In 1958, South Carolina began an experiment in teaching by television at a Columbia high school. With the strong support of the people, the project was a great success and the General Assembly formally created the South Carolina Educational Television Commission in 1960.

For over 40 years, education has been SCETV’s primary mission. SCETV’s quality instructional programming harnesses television’s enormous power to inform and stimulate young minds. The Network’s educational commitment now extends from early childhood to adult education. Telecourses let students earn college credit or a GED without leaving home. Teachers and other professionals, including childcare providers, regularly update job skills through SCETV. Adults also learn to read through the easily accessible services of SCETV’s literacy campaign.

SCETV’s closed circuit system permits service to business and industry and state agencies through teleconferences. These statewide “electronic meetings” save taxpayers millions of dollars yearly in time and travel.

South Carolina and the nation use SCETV’s digital satellite system, providing 32 additional channels of two-way video and audio, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. SCETV put South Carolina's first digital broadcast signal on the air in March 2000 when WRLK-DT, in Columbia signed on.

In addition, SCETV serves South Carolina’s economic development agencies and local units of government through such media production services as industrial training and promotional and recruitment tapes. These support services have proven a valuable resource in recruiting new industry.

SCETV has placed South Carolina on the map as a major producer of national programs for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). SCETV was the presenting station and managed outreach activities that helped drive the successful launch of THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS. Recent presentations have included: JUGGLING WORK AND FAMILY with Hedrick Smith; WORLD@LARGE WITH DAVID GERGEN; CHILDREN IN AMERICA’S SCHOOLS with Bill Moyers; CRITICAL CONDITION WITH HEDRICK SMITH; HAL’S LEGACY; and DOOLEY AND PALS. South Carolina Educational Radio produces MARIAN McPARTLAND’S PIANO JAZZ, National Public Radio’s longest running performance program.

This demonstrated commitment to education and life enrichment has won SCETV its reputation as public broadcasting’s “blueprint” network.

Executive in Charge of Production, SCETV Polly Kosko
Polly Spann Kosko is Vice President of National Programming for the South Carolina Educational Television Network. The division manages national programming activities through all phases from the development of the initial concept through the promotion and broadcast of the program. This division of the network is responsible for securing underwriting from foundations and corporations to support the production of both national and local programming.

Mrs. Kosko served as SCETV’s Executive in Charge of Production for the 2000-2001 Season premieres of CRITICAL CONDITION with Hedrick Smith, an in-depth examination of America’s health care crisis; JUGGLING WORK AND FAMILY, another Hedrick Smith production which focuses on one of our nation’s critical issues; WORLD@LARGE with David Gergen, a 10-part series developed in association with U.S. News & World Report; and 2001:HAL’S LEGACY, a look at the accomplishments and challenges of computer design and technology. Her efforts have made possible the production by SCETV of over seventy other programs and series including the popular children’s series DOOLEY AND PALS.

A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Mrs. Kosko is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She is a 26 year veteran of the network beginning her career here as Assistant to the President and General Manager. Over the years she has served in a senior fundraising and development positions to include the Development Advisory Committee for the Public Broadcasting Service(PBS). She is a Lifetime Member of the Board of Directors of CINE.

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