So when did Jones TV decide to imitate TV Land?
Looking over the schedule for Jones TV - the Springdale based channel which makes sure that the general public doesn’t come in and run their grubby little hands all over their precious equipment - like they do at Community Access Television - one sees that they are doing something a little odd lately.
The station, which offers a great deal of educational programming, seems to be veering away from that strict format in recent months, offering movies on a regular basis.
But now the “non-profit” station is also showing programming which originally ran on commercial stations. A look at the schedule will reveal episodes of “Bonanza,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” The Andy Griffith Show,” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
This doesn’t seem to quite jibe with what their website has to say.
http://www.jonestv.org/venutest/?page_id=2
Jones Television is a non-profit, commercial-free station, which serves as an outlet for regional information. Established by the Harvey and Bernice Jones Trust in 1996, the station is operated by professionals with extensive broadcast and production experience. With generous support from Cox Communications, Jones Television operates on cable 24 hours a day. It airs on channel 22 throughout Northwest Arkansas including Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale.
So what gives?
It’s one thing to show “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” at Christmas (well, I guess somebody had to), but to totally turn split personality, and become a cross between PBS and TV Land is a little too much, don’t you think?
And is Cox still giving them “generous” support?
This silly move on the part of Jones TV just gives more ammunition to those who would like to see C.A.T. alongside Jones on the county-wide schedule- after all, for over 25 years, public access actually has been a regional arts, entertainment, public affairs, religious and what-have-you channel for everyone.
And they haven’t been reduced to running episodes of “The Beverly Hillbillies” to fill out their schedule.
Comments
So what gives?
The Andy Griffith Show and the Beverly Hillbillies both provide "regional information".
Posted by: NoNickname![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/streetjazz/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 25, 2008 11:47 AM
It's not clear why a gratuitous slap at Jones TV was necessary. It is what it is: a leased channel that prefers to run its own station as it sees fit by having a professional staff program it. That does not automatically invalidate it as a worthwhile channel despite Mr. Drake's implications. CAT is an access channel that prefers to run its station as it sees fit by having the general public program it, also an acceptable alternative. The two are not the same should not be put in some imaginary adversarial position. The perfect -- whatever one thinks that is in this case -- should not be cast as the enemy of the good.
Posted by: j. jack flash![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/streetjazz/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 27, 2008 09:15 AM
What is a "leased" channel?
Does Chickenopolis have a public access channel?
Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/streetjazz/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 27, 2008 08:14 PM