Los Angeles Loses PBS

Now what are the kiddies going to watch in the morning? (from KTLA)

Local public TV station KCET (Channel 28) is severing its relationship with PBS amid financial and structural problems.

KCET will be issuing a statement at 1 p.m. explaining its decision.

The move would appear to indicate that KCET is going to stop airing PBS's programs "Sesame Street," "Nova," the "News Hour," "Antique Road Show."

Instead the station will air news and documentaries from Japan, Canada and elsewhere, along with old feature films.

KCET's chief executive, Al Jerome, and its board chairman, Gordon Bava, first floated the idea this summer.

The drastic move comes after a months-long battle over the dues KCET must pay the national organization.

There's another PBS station in Orange County (KOCE) but I don't know if that channel is carried by L.A. cable providers.  If not, a lot of kids will be missing Sesame Street.  My wife and I also watch Antiques Road Show on KCET, but I think we can still get it on KOCE.

Back in the early 90's the bank I worked for decided to buy a little cheap P.R. by volunteering our staff to work the phones for a PBS fundraiser during one of their Pledge Weeks.  I fired up the Way Back Machine and actually located a photo of myself on the phone bank:

This had to be around 1991 or 1992.  I remember the celebrity host that night was Bob Goen who went on to host game shows and did some work for Entertainment Tonight.