FAIR GAME:

The state Supreme Court upheld the previous Orange County Appellate Court decision this week voiding the sale of KOCE to its own fundraising foundation.

That means the foundation now needs to return the license for KOCE to the college district and the college district needs to return to the foundation an initial down payment of $8 million, which the foundation borrowed specifically for the purchase.

A few weeks back, we wrote right here in these pages that the inevitable was going to happen and that the district should recognize that, save on its exorbitant legal fees and move on.

Remember, this sale was initially sought to raise money for needed academic funds, not spend it. We figured why be foolish in a battle that couldn’t be won?

We explained that there were, in fact, alternative opportunities to salvage our own public broadcasting station, complete with local Orange County programming that we’re accustomed to and that would continue the dream of so many viewers and donors alike.

Doubters wrote in and accused me of being an “advocate” of selling out to Daystar Television Network, a nationwide Christian broadcaster based in Texas, which initially made the court challenge and reversed the completed sale.

Just an FYI: I have no allegiance to Daystar, Trinity, the bearded guy that used to rant on hour after hour on some obscure TV station, or any other zealot who may wish to occupy the public airways.

KOCE management, in fact, wrote in and offered a bunch of reasons why my proposal wasn’t a good idea but gave no concrete facts on why it couldn’t be done.

I hate to say I told you so, but, I told you so!

Well, I’m a compassionate guy. I say let’s let bygones be bygones, and let’s figure this mess out.

Here’s the deal. We can still sell the station to the highest bidder and acquire funds for the initial intention of this whole deal in the first place which was raising academic funds for the college district. Remember?

If it’s Daystar, so be it.

But please, readers, understand that I’m not an advocate of this, I’m just a realist.

So let’s say Daystar passes the plate and comes up with $25 million. Who cares? Take the money and run, put it toward education in the college district. They certainly could use it.

Then, let’s follow the course of ensuring that we keep our own “Orange County” public broadcasting station.

Yup, I want “Real Orange.” I truly like Ed Arnold, and I also like Rick Reiff, the executive editor of the Orange County Business Journal, who also has a program.

As I said earlier, another Southern California public broadcasting group can use their signal into this marketplace and give us “our” station.

One, in fact, has personally met with me on several occasions to assure that this is indeed possible. I’m happy to report that I’m pretty impressed.

I say it’s time to move forward. You’re either with me or against me.

If you’re with me, I’d be happy to set up a preliminary meeting with friends and supporters of KOCE at my offices and address your questions and concerns with another broadcaster.

I promise you that if you indeed like public broadcasting and quality local programming, I believe I have access to the solution.

All you have to do is let me know. The best way is through my e-mail at tom.johnson@latimes.com.

Let us pray: This could work!