Channel 22 Makes Programming Changes as Studio Access Ends

November 25, 2009 – Viewers of Cabarrus County’s Own Channel 22 will notice program changes in the next few weeks as a result of Time–Warner Cable ending its franchise agreement with Cabarrus County. A recently passed state law allows local cable franchises to void their agreements with local governments if any competitor enters the market. This state law impacts all PEG (public access, education, and government) channels.

Because the franchise agreement has ended, Time–Warner Cable no longer will provide studio facilities for local television shows and no longer will provide video production services for broadcasting meetings of the Cabarrus County Board of Education or Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners.

Channel 22’s half–hour shows – “Cooperative Extension Today,” “Forever Young” and “Commissioners Corner” – that were videotaped at Time–Warner Studios in Kannapolis will be discontinued in their current forms. In the near future, new variations of these shows will be presented with a fresher approach to providing information about county services that is interesting and helpful to its viewers. These shows also will be broadcast in multiple time slots so the information can reach more viewers.

In addition, broadcast of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners meetings will continue in its current form and current time slot. Channel 22 staff now are producing and broadcasting these meetings. Viewers may tune in to the Board of Commissioners regular monthly meeting broadcast live on Channel 22 at 6:30 pm on the third Monday of each month. Commissioners meetings also are broadcast at 6 pm every Tuesday and Thursday, and at 1 pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The programming changes will not affect other well–known Channel 22 shows, such as “Historical Moments,” “Successful Gardener,” “Eating Smart,” and “Cabarrus This Week.”

Viewers can watch Channel 22 programs on–demand by clicking the Channel 22 link on the county website www.cabarruscounty.us or on YouTube www.youtube.com/cabarruscounty.

Videos are accessible via the County’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/cabarruscounty and on the County’s Twitter feed www.twitter.com/cabarruscounty.