KCET-TV has had a rough time since leaving PBS at the start of the year. Ratings have plunged without fan favorites such as "Charlie Rose" and "NewsHour." Station officials have scrambled to develop a new programming lineup from scratch.
Now it looks as if the station is looking for a new home. KCET officials are in talks to sell the station's landmark Sunset Boulevard studio to the Church of Scientology, according to people who know about the pending deal.
KCET plans to move its operations to a smaller location, real estate brokers said. Station officials have been touring potential sites, brokers said.
Terms of the potential deal were unavailable, but the 4.5-acre property at 4401 W. Sunset Blvd. has an assessed value of $14.1 million, according to county records. Individuals inside the station and real estate consultants who were not authorized to speak publicly about the transaction confirmed the likely sale.
The expected sale comes as KCET has embarked on perhaps the most perilous journey in its 45-year history, under the leadership of President Al Jerome.
