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KVST-TV

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KVST-TV
Channels
Programming
AffiliationsDefunct
Ownership
OwnerViewer Sponsored Television Foundation
History
First air date
May 5, 1974; 50 years ago (1974-05-05)
Last air date
December 23, 1975; 48 years ago (1975-12-23)
Public television
Call sign meaning
"Viewer Sponsored Television"
Technical information
ERP1,925 kW[1]
HAAT2,870 ft (870 m)
Transmitter coordinates34°13′36″N 118°03′59″W / 34.22667°N 118.06639°W / 34.22667; -118.06639

KVST-TV was a television station on channel 68 in Los Angeles, California, owned by the Viewer Sponsored Television Foundation. Broadcasting from May 5, 1974, through December 23, 1975, KVST-TV was an early experiment in public-access and community television that struggled to gain enough viewer support to operate.

History

[edit]

Viewer Sponsored was formed in 1967 to bid on channel 58, the second non-commercial television allocation for Los Angeles.[2] It lost to the Los Angeles Unified School District, in large part because the group had only raised 25 percent of the $528,000 need to construct and operate the channel; hearing examiner Chester F. Naumowicz found the LAUSD bid on better financial footing.[3] (A third applicant, KCET channel 28, had previously dropped out of the running to avoid lengthy and expensive proceedings.[4])

However, in that proceeding, Viewer Sponsored Television asked for the allocation of channel 68 for noncommercial use in Los Angeles, which was approved by the Federal Communications Commission.[5] Viewer Sponsored Television then was granted a construction permit for that channel in August 1972 and the call letters KVST-TV in November.[6][7]

It took two years to build channel 68, during which time the Los Angeles City Council almost investigated VSTV's 26 directors for their political beliefs; a vote to do so ended in a tie.[8] With a grant from the city council, KVST-TV finally signed on May 5, 1974.[9] It debuted airing two hours of programming a night, four nights a week, but viewer interest from the outset was low.[10] Channel 68 programs in the first month included a live concert by Joan Baez and many films on social change, particularly produced outside the United States.[10]

Throughout its history, channel 68 was constantly treading financial water and experiencing staff turnover. Clayton Stouffer, who had helped build the station, was ousted in January after a spat with the board of directors and was replaced by Jerry Shaw. The station ran ads to try to attract attention to its programming and thereby increase viewer support.[11] There were technical problems, as well: the main antenna had been installed pointing in the wrong direction, which was not discovered until the winter and delayed the award of a permanent license in lieu of a construction permit.[11] The station operated on an annual budget of $700,000[12] and had a scant 250 memberships in April 1975, which jumped to 1,600 after a sponsorship drive.[13] One producer claimed that the station sabotaged a program featuring a Black cultural center and tried to keep "positive" Black images off its air.[14]

By the summer of 1975, channel 68 had begun producing more programming, including a weekly news analysis show; Ms. Cellany, a women's show; and a Chicano magazine program, La Raza.[13] One of KVST-TV's notable programs included the first television appearance of the new wave rock group Oingo Boingo in 1975.[11] Its programming was described as a groundbreaking experiment in public access television.[15] Another innovation of KVST-TV was that it checked out portable video recorders (the only type which existed at the time was the Sony Portapak, a 1/2" reel-to-reel machine with a separate camera) to community organizations which were "on the cutting edge of social change". Members of these organizations would document their meetings and proactive solutions to various issues within the communities which they served. This material would then be edited into viewable TV programs for broadcast.

Amid continued financial difficulties and internal strife, KVST-TV signed off December 24, 1975, with the hope of signing back on in 1976.[16] A new president and chairman of the board were elected, but Viewer Sponsored Television struggled to raise the money it needed to return to the air.[17] It never returned. The construction permit was canceled and the call letters deleted by the FCC on February 17, 1977.[18] Channel 68 would be used again in 1987 for KEEF-TV.

References

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  1. ^ "KVST-TV" (PDF). Television Factbook. 1976. p. 68-b (66). Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "Viewers' group to seek L.A. UHF channel" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 20, 1967. p. 50. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "L.A. schools win round in quest for ch. 58" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 24, 1972. p. 27. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "KCET Quits Contest for Channel 58". Valley News. January 21, 1971. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. ^ "3rd Educational TV Channel OK'd". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 1971. p. 4. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "EdUHF In L.A. Okayed". Variety. August 9, 1972. p. 34. ProQuest 1014880433.
  7. ^ "For the Record: New TV stations". Broadcasting. November 27, 1972. p. 57. ProQuest 014523774.
  8. ^ "Reckless Tactic in the Council". Los Angeles Times. April 9, 1974. p. R-8. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "Opening-Night Festivities Set by KVST-TV". Los Angeles Times. May 4, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Adler, Dick (May 31, 1974). "Channel 68: Loud, Clear and Languishing". Los Angeles Times. p. R-1, 25. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Adler, Dick (May 8, 1975). "Channel 68's Antenna Out for Public Support". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 26. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  12. ^ "Raise Asked For People On Relief". News-Pilot. Copley News Service. May 31, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Elias, Thomas D. (July 18, 1975). "Public TV: Leftists Boost Ratings". Sacramento Bee. p. D5. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  14. ^ Christmas, Faith A. (October 2, 1975). "Channel 68 Dispute Scores Racial Bias". Los Angeles Sentinel. pp. A-1, B-11. ProQuest 565169700.
  15. ^ Stern Harris, Ellen (September 7, 1974). "KVST: Grass-Roots Television". Los Angeles Times. p. 4, 5. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  16. ^ "Pub KVST-TV Dark But Anticipates Reopening In '76". Variety. December 31, 1975. p. 28. ProQuest 1286104772.
  17. ^ Kilday, Gregg (June 30, 1976). "KVST Still Silent, Awaiting Funds". Los Angeles Times. p. 18. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  18. ^ "Other actions" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 21, 1977. p. 105. ProQuest 1014698980. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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