Ahmanson Foundation grant helps KCET station go independent

Southern California’s largest public TV station has landed a $1 million grant from a major regional foundation. The money follows the station’s announcement that it will break away from the Public Broadcasting System.

Public station KCET has set a tight deadline for its independence. Earlier this month it announced plans to cut formal ties with PBS on New Year’s Day. Station officials say the affiliation was getting too expensive as the system charged higher dues — and too restrictive when it came to programming choices.

As KCET charts its next step — and fields strong reactions to its decision — the Ahmanson Foundation has stepped in with a $1 million grant. The Beverly Hills-based foundation concentrates its giving on education, health and medicine, human services and the arts and humanities — including public TV programming and this public radio station.

KCET plans to replace its Public Broadcasting System programs with locally focused news and cultural content, along with independently produced national and international programs.