FIRST OFF . . .

A transmitter problem scrambled the picture at the beginning of KCET Channel 28’s Wednesday-night broadcast of the controversial 90-minute documentary “Days of Rage: The Young Palestinians.” KCET spokeswoman Barbara Goen said a “not uncommon” power surge distorted the picture for 20 seconds, causing some viewers to believe dissenters were trying to force the program off the air. Not so, said Goen, adding that “some cable TV company decoders didn’t kick back on as quickly as we did. We were getting calls eight or nine minutes later from particular cable areas saying they were still snowy.” Goen said the station decided to start the program over from the beginning because of its controversial nature. “Days of Rage” has come under fire for its pro-Palestinian viewpoint and for alleged funding improprieties that link it to a pro-Arab organization. KCET added an announcement stating that PBS has investigated and found no funding violations and the station aired the show “in the belief that you, the viewers, are better served by more, not less, information.”