Many people are surprised when I tell them KOCE-TV, Orange County’s PBS station, has grown so much it is now the sixth most-watched PBS station in America. That’s a fun statistic to share, but not an especially important one.
A local public television station’s value does not end nor even begin with its popular, highly-viewed PBS programs such as NOVA, Antiques Roadshow or Sesame Street. We are more than just a giant VCR that records and plays back spectacular national shows. Our true value is being a gathering place where local people can appear in front of lights and cameras and discuss local issues.
We are also a local educational institution providing on-air and online instructional video content for K-12 students. And most importantly, we are the local entity with the greatest potential for unifying our disparate Orange County into a cohesive, functional community.