familiar PBS shows such as Antiques Roadshow, Nature, Nova, Frontline, Newshour with Jim Lehrer, Masterpiece Theater, Soundstage, and many more.
KCET Hollywood is the PBS production unit that includes Tavis Smiley.
[edit] New Media
KCET's extensive website produces original multimedia web content including CA Stories. There are also video clips, podcasts, television schedule, contact information, and a Life & Times blog.
[edit] Media Partnership with California State University, Fullerton
In 2006, KCET established an exclusive media partnership with California State University, Fullerton. In 2007, KCET and CSUF announced that a new 24/7 digital cable channel, KCET Orange, will premiere this fall. Programs like "Life and Times" will feature expanded Orange County news coverage, plus additional arts and cultural programming with an Orange County spin. Talented students from Titan Communications TV and the College of Communications will expand Cal State Fullerton's contribution to this unprecedented media venture. Please watch Titan TV's Conversations with President Gordon & Special Guests for more information.
[edit] Logos
 KCET logo from 1966 to 1982 |
 KCET logo from 1982 to 1990 |
 KCET logo from 1990 to 1997 |
 Current KCET logo, used since 1997 |
 hi-res KCET logo (blue), 2007 |
[edit] External links
- KCET Online
- CA Stories
- KCET Podcasts
- KCET Lot History
- List of KCET's shows
- "Life & Times" community blog
- Query the FCC's TV station database for KCET
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- Satellite image from WikiMapia, Google Maps or Windows Live Local
- Street map from MapQuest or Google Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image from TerraServer-USA
| PBS Member Stations in the state of California | |
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KVIE 6 (Sacramento) - KIXE 9 (Redding) - KQED 9 (San Francisco) - KEET 13 (Eureka) - KPBS 15 (San Diego) - KVPT 18 / KVPT-LP 34 (Fresno / Bakersfield) - KRCB 22 (Cotati) - KVCR 24 (San Bernardino) - KCET 28 (Los Angeles) - KCSM 431 (San Mateo) - KOCE 50 (Huntington Beach) - KTEH 54 / KCAH 25 (San Jose / Watsonville) - KLCS 58 (Los Angeles) |
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1-- KCSM is a digital-only station. |
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| See also: ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, Telefutura, Telemundo, Univision, Independent, Other Spanish Network, Religious, Home Shopping and Other stations in California | |
