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| Brad Saucier, program manager for Windham TV, says that the public access channel is back on the air after technical issues and COVID-19 restrictions halted broadcasting in March. The station will be moving soon to a permanent location at Channel 5 on Spectrum cable and is currently dually broadcast on Channel 7 and Channel 1303. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
By
Ed Pierce
One
of the few stations on cable television where Windham residents can find true
diversity of opinion, civic engagement, entertainment, children’s programming
and spirited community dialogue and discussion is back on the air and looking
to become a favorite once again among local viewers.
Windham
TV, formerly known as WCCG TV-7, resumed broadcasting in July after being on
hiatus since March because of COVID-19 restrictions and technical issues. As
the home of long running popular programs such as “Speak Out,” hosted by
Representative Patrick Corey, the public access channel had been moved from its
traditional site on Channel 7 by Spectrum to Channel 1303 in 2017 but is now
being dual-illuminated on Channel 7 while awaiting a permanent move to Channel
5.
Last
year a Maine law was upheld by a federal judge that requires cable television
providers to relocate public access channels to their former low-channel
positions to make them easier for area viewers to find.
“Our viewers will still be able to
find Windham Town Council meetings, Windham Planning Board meetings, RSU 14
meetings and Windham Zoning Board meetings on our broadcasts,” said Brad
Saucier, Windham TV program manager. “But want everyone to know that our
programming is so much more than merely local meeting coverage.”
Saucier has been working
for the public access Windham TV station for the past 18 years and says that
the channel’s main programming runs 18 hours each day with a continuously-running
Community Bulletin Board filling the overnight hours.
He said at any given time
of the day or evening, viewers can tune in to find a cooking show, a children’s
program, a spiritual show, a political discussion or a movie.
“I always try and change
up the formats of our shows,” Saucier said. “We just don’t want our programming
to be all about meetings.”
According to Saucier,
public meetings filmed by Windham TV cameraman Bill Burwell are aired for on the
channel for a week and then replaced by newer coverage.
“We do accept video from
private or public submissions,” Saucier said. “We set the programming about a
week in advance and it’s challenging to try and incorporate all of the ideas
and put them together in a short period of time.
Some programming comes
from a website called pegmedia.com, which airs a verity of shows from across
the world. Saucier uses pemedia.com to add appropriate kids, cooking and other
informational shows with broad appeal for local viewers.
“There’s really something
new for our viewers to find on Windham TV every week,” he said.
The programming schedule
for WCCG-Windham TV is posted on the Town of Windham’s website each week at
www.windhammaine.us, Saucier said.
Public
access programming is a great way to stay informed about issues that matter to
the Windham community, he said.
“Windham
TV can inform Windham residents about new initiatives put forward by the town
and all of the services it offers to the public,” Saucier said.
The
station is currently preparing new Bulletin Board items for broadcasting and
Saucier said groups or residents wishing to air community announcements can
send those to Windham TV by email at windhamtv@windhammaine.us.
"I
love the changes and our ability to get information and entertainment out to
the public,” Saucier said. “Some people may know that it’s available, but we
want everyone to be aware that we’re back and we’re way better and so much more
than just meeting coverage.”
Saucier
said he expects the permanent move of Windham TV to Spectrum Channel 5 to be
made by early fall. <
