PBS SoCal KOCE Announces Program Line-up Changes to Strengthen Service in News and Public Affairs; Science, Tech and Environment
LOS ANGELES, August 17, 2017 – PBS SoCal KOCE, the home to PBS for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California, announces changes to its schedule that will provide a more robust service in the important areas of news and public affairs; and science, technology and environment. The changes, developed in response to viewer feedback and data analysis, involve creating blocks of content in these two important areas by introducing new series and providing better time slots for some existing programs.
Beginning on Friday, September 1, PBS SoCal will air an expanded block of news and public affairs content wrapped around the nationally acclaimed nightly news program PBS NewsHour.
- On weeknights, Charlie Rose will air at 5:00 p.m., followed by the PBS NewsHour at 6:00 p.m. Then, on Fridays, Washington Week will air at 7:00 p.m. followed by a new PBS series Third Rail with Ozy, featuring Emmy award-winning journalist Carlos Watson, at 7:30 p.m. Washington Week will re-air in its usual time-slot at 8:00 p.m. Airings of Tavis Smiley at 11:00 p.m. and Charlie Rose at 11:30 p.m. remain unchanged.
- On Sundays, Bonnie Boswell Reports will return for a third season sharing the issues and stories important to Angelenos through her two-minute reports inserted locally into PBS NewsHour Weekend at 5:30 p.m. And Inside OC with Rick Reiff will now also air on Sundays at 5:00 p.m.
- Starting on September 9, a new PBS series The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations will air on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.
In the area of science, technology and environment, SciTech Now will be added to the “Think Wednesday” block that now features PBS science and nature series including NATURE and NOVA. PBS SoCal will expand its local coverage in this area in the coming months.
“We have seen significant growth in audience interest in news and public affairs programs, including the PBS NewsHour and Washington Week. This interest built during the Presidential election, and has sustained as our nation follows closely the efforts of government to debate proposals for significant changes in national policy,” said Andrew Russell, President & CEO of PBS SoCal. “Southern California is no different, so we felt it important to strengthen our content offerings in this area. These schedule changes are one step in that process. Next, we will make investments in improving our local service through the development of new locally-produced programs in the areas of news and public affairs; and science, technology and environment.”
As a part of the line-up changes, Studio SoCal will cease production and air its final episode on August 30. PBS SoCal will soon begin the development of a fresh locally-produced public affairs program.
PBS SoCal’s local arts programming will continue with new episodes of LAaRT, airing Fridays at 8:30 p.m. This fall, LAaRT will explore the healing benefits of “cos-play,” offer a behind-the-scenes chat with Broadway star Stephanie Block and the creative team that is bringing the Falsettos to PBS – and much more.
ABOUT PBS SOCAL
PBS SoCal KOCE is the home to PBS for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. We deliver the full schedule of PBS programs plus content that is for, about and by the people of Southern California. Our content is available free through four broadcast channels, at pbssocal.org, on our mobile apps, and via connected TV services. And we provide the community with early education resources and cultural and educational experiences through partnerships, events and grassroots outreach. PBS SoCal has offices in Century City, Costa Mesa, and Los Angeles. Connect with us at pbssocal.org, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Contact:
Tracy Smith
PBS SoCal
310-237-4517