City to launch its own channel on cable TV

HARRISBURG (AP) -- Tony Soprano and HBO probably have nothing to fear, but Harrisburg is getting into the cable television business.
Thanks to its flush contract with Comcast Corp., the city is launching its own cable network, complete with studios and production facilities.
Mayor Stephen R. Reed said he envisions a "24-hour-a-day channel with all-local content. This channel is going to be a lot more than just government."
To start the network, the city is spending about $300,000 of its Comcast money to equip and outfit the studios on the first floor of the Walnut Street Garage. Channel 20 could be on the air as early as May.
The network, to replace the current public-access channel, will feature expanded coverage of the Harrisburg School District, city events and community and City Council meetings, along with programming paid for by companies, organizations and other outside groups.
"The network will present an extraordinary opportunity for educational programming involving the city, school district students and civic groups," Reed said.
The mayor is even hoping to sell commercials. He said the station could earn as much as $450,000 in its first full year of operation.
, with the money coming from paid programming and commercial sales.
The first-year operating budget for the station is $100,000. There will be a small paid staff, along with high school and college interns.
Eventually, Harrisburg will have two local cable channels, a low-frequency FM station and a broadcast site on the Internet, as part of the Comcast agreement.
"There's going to be a lot of new programming and a lot of diversity," Reed said.