KSCI
KSCI, virtual and UHF digital channel 18, is an independent television station licensed to Long Beach, California, United States, serving the Los Angeles area with a focus on ethnic and multilingual programming.[1] The station, which began broadcasting in 1977, has historically targeted diverse immigrant communities by airing content in languages including Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Spanish, and Armenian, filling a niche for non-English speakers in one of the nation's most multicultural markets.[2] [3] In 1992, during the Los Angeles riots, KSCI preempted its regular schedule to broadcast vital updates and resources in multiple languages, underscoring its role as a key information source for non-English-speaking residents.[4] However, in 2017, the station discontinued its longstanding block of international shows, transitioning much of its main channel to English-language infomercials amid ownership changes and market shifts, which observers described as the conclusion of an era for accessible ethnic media.[2] [5] Today, operated by RNN, KSCI maintains a multicasting setup on subchannels featuring programming from international networks like Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation and YTV America, alongside other ethnic and specialized content.[6]History
Founding and initial operations (1977–1979)
KSCI revived the channel 18 allocation in the Los Angeles market, which had previously been used by KCHU-TV, a station licensed to San Bernardino that signed on August 1, 1962, but ceased operations after financial difficulties and returned its license to the FCC.[7] The channel remained dark until new interests acquired the construction permit and relaunched it as an independent station targeting the broader Southern California audience.[7] The station officially signed on the air on June 30, 1977, with studios located in West Los Angeles despite retaining its San Bernardino license.[7] KSCI's call letters derived from "Science of Creative Intelligence," the systematic presentation of principles underlying Transcendental Meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.[8] Ownership was held by the World Plan Executive Council, a nonprofit organization established to promote Transcendental Meditation globally through educational and media initiatives.[8] Robert Doane played a key role in the station's launch, managing technical and operational setup before serving as news director and on-air talent.[9] Initial programming emphasized content aligned with the Science of Creative Intelligence, including instructional segments on Transcendental Meditation techniques and their purported benefits for consciousness and daily life.[8] Doane produced, directed, and anchored over 2,000 live programs focused on health, news, and wellness topics, often integrating TM principles.[10] The station operated as a commercial independent with limited syndication and local productions, broadcasting from modest facilities amid competition from established VHF and UHF outlets in Los Angeles.[9] By 1979, viewership remained niche, setting the stage for format adjustments in the following decade, though early operations prioritized educational outreach over broad entertainment.[8]Growth and ethnic programming focus (1980s)
In 1980, KSCI transitioned from its initial non-profit educational format to a for-profit operation, enabling expanded investment in diverse ethnic programming to capitalize on Southern California's growing immigrant populations.[11] This shift aligned with the station's strategy to serve underserved linguistic communities through time-brokered blocks, where producers paid for airtime to broadcast imported shows, news, and local content tailored to specific groups.[12] By the mid-1980s, the model proved financially viable, generating $8 million in revenues and $1 million in profits in 1985 alone, reflecting robust audience demand and advertising from ethnic businesses.[11] The station's ethnic focus intensified throughout the decade, prioritizing Asian and Middle Eastern audiences amid waves of immigration from Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, Iran, and Armenia. Early 1980s programming emphasized Iranian-American content, hosting nearly all such shows in the region, while Korean, Japanese, and Chinese blocks grew prominent by 1982–1983, often featuring 15 or more languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, and Persian.[13] By 1986, KSCI aired content in 15 languages, with Spanish programming temporarily reduced to accommodate English fillers amid competitive pressures.[14] Late-decade schedules showcased this breadth: Saturdays included Cambodian news at 7:30 a.m., Vietnamese and Armenian shows in the morning, Filipino and Arabic in the afternoon, Salvadoran telecasts at 6 p.m., Japanese dramas in the evening, and Chinese updates past midnight, many subtitled in English.[12] Community ties strengthened through initiatives like a 1988 telethon raising $3 million for Armenian earthquake relief and partnerships such as Korean Television Enterprises' collaboration with the Korean Broadcasting System for Olympic coverage, underscoring KSCI's role as a cultural hub.[12] By 1989, programming spanned 17 languages—predominantly Asian and Middle Eastern, with additions like Hebrew, Hindi, and limited European blocks—though cable carriage disputes, such as its drop from Multivision systems due to low subscriber preference for non-English content, highlighted challenges in broader distribution.[15] This era solidified KSCI's niche as Los Angeles' premier multilingual outlet, fostering viewer loyalty among 2.7 million Asian residents while navigating profitability amid ethnic market fragmentation.[12]Ownership transitions and expansion (1990s–2000s)
In the early 1990s, KSCI maintained its focus on multilingual ethnic programming under the ownership of the International Channel Network (ICN), which had acquired the station around 1989 and positioned it as a key affiliate for diverse international content reaching Southern California's immigrant communities.[16] ICN, as the parent entity, facilitated expansion beyond local broadcasts by launching the first national multilingual cable network in July 1990, distributing KSCI's ethnic programming— including news, dramas, and talk shows in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and Armenian—to a wider U.S. audience via satellite.[17][18] This initiative capitalized on growing demand from non-English-speaking populations, with KSCI preempting regular schedules during events like the 1992 Los Angeles riots to air emergency updates in multiple languages, underscoring its role as a community lifeline.[4] By 1998, the Federal Communications Commission approved KSCI's relocation of its city of license from San Bernardino to Long Beach, California, enhancing signal coverage and operational efficiency for the Los Angeles market while preserving its ethnic broadcast format under licensee KSLS, Inc.[19] Ownership transitioned in 2000 when The Korea Times, a prominent Korean-language media outlet, consolidated control over KSCI and sister station KIKU-TV in Hawaii, folding them into the newly formed Asian Media Group LLC in partnership with private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners, which invested approximately $90 million to scale Asian-language operations.[20][21] This shift emphasized Asian-focused content, positioning KSCI as the largest Asian-language television station in the U.S., serving the nation's biggest Asian market with expanded satellite-delivered programming in up to 14 languages daily by the early 2000s.[22][23] Under Asian Media Group, KSCI's expansion included increased production of local news and entertainment tailored to Asian diaspora audiences, such as Chinese and Korean newscasts, while leveraging digital subchannels for additional ethnic feeds, though profitability pressures from advertising markets began influencing a gradual pivot toward more commercial formats by the mid-2000s.[18] The station's infrastructure upgrades and content diversification during this era reflected broader trends in ethnic media growth, driven by demographic shifts in Los Angeles, where non-English speakers comprised a significant viewer base.[22]Digital era and format evolution (2010s)
Following the completion of the digital television transition on June 12, 2009, KSCI operated its digital signal on UHF channel 18, enabling the station to multicast multiple subchannels dedicated to ethnic programming in languages including Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Spanish, and Armenian.[24] This digital multiplexing allowed KSCI to expand its multilingual offerings, serving diverse immigrant communities in the Los Angeles area with imported content from networks such as NHK and MBC-D, alongside local productions.[25] In August 2012, NRJ TV LLC acquired KSCI for $45 million through a credit bid amid the station's bankruptcy proceedings, positioning the owner to capitalize on anticipated changes in broadcast spectrum usage.[26] Under NRJ TV's stewardship, KSCI maintained its focus on ethnic broadcasts via subchannels, but the station's operations evolved in response to economic pressures and regulatory developments, including a gradual increase in paid programming to offset declining advertising revenue from traditional ethnic viewership.[27] The pivotal shift occurred in 2017 amid the FCC's broadcast incentive auction, which incentivized stations to relinquish spectrum for relocation to lower channels or channel sharing. KSCI entered an agreement with KOCE-TV (PBS SoCal), transferring seven digital subchannels to KOCE in exchange for $89 million, enabling KOCE to broadcast additional public television services while allowing KSCI to repurpose its primary channel.[3] Effective July 1, 2017, KSCI discontinued nearly all foreign-language programming on its main 18.1 subchannel, replacing it with English-language infomercials and home shopping content, marking a transition from a multicultural ethnic broadcaster to a format dominated by commercial paid programming.[2][5] This change was attributed by station representatives to the impending spectrum auction effects and the need to adapt to a digital landscape favoring high-margin revenue streams over niche ethnic audiences.[3]Recent developments and sale to RNN (2020s)
In December 2019, NRJ TV LLC agreed to sell KSCI, along with seven other full-power stations and one Class A station, to RNN National Media Group (operated by WRNN-TV Associates) for an undisclosed amount, as part of RNN's strategy to expand its permanent over-the-air distribution footprint to cover 28 percent of the U.S. population across eight of the top ten television markets.[28] The deal, which included regulatory approvals from the Federal Communications Commission, closed on January 31, 2020.[29] Under RNN ownership, KSCI transitioned its primary digital subchannel (18.1) to air programming from Shop LC, a home shopping network focused on jewelry, fashion, and lifestyle products, reflecting RNN's broader shift toward revenue-generating formats like paid programming and retail broadcasts on its affiliated stations.[30] This change aligned with prior adjustments under NRJ, which had already reduced ethnic-language content in favor of English-language infomercials by 2017, but RNN's acquisition emphasized network syndication and expanded multicast options on subchannels such as 18.2–18.4 for additional partners including religious and ethnic programming remnants.[6] No major facility upgrades or format overhauls have been reported since the sale, with KSCI maintaining its transmitter on Mount Harvard and studios in West Los Angeles, operating as a full-power independent station serving the Los Angeles market amid declining viewership for traditional broadcast amid streaming competition.[6] As of 2025, the station continues under WRNN-TV Associates ownership, prioritizing commercial multicast revenue over legacy ethnic broadcasting.[30]Programming and content
Multilingual ethnic broadcasts
KSCI-TV established itself as a pioneer in multilingual ethnic broadcasting by adopting a brokered programming model, where independent producers from various ethnic communities purchased airtime to air content tailored to immigrant audiences in the Los Angeles area.[8] This approach allowed the station to offer diverse, community-specific shows including news, dramas, variety programs, and call-in segments, often sourced via satellite from home countries or produced locally.[8] By the mid-1980s, the station had shifted from its initial transcendental meditation focus to this ethnic format, dubbing itself the "international channel" and claiming the most diverse lineup in the U.S.[8] [31] The programming encompassed up to 16 languages, serving Asian, Middle Eastern, Latino, and European diaspora groups, with blocks dedicated to specific communities.[31] In 1986, languages included Persian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish, Armenian, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, Vietnamese, Hebrew, and Thai, with 22 ethnic companies handling production and commercials.[8] Middle Eastern content was particularly prominent, featuring 15.5 hours weekly in Persian for Iranian viewers, alongside Armenian (5 hours), Arabic (3 hours), Assyrian (2 hours), and Hebrew (1 hour) programs that reflected ethnic and religious diversity without homogenization.[31] Spanish-language blocks totaled 24 hours per week, including news and interactive shows on topics like law and health, while Asian feeds delivered same-day network news from Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong.[8] This format proved vital during crises, such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots, when KSCI preempted regular schedules to provide real-time updates in non-English languages, aiding non-native speakers in accessing information.[4] By 2005, the station produced two hours of weekday content in Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, supplemented by purchased local shows, targeting Southern California's growing ethnic populations exceeding 1 million Asians and 4 million Latinos.[32] The model extended nationally in 1990 with the launch of the International Channel, a multilingual cable network distributing similar content.[18] Ethnic broadcasts persisted for over 30 years, fostering cultural continuity until a 2017 format shift reduced foreign-language airtime significantly, retaining limited Korean programming amid declining viability.[5][2]Shift to infomercials and shopping programming
In June 2017, KSCI discontinued its longstanding blocks of programming in languages including Chinese, Filipino, Spanish, and Armenian, which had aired for over three decades to serve Los Angeles' immigrant communities.[33][2] The station replaced these with English-language infomercials, effective July 1, 2017, fundamentally altering its format from multicultural ethnic broadcasts to paid-time advertising content.[2][3] This shift was attributed to economic viability challenges, as traditional over-the-air ethnic viewership declined amid competition from streaming platforms, satellite services, and internet-delivered content tailored to specific cultural audiences.[3] The infomercial format, which features extended advertisements for products such as consumer goods and services, became the station's primary daytime and evening schedule, supplemented by limited public service or filler programming.[33] Following the February 2020 acquisition by WRNN-TV Associates—a group focused on low-cost, revenue-generating broadcast models—KSCI maintained this infomercial emphasis, prioritizing advertiser-paid blocks over produced content.[34] By 2023, the station transitioned further into home shopping, affiliating with networks like Shop LC (formerly ShopHQ), which broadcast live product demonstrations and direct sales pitches for jewelry, apparel, and electronics, aligning with broader industry trends toward monetizing spectrum through transactional programming.[35] This evolution reflected causal pressures from fragmented audiences and regulatory environments favoring spectrum efficiency over niche cultural broadcasting.[36]Notable programs and production
KSCI pioneered a brokered programming model for ethnic broadcasts, leasing airtime to independent producers from diverse communities who created content in languages such as Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, Armenian, Persian, Vietnamese, and others, reaching up to 14 languages by the mid-1980s.[8] This approach allowed for targeted news, entertainment, and cultural shows, with the station providing studios in West Los Angeles and San Bernardino for production, though much content originated from ethnic syndicators importing formats like dramas and news from home countries.[8] By 1993, KSCI was producing 28-30 hours of original programming weekly at its West Los Angeles facility, focusing on live newscasts and talk shows for Asian and Latino audiences.[37] Early notable programming from the station's 1977 launch emphasized Transcendental Meditation themes under the "Science of Creative Intelligence" banner, featuring prerecorded lectures, variety shows with meditation advocates, and "good news" reports excluding negative stories.[8] This shifted rapidly to ethnic formats, including Korean evening news and dramas interspersed with cultural segments like children's choir performances and the South Korean national anthem; Spanish-language call-in advice programs on psychology, law, medicine, and astrology; and Chinese shows highlighting Cantonese music, Hong Kong dramas, and travel features on China's landmarks.[8] In the Mandarin Chinese block, standout productions included Pei Pei's Time, a talk show hosted by martial arts actress Pei Pei covering social issues like AIDS awareness and parental work habits, airing Tuesdays and Fridays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., with international distribution via Star TV to 38 Asian countries; Tea Time, featuring interviews with local Chinese figures on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3 p.m.; and live newscasts such as World Report (weekdays at 7 p.m.).[37] Cantonese programming featured International Report, a live weekday news show at 6 p.m., while Vietnamese audiences received Little Saigon News, the nation's only daily Vietnamese newscast, airing weekdays at 5:30 p.m.[37] Japanese slots offered subtitled historical and family dramas alongside network news, and Armenian blocks included music, dance, news, and soap operas.[8] Spanish production comprised about 24 hours weekly by 1986, encompassing game shows, news, and public affairs, reflecting Los Angeles' large Latino population.[8] Other ethnic highlights encompassed Persian morning news with global clips, Thai news summaries, and variety shows from Middle Eastern, Hindi, Arabic, Russian, and Hebrew producers, often blending imported content with local adaptations.[8] This diverse output, supported by 22 independent ethnic entities, catered to immigrant needs for homeland connections and community integration until the mid-2010s shift toward infomercials curtailed most original ethnic productions.[8]Technical information
Signal characteristics and facilities
KSCI transmits its digital signal on UHF channel 18 (177 MHz center frequency) from a transmitter facility atop Mount Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains, approximately 14 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.[24] The station employs a directional antenna with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1000 kilowatts, resulting in a signal coverage area extending across the greater Los Angeles region and parts of surrounding counties, subject to terrain variations and multipath interference typical of UHF propagation.[24] The antenna's height above average terrain (HAAT) measures 892 meters (2926 feet), enabling robust over-the-air reception in urban and suburban areas while relying on line-of-sight dominance for optimal performance.[24] The station's main studios and production facilities are situated at 1990 South Bundy Drive, Suite 850, in West Los Angeles, a commercial office complex facilitating operations including content ingestion, master control, and limited on-site production for its infomercial and leased programming format.[38] This location supports KSCI's role as a full-power independent station under FCC licensing rules, with technical parameters compliant with post-repack allocations finalized in 2020, maintaining its pre-transition channel 18 assignment after initial temporary use of channel 61 during the digital transition period.[24] Signal characteristics include ATSC 1.0 modulation for primary video at 1080i resolution, though programming often utilizes standard-definition feeds from time-brokered partners, with no native 4K or ATSC 3.0 implementation as of 2025.[24]Subchannels and digital multiplexing
KSCI's digital signal transmits on UHF channel 18 using the ATSC 1.0 standard, enabling multiplexing of multiple subchannels via statistical multiplexing to allocate bandwidth dynamically among streams.[24] The station employs PSIP to map virtual channels, with the primary subchannel 18.1 broadcasting Shop LC, a shopping network offering home shopping content in 720p resolution.[24][6] Subchannels 18.2 through 18.4 primarily feature Korean-language programming leased to ethnic broadcasters, reflecting KSCI's historical focus on multicultural content while adapting to digital capacity. SBS International occupies 18.2 in 480i, providing Korean entertainment and news from Seoul Broadcasting System.[6][24] MBC-D (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Drama) airs on 18.3 in 480i, specializing in Korean dramas and variety shows.[6][24] YTN America, focused on Korean news, broadcasts on 18.4 in 480i.[6][24] Further subchannels include 18.8 for CTS America (Korean Christian programming) and 18.9 for EMT (ethnic multicultural content), both in standard definition.[6] SonLife Broadcasting Network, a religious channel, appears on virtual 20.1 (multiplexed on physical 18) in 480i.[6] KSCI also hosts additional services, such as PBS SoCal subchannels on virtual 50.x (e.g., 50.1 PBS main in 1080i with SAP audio, 50.2 PBS Encore, and others including Daystar and PBS Kids), leveraging excess capacity for third-party carriage.[24]| Virtual Channel | Resolution | Programming | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18.1 | 720p | Shop LC | Primary; shopping network |
| 18.2 | 480i | SBS International (Korean) | Entertainment and news |
| 18.3 | 480i | MBC-D (Korean dramas) | Variety and scripted content |
| 18.4 | 480i | YTN America (Korean news) | 24/7 news service |
| 18.8 | 480i | CTS America (Korean) | Christian programming |
| 18.9 | 480i | EMT | Multicultural ethnic content |
| 20.1 | 480i | SonLife Broadcasting | Religious network |
| 50.1 | 1080i | PBS SoCal | Hosted; main PBS with SAP |
| 50.2–50.5 | 480i | PBS variants (Encore, Kids, etc.) | Hosted; includes Daystar, World Channel |