“KCET” is infinitely no extra. Properly, kind of. The Los Angeles-based public broadcaster nonetheless exists, and “KCET” stays its authorized name letters. However efficient Tuesday, Feb. 6, the station will begin branding itself as “PBS SoCal Plus.” That brings it additional in keeping with its sister station PBS SoCal (KOCE-TV), with which it merged in 2018.

Past that, the programming combine received’t change, however there shall be additional program sharing behind each retailers beneath the unified model. In line with the general public broadcaster, the model unification is supposed to cease any confusion that will nonetheless exist between PBS SoCal and KCET now that they’re operated beneath one roof. The 2 stations have already merged their two web sites into one, beneath the PBS SoCal title.

Dan Ferguson, PBS SoCal’s senior VP of selling and communication, stated the title change was made after they stated viewers analysis supported the consolidation.

“Whereas conventional, over-the-air, broadcast programming and scheduling efforts will proceed to be as important as ever to our group’s success, the brand new branding effort acknowledges the present media panorama and PBS SoCal’s dedication to on-demand and digital-first content material for each regional and nationwide audiences,” Ferguson stated. “This alteration ensures we’re following what the neighborhood has requested and aligns the native flagship group with the trusted values and model power related to the PBS title.”

KCET was initially Los Angeles’ main PBS station, however dropped its relationship with the general public broadcasting service on the finish of 2010 as a consequence of a dispute over its dues. KCET then went unbiased, whereas KOCE — initially primarily based in Orange County (the place its metropolis of origination is Huntington Seaside) — turned the market’s new main PBS station and rebranded as “PBS SoCal.”

“PBS SoCal and KCET merged in 2018, and since then, now we have grown into a robust public media entity serving Southern California that displays the range of our area and supplies a full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS packages,” stated PBS SoCal prexy/CEO Andrew Russell. “Whereas the published channel title could also be altering, the packages that viewers love on KCET— “Artbound,” “Misplaced LA,” “Father Brown,” “Should See Motion pictures” and extra — will stay obtainable on the channel and throughout all of our platforms. Our honored custom, constructed by KCET, of manufacturing unique, considerate and galvanizing content material across the arts, native tradition, surroundings, information and public affairs stays core to our deep dedication of serving our neighborhood with high-quality public media.”

Viewers will now solely see the decision letters “KCET” throughout hourly FCC-manded authorized I.D. callouts (type of like “KOCE” on PBS SoCal). Over the air, KCET stays on Channel 28, whereas KOCE is on Channel 50.

In industrial broadcast TV, duopolies throughout the nation have additionally began branding their secondary stations with a “Plus” tag and de-emphasizing these stations’ name letters — significantly within the Fox Tv Stations group. In Los Angeles, Fox has began referring to KCOP-TV (Channel 13) as “Fox 11 Plus,” paired with KTTV “Fox 11.” In San Francisco, Fox-owned KTVU is paired with one other station dubbed “KTVU Plus” (precise name letters: KICU). And in Minneapolis, KMSP “Fox 9” is paired with sister station “Fox 9 Plus” (WFTC-TV).