One of the little known, but truly fine, services UK provides to this community is channel 219 on our cable system.
For 23 hours a day, seven days a week, this channel (available without extra payment for premium or digital service) airs classical music, excerpts from classic U-S and foreign films, and tours of the world's great art collections. All this, for free, without commercials. It costs UK nothing, being relayed from a satellite service sponsored by a foundation in California.
(The 24th hour UK relays an hour of audio from WUKY-FM, perhaps to maintain its legal claim on the channel.)
It's a fine service. I have been introduced to a lot of new classical music by it, and have been spurred to add to my own music collection because of things first seen on channel 219.
But, a few weeks ago, a small super indicated UK was ending this great service on March First. No reason was given, and no indication also of what programming, if any, would take its' place.
I called the UK-TV service to find out more and was given the name and number of an official who supposedly knew. For two weeks I have tried, without success, to find out more. All I get is that damnable "I'm away from my desk but if you'll leave a message I'll get back to you." Well, he hasn't--after 5 calls and 3 messages left. So I'm still in the dark.
What I do know is that UK's current programming on channel 219 is a great public service and it will be a loss to our fine arts community if the current service ends. I hate to suggest storming President Eli's office, or sending mass e-mails, but since no one is answering at UK-TV, I'm at loss...and so will all of us be losers if this fine, current service ends.
Please, UK, reconsider.
No comments:
Post a Comment