White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Cablevision's Game of "3-Channel Monte" Swamps White Plains Cable

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. By John F. Bailey. December 18, 2002. 10:15 E.S.T.:White Plains Public Access Cable offices have been swamped by telephone calls from residents with complaints about the switch of White Plains Public Access Channels. Members of the Hispanic community are particulary angry about the Educational Channel being switched to Channel 77.

An average of 15 to 20 calls a day are coming in to White Plains Cable Television Commission, bitterly complaining about not being able to find the channel, of the C-Span 2 channel being switched the Programming Guide, and not being able to find the three W hite Plains local channels: Public Access 76, Government Access 75, and White Plains Public Schools Channel 77.

"We are witnessing the Titanic sinking, " said one source familiar with the orchestrated changeover, speaking on condition of anonymity. "This is the most complaints we have ever received during a cable changeover."

WPCNR's source said the Hispanic community has been particularly upset that their Spanish-speaking viewers cannot find the White Plains Public Schools channel, which they rely on for Spanish language messages and programming. Our source had no explanation for why the Hispanic community is so affected.

In an attempt to better inform the public of the changes, White Plains Cable Television Commission requested more programming guide brochures to distribute to the School District. The brochures that were shipped by Cablevision were for the wrong city.

Citizens have also called in to complain that they cannot get through to Cablevision with requests for information. They cite endless vocemail messages, and no satisfaction.

This has caused many citizens to contact the Mayor's office, who refer the calls to White Plains Cable Television, who in turn attempt to inform the viewers.

Cable Television sources privately were sharply critical of Cablevision's management of the changeover last week, disrupting the traditional sequence of the local channels, which for the last decade has always been: Public Access, Government Access, and Education. Now the sequence has completely reversed to: Government Access first, Public Access second, and Education, third, contributing in White Plains Cable Television's opinion to the "Cablevision Chaos."

Presently, Common Council meetings and White Plains government information can be viewed on Channel 75.

Public Access Television programs like yours truly's White Plains Week are now cablecast on Channel 76.

White Plains Public Schools education programming is seen on Channel 77.


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