SANTA ANA, Calif., June 25 (UPI) -- A California appeals court has reversed the sale of Orange County's PBS television station to a foundation to keep it out of the hands of televangelists.
Presiding Judge David Sill called the deal "the rankest sort of favoritism." In his opinion, he said the Coast Community College District must sell KOCE-TV to the highest bidder or not sell it at all, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The KOCE-TV Foundation offered $32 million for the station, with $8 million payable immediately and the rest in installments over 30 years. The foundation is funded by Peter Ueberroth, the former baseball commissioner, and other area business leaders.
Daystar Television Network, a major Christian broadcaster, raised its bid to $40 million cash, the day after the bidding closed. Daystar had earlier offered $25.1 million.
The foundation has been operating the station for several months. The appellate ruling reverses a lower court's decision.
