District-Owned Stations Find Their Own Niche

By Mark Walsh

On Miami's WLRN-TV, an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service, viewers won't find "The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour" or "Great Performances," but they can tune into "G.E.D. on TV" and "Let's Learn Japanese."

On New York City's WNYE-TV, viewers can watch a Spanish-language course called "Destinos" or participate in live monthly "town meetings" with U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley.

And on KLCS-TV in Los Angeles, some teachers who have appeared on the station's "Homework Hotline" show have been accorded celebrity status when...