PCTV to shut down at the end of August
July 24, 2024Pittsburgh Community Television (PCTV21) has been on cable systems within the city limits of Pittsburgh for nearly 40 years. Now comes word the cable-only outlet will cease operations on or near August 31, 2024
In a letter to station supporters, Executive Director John H. Patterson explained how they’ve worked hard to keep the station available and blames the steep decline in cable subscriptions and the additional changes in media in general. Patterson went on to say that they aren’t blaming the City of Pittsburgh and while inviting viewers to reach out to their city council representative or the mayor, he goes on to explain the city is in a similar boat withe cable issues and cannot continue to support the channel without support from new sponsors.
Expect to hear more about the pending closure coming soon!
Channel 21 was a Warner/qube channel from 1981. There were, I think, 5 separate feeds to serve the various areas of the city.
I remember Qube, they had a location on Kenilworth Drive in lower Dormont, my school bus went past there, up the winding road..
Qube was to be interactive cable TV, to react and talk back to show hosts and buy products, and we could have had that decades before the smart TV allowed it.
Wish it had happened, I don’t know why Qube ultimately failed.
A brave attempt to prove that true community access television could have an impact. Did not get to see much of it, even during my KQV days, but any effort of that sort needs to be lauded — though sadly in this case it now will be eulogized.
Even though PCTV will be ceasing operations, their “sister” government access channel, City Channel Pittsburgh is still available on Comcast (1074/14) and Verizon (44) in the City.
Ahh, the public access channel on cable systems. I’ve always heard about it, even knew people who were involved in the programming, but never saw it myself, except for highlights videos of programs in other areas, some of which were way out and wacky, like the movie Wayne’s World portrayed.
Public access seemed to be a pre-YouTube, where anyone with a programming idea could get on TV. Now that people are using Youtube so much, there’s probably less need for public access channels, for producers and viewers.
At least some people would have learned how to work cameras and appear on video using these channels.
PCTV exists because it was a contractual requirement made of Warner Qube in exchange for landing the city cable franchise. I’m somewhat surprised that it is not still contractually required. Unless that hideous Telecommunications Act of ’96 wiped-out those requirements too.