SERIES 5 BEGINS OCTOBER 29 AT 7 PM

Los Angeles, CA - September 6, 2012 - KCET, the nation's largest independent public television station serving Southern and Central California, announced the launch of its award-winning, investigative newsmagazine, SoCal Connected (www.socalconnected.org) in a new nightly format. The fifth season of the hard-hitting news series will begin Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. with an encore episode at 10:30 p.m.

"We're excited to now have the opportunity to provide our loyal viewers with informative news and revealing reports about the most pressing issues affecting Southern California residents on an expanded basis," said Bret Marcus, Executive Producer, SoCal Connected and KCET's Chief Content Officer. "This season, we will continue to investigate the inner workings of Los Angeles and surrounding communities, while offering a daily recap of local headlines."

Last season, SoCal Connected dominated local television news awards, winning 16 Los Angeles Press Club Awards, more than any other TV station, including the prestigious "Public Service Award" for exposing lavish spending at the Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA). KCET is only the second news organization to receive the award. In addition, the series won three Los Angeles Area Emmy® Awards last month.

The Executive Producer of SoCal Connected is Bret Marcus and Val Zavala is the show's anchor.

ABOUT SOCAL CONNECTED

SoCal Connected, winner of the Peabody and duPont-Columbia awards, 17 Emmy® Awards, 19 Golden Mikes, 41 LA Press Club Awards, two Gracie Awards, and three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Best News Documentary and Los Angeles Magazine's "Best New Local TV Program" of 2009, airs nightly at 7 p.m. with encores at 10:30 p.m. exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to leave comments, please visit www.socalconnected.org.

SoCal Connected is made possible through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation serving the Los Angeles community since 1952; Jim and Anne Rothenberg; the MaddocksBrown Foundation; The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation; The California Endowment; and by UCLA.  

ABOUT KCET

On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. KCET currently produces the Emmy®, duPont-Columbia and Peabody Award-winning SoCal Connected, a hard-hitting prime-time weekly television news program that examines the issues and people of Southern California. Throughout its 48-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org.

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