Starting on Tuesday, February 6, PBS SoCal and KCET are uniting under one name: PBS SoCal. The brand unification will streamline viewers’ experience and strengthen our public media mission in SoCal.
KCET broadcast channel will now be referred to as ‘PBS SoCal Plus.’ Please rest assured that all the news and local original programming you are currently enjoying on KCET will not change.
KCET is becoming PBS SoCal Plus.
Additionally, to make it easier for visitors to discover programming, editorial content and resources, as well as making it more efficient for the organization to manage video assets and content, all the information you need for both channels can be found right here, on this website.
The brand unification reflects PBS SoCal’s strategy to adapt to a digital world and strengthen connections to a community where more audiences are engaging on streaming platforms.
As always, we are committed to providing high-quality, enriching content that is available for free anytime and anywhere.
We are PBS SoCal, Your Public Media.
Why the brand simplification?
To optimize awareness and engagement in this current digital media environment, where an increasing number of station’s audience impressions come from digital platforms, we are simplifying our viewer’s experience while eliminating confusion by streamlining how we refer to our organization and content offering. The end result strengthens public media in our region.
When does the brand simplification happen?
We are announcing the change on Friday, January 19, 2024, and will make the on-air transition on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
What happens to KCET?
Viewers will still see the broadcast call letters on their screens and will continue to see KCET referenced during FCC mandated station identifier breaks. The programming you are used to seeing on KCET will continue to be seen on our 7 broadcast channels as well as innovative, all-new, locally-produced content (i.e. PBS SoCal Originals). The transition is similar to how KOCE is now known as PBS SoCal.
Where can I watch programming that was previously on KCET?
Over-the-air viewers can continue to watch on 28.1. Cable and satellite will appear on the same channels you had been watching on. The only difference is that it will be called PBS SoCal Plus.
Locally produced original content and PBS programs will continue to also be available to stream on the FREE PBS App, which is available on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO SmartCast TV. PBS SoCal programs have been made available to livestream on the PBS App, YouTube TV, Direct TV now, Hulu TV Live and Local Now.
Is the content or schedule changing in any way?
No. There will be no change to the current programming schedules that KCET and PBS SoCal viewers are used to… so viewers’ favorite programs are not affected in any way by the brand simplification.
We will continue to broadcast seven channels over the air in Southern California: PBS SoCal (50.1), PBS SoCal Encore (50.2), PBS SoCal World (50.4), PBS SoCal KIDS (50.5), PBS SoCal Create (28.2), NHK World Japan (28.3) and now PBS SoCal Plus (28.1) — previously KCET.
As we go forward, we maintain our commitment to our viewers that our content will be available anytime and anywhere for free.
Why the name PBS SoCal?
In extensive audience research with both members and the general population, the name PBS SoCal emerged as the clear favorite to move forward as one unified brand among various options. By consolidating our channels under this name, we are aligning ourselves with what our audience desires and ensuring we deliver on their expectations.
