Valley PBS back on air after wildfire with assist from fellow broadcaster

Following the damage caused by the June Lightening Complex Fire, Valley PBS faced significant challenges after a transmitter and broadcast equipment were destroyed. The fire also caused extensive damage to the tower and antennas on Bear Mountain, disrupting service to over-the-air and cable viewers in the Valley.

Valley PBS reported that rebuilding the facilities may cost more than $2 million and take several months to complete. Despite the revenue loss and operational challenges, Valley PBS officials said in a news release that their commitment to delivering quality programming remains unwavering.

Cocola Broadcasting Companies stepped up when ValleyPBS needed it, arranging temporary over-the-air coverage from Porterville to Merced for the main channel 18.1. That support allowed viewers to regain access by using antennas and rescanning television channels.

“Valley PBS provides an invaluable service to our community, and as a fellow broadcaster, we felt it was important to help them resume service to their over-the-air viewers,” said Gary M. Cocola, chairman of Cocola Broadcasting Companies, LLC.

Now, Valley PBS is working to expand coverage to Kern County and restore cable reception to what is left of the valley. Valley PBS can still be accessed through Comcast Cable, the live stream on valleypbs.com , and online services such as Hulu and YouTube TV.