Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Public access TV to be closed down

A new California law allows Time Warner to close 12 studios that provided community programming in Los Angeles. Critics say a valuable 1st Amendment platform is lost.

By Reed Johnson

January 5, 2009

For decades, public access programming on cable television has provided a virtually free forum for community activists and aspiring entertainers, for preening star wannabes as well as serious-minded political watchdogs.

But in Los Angeles and across California that forum began crumbling last week, a development that advocates say will strip ordinary citizens of a valuable 1st Amendment platform.

A provision of a law passed by the Legislature in 2006, which took effect Thursday, allows cable television providers the option of dropping their long-standing obligation of providing free studios, equipment and training to the public. In return, providers must pay a substantial annual fee and continue to provide a minimal number of public education and government channels. ...

via Cable flips channel on public access TV - Los Angeles Times.

It was good while it lasted.

1 comment:

Pete the Drum Scientist said...

Thank God. Public Access cable (not TV) has been filled with worthless junk for decades. It could have been such a useful medium, but the "freedom" of it was its downfall. No organization, no "standards", no quality. And most of all.....no viewers