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Flagship L.A. PBS Station to Get Huge Payday From Spectrum Auction

Apr 17, 2017  •  Post A Comment

One TV station that appears to have made out well in the Federal Communications Commission’s recently concluded spectrum auction is KOCE-TV, the flagship PBS station for Southern California. The Los Angeles Times reports that KOCE “will see a $49 million windfall from the auction of the public airwaves to companies with wireless networks.”

The FCC announced last week that the auction raised $19.8 billion from bidders including T-Mobile, Dish and Comcast.

“About $10 billion of that amount went to TV station license holders who gave up all or part of their broadcast frequencies that can now be eventually used to service wireless providers. About $7 billion will go to reduce the federal deficit,” The Times reports.

The report adds: “A total of 175 stations will sell their spectrum back to the government. Of those stations, 133 will continue to serve their markets by broadcasting on another channel through a sharing arrangement. Thirty other winners successfully moved to other frequencies.”

The report notes that about 12 stations, none of which are in the Los Angeles market, will leave the air completely.

Public TV station KVCR, owned by San Bernardino Community College, will receive $157 million from the auction, the report notes.

“In both cases, the stations are selling their broadcast spectrum while retaining the ability to still serve their viewing audiences that watch them through over-the-air broadcast television,” The Times adds. “KVCR is moving from its spot on the UHF band to a new frequency. KOCE entered a channel-sharing agreement with Los Angeles station KSCI.”

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