Oceanside\u2019s community television station KOCT has sent the city a written notice that it \u201cis under financial distress\u201d and that as a result the station may \u201ccease operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe notice to the City was a warning, which we believe was required under our contract, of what may happen if additional funding is not secured,\u201d KOCT Executive Director Carly Starr said in an email Monday. \u201cWe are unwilling to speculate on any specific timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Founded in 1984, the nonprofit station\u2019s current five-year contract with the city expires June 30, 2027.<\/p>\n
The single-paragraph notice from Kent Davy, chair of the station\u2019s volunteer board of directors, was hand-delivered on KOCT stationery to the Oceanside city manager\u2019s office shortly after the Oceanside City Council refused another request for more money this summer.<\/p>\n
During the City Council\u2019s budget discussions in June, KOCT supporters asked for an unspecified amount of financial assistance in the fiscal year that began July 1. The council refused, saying the city budget was tight, and that the station had been told before there would be no additional money.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have the funds,\u201d said Mayor Esther Sanchez.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the station have attended City Council meetings since then to repeat their requests for assistance. So far, the council has not responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no future City Council discussion date at this time,\u201d said Terry Gorman Brown, the city\u2019s communications and engagement manager, in an email last week.<\/p>\n
During the City Council\u2019s budget discussions last year, the station requested up to $250,000.<\/p>\n
In response, the city made a one-time allocation of $175,000 for fiscal 2026 and amended the contract to add a statement that KOCT \u201cacknowledges that no additional requests for funding from the city will be entertained.\u201d<\/p>\n
City officials said at the time they could not afford to keep using general fund money for the television service.<\/p>\n
The station carries Oceanside City Council and commission meetings live on Cox Cable TV and on the station\u2019s website. It also carries community events, election coverage, local historical and education programs and more.<\/p>\n
KOCT\u2019s primary financial support is what\u2019s called \u201cpublic, education and governmental\u201d or PEG funding from a fee charged to cable subscribers. However, that revenue is declining as more viewers cut the cord and rely on streaming services.<\/p>\n
PEG funding declined from $468,000 in FY 2018 to $265,000 in FY 2026, Starr said. To offset that decline, KOCT increased its self-generated revenue from services for small businesses and nonprofits over that time from $175,000 to $447,000, an all-time high for the station.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose results reflect the continued efforts of our board, management and staff to expand production services, secure grants, and generate independent revenue to help offset the loss of PEG funding,\u201d Starr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless we secure a new source of funding to replace the City\u2019s recent additional support over the last couple of years, we do not believe we can continue operating through the end of the current contract in June 2027,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome have suggested that relocating our facility would solve our financial challenges,\u201d Starr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, it is not that simple,\u201d she said. \u201cOur current facility operates at a significantly below-market lease rate and has been purpose-built over decades to support community television and the ability to deliver our city contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt houses production studios, editing suites, channel programming and broadcast infrastructure, direct City meeting connections, our mobile production unit and Career Ready programs,\u201d she said. \u201cRecreating that infrastructure elsewhere would require a substantial financial investment that far exceeds any potential short-term savings from relocating.\u201d<\/p>\n