Commercials on KCET

I was disappointed that in her Calendar piece “KCET Chief Leads Station Into Expansion Era” (July 21), Judith Michaelson didn’t bring up the most significant change at KCET during Al Jerome’s tenure--the increased use of commercials on our public television station. Jerome has allowed corporations to expand their involvement from mere “acknowledgment” of program underwriting to full-blown commercials that show their products and announcers who repeat corporate slogans. I believe these same corporations are also involved in dictating the content and style of programming on the public airwaves.

Jerome has succeeded in using his experience in commercial broadcasting to betray the public, which owns KCET and desperately needs a source of entertainment and news not controlled by the same special interests that control the rest of the networks.

MARK LEVITON

Granada Hills