Are Scientologists Snatching Up LA's Legendary KCET Building?
Scientopoly: America's favorite real-life board game since 1954. In the newest chapter of L. Ron Hubbard's real estate stampede, the Church of Scientology is reportedly considering the purchase of LA's KCET building on Sunset Boulevard. The television station split from PBS recently and hasn't recovered from losing programs like Sesame Street and Charlie Rose. Now it's facilities are in danger of being turned into one of Tom Cruise's enlightenment obelisks. Ugh, Xenu! Enough!
L.A. Times has the debilitating scoop:
Terms of the potential deal were unavailable, but the 4.5-acre property at 4401 W. Sunset Blvd. has an assessed value of $14.1 million, according to county records. Individuals inside the station and real estate consultants who were not authorized to speak publicly about the transaction confirmed the likely sale.
The expected sale comes as KCET has embarked on perhaps the most perilous journey in its 45-year history.
In January, the station exited PBS and became the nation's largest independent public broadcasting station. KCET officials had tangled for months with network officials over dues, claiming that the $7 million the station had to pay annually represented more than its fair share.
...
The effect was immediate. KCET's ratings have plunged without its familiar schedule. And individual donations -- the lifeblood of any public broadcaster -- have taken a sharp hit as well. March pledge drives raised much less money than expected, according to a station insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.
If the deal goes through, I hope the Scientologists at least put the building to good use. No cubicles or standard church stuff; I want a compact Scientologist theme park! I'd give money to "Lisa Marie Presley's Graceland of Greed" or "Giovanni Ribisi's Anti-Psychiatry Carnival and Waterpark." Something celebratory! Express yourselves more, Scientologists. Throw doubloons and $1.99 paperback copies of Battlefield Earth from the roof. Live a little!
KCET, Scientolgy: KCET-TV said to be in talks to sell landmark studio to Church of Scientology [LA Times]
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Comments
NO PLEASE NO!!!!! SOMEONE SEND THIS NBC/UNIVERSAL or DREAMWORKS!
I wonder if it's true. Scientology has certainly been expanding lately, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were to buy it. If you look at the new revitalized Hollywood landscape, Scientology kicked off the whole trend, first with the Feifield Manor on Franklin, then the Hollywood Inn and the Cedars Complex and then the Hollywood Guarantee Building and the Screen Actors Guild building. So even though it's hard to tell from articles like this whether this is true or hype, I say great if they did buy it because it will only enhance Hollywood further.
As long as they make another cool pyramid that's fun to drive by at night, I say Why not!
They have a movie studio already, why another?