$1.8 MILLION FROM KCET FUND DRIVE

KCET Channel 28 reported Monday that the fund-raising drive that ended Sunday night was the most successful in the station’s history, amassing more than $1.8 million in subscriber pledges--a 20% increase over the previous record and 63% higher than for the same period in 1984.

KCET’s best previous campaign had been in March, 1982, when it raised $1.5 million in pledges amid a financial crisis that had forced layoffs, salary reductions and curtailment of local programming plans at the public television station.

Last March, viewers had pledged $1.1 million to Channel 28.

William H. Kobin, president of KCET, said Monday that the success of this year’s 16-day fund-raising effort was “a reflection of the station’s consistent growth in viewership over the last 18 months. More people than ever are enjoying KCET’s fine programming. . . .”

Indeed, KCET officials said that their audience has grown from an average of 1.76 million households a week in July, 1983, to an average of 2.18 million in February, 1985. And viewership appeared to be at record levels last week, they added, although specific household figures were not immediately available.

According to figures released by the station, the fund-raising drive, which began March 9, resulted in 37,502 pledges totaling $1,846,173. About 85% of the pledges usually are fulfilled, a station spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, officials at KOCE Channel 50 in Huntington Beach said Monday they were delighted at having surpassed their goal of $200,000 with total pledges of $208,426. “It is encouraging,” said William Furniss, KOCE president.