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SUSAN K. LEIGHTON Staff Writer While area cable television companies are not currently airing WPGX TV-28, cable subscribers and others are taking it upon themselves to see that they receive the new independent station. WPGX general manager Pat McNamara said it is possible to receive the channel throughout its broadcast area by using a UHF loop antenna to pick up the signal. (Cable subscribers must first disconnect their cable.) As a result, Wal-Mart assistant manager Henry Jordan said, sales of loop-type antennas at the 23rd Street store have increased markedly since WPGX went on the air May 21. “We have had people asking about adapters and antennas which would fit their televisions so they could pick up channel 28,” Jordan said. Bob Rice, a salesman for Radio Shack in the Panama City Mall, said the store has sold out of loop antennas twice since WPGX went on the air. The antennas cost an average of less than $2. “We sell rabbit ear antennas occasionally, but the bow tie and loop antennas usually just sit on the shelves,’’ Rice said. ‘‘People are coming in and asking for the antennas because they want to pick up channel 28,’’ he added. WPGX offers ‘‘family entertainment,’’ including 23 movies per week, sports, and situation comedies “The response from the community has been wonderful,”’ McNamara said. ‘‘But we would also like to provide service to all of Comcast's subscribers.” However, Comcast Cablevision general manager Mike Wyatt said there currently are no available channels on Comcast's system and no programm ing can be added at this time. “We announced our channels in December at which time we added three new stations,’ Wyatt said. “‘WPGX did not contact us until February about going on the air. If they would have come to us in November, prior to our selecting our broad casting, we probably could have done something But, as it is, we have no channel space. According to Wyatt, approximately 60 percent of Comcast’s cable system is close to 25 years old and would have to be replaced to increase the number of channels it carries. McNamara suggested that Comcast drop one of its current channels and replace it with the local station. Wyatt said Comcast is considering alternatives, but has made no decision to eliminate any of its current programming. “Our programming has broad appeal and we also have some contract obligations with certain chan _ others we just don’t want to give up,’ Wyatt said. WPGX broadcasts over a five- to seven-county area, McNamara said, reaching as far south as Apalachicola and as far north as Graceville. “We have gotten word from the other cable operators that they are putting us on the air. We would like to see Comcast do the same,” McNamara said. Bill Dorsey, assistant engineer with Jones Spacelink, said that company has ordered the equipment needed to add the station and expects to receive it within a month. ‘We thought we would have the equipment before the station went on the air, but we haven’t received it yet. As soon as we do, we will get it on the air,” Dorsey said. Jones Spacelink serves the Panama City Beach area. Debra Martin of Multivision Cable Grou (formerly Essex Cable) said WPGX will be broad cast over its cable system to the South Bomfay, Vernon and Bayou George areas on chan nel 33 as soon as necessary equipment is received. Wyatt said he will continue to meet with WPGX representatives in an attempt to find a solution to Comcast’s channel shortage. “Although we feel our programming is equally appealing to the viewing audience, we will do whatever we can to work with WPGX to find a solu tion,”’ Wyatt said 6) Ca A. Me J.L. Walker adjusts an antenna while viewing local station WPGX-TV with his cat, Killer.
Newspaper Details
Panama City News Herald
Panama City, Florida, US
Wed, Jun 22, 1988
Page 34
Full Page
Clipped by
Henry H.
