Flipping through the channels late at night, I stopped on channel 50 (well, it could be channel 56 if you have that wacked out TimeWarner cable) just to see what was on. On the channel was a plea from station manager Mel Rogers discussing the need to save KOCE from outside interests. The group that he is talking about is Daystar, another network attempting to supplant our only source of local news on the OC, with another religious network (right in the backyard of the Crouch’s TBN network).

The spot featured Mayor Miguel A. Pulido of Santa Ana, Sheriff Michael Corona, and Dr. Dwight W. Decker CEO of Conexant Systems pleading for support of KOCE.

It has been a while since Orange County has had a network they could call their own. OCN was on local cable for a while providing a great source for high school sports scores, local issues, and discussions on local politics. They even had their studio at the Orange County Register building in Santa Ana.

As I watch “Ethics in America,” I’m afraid it may soon be replaced with “Praise in America.” We will loose another opportunity to deliver local news and information to the citizens of Orange County to groups of religious media conglomerates.

Click here to save KOCE.