TV Eye

Two weeks ago, I wrote that LAT TV would launch on channel 17. It did, though several friends mentioned to me that they could not see it. Sure enough, when I tuned to channel 17, it was the Travis County Access Channel, just like always. What gives? The problem is that I, like many of you, have cable. A call to LAT TV's PR contact offered this sage advice: Disconnect your cable so you can watch LAT TV over the air. Right.

Fortunately, friendly LAT TV Community Affairs Director Danny Hermosillo offered a more logical solution: Buy an A-B switcher. That will allow me to go from cable to over-the-air viewing (necessary to see LAT TV). Now, I know this doodad is only $4, but I can't help but be annoyed. A Time Warner cable subscription is not cheap. Why can't my digital cable box make my TV-watching easier?

I've received this message a couple of times, but here is the latest iteration:

"Is there a way to get either English or Spanish translations on any of the TV channels? By this I mean as a feature on a TV set. Or, is there a Spanish channel/station, dish network, or cable system?"

Depending on the age of your TV, you should be able to enable SAP, which offers Spanish subtitles on the screen. Useful, but how about English subtitles for Spanish-language programs? Even more annoying: I can only get subtitles when the TV is set on mute. Maybe it's the age of my TV, or I'm a bonehead (or both), but hasn't the time come to make this easier?

And finally, don't you hate it when your favorite cable channel disappears? Such is the case for National Geographic fan Robert Pressley. Turns out NG didn't disappear. Time Warner moved it to the (more expensive) digital tier. When he asked why, he got conflicting responses. In the process of sharing his experience, he raised some interesting questions: What determines when and why a network gets moved from the more affordable basic cable to the digital tiers, and more importantly, who benefits?

The answers? I don't know, but I'm curious, and hope to have better luck getting a response.

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Local Stuff

The state of Public Access TV in Austin is up for review and discussion at a public forum June 24, 8:30am to 4:30pm. The Office of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs, along with the Austin Telecommunications Commission, is hosting the forum, free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so participants are asked to register online at www.ctiaustin.org/mediaforum/register. An agenda is viewable at www.ctiaustin.org/mediaforum.

The new season of Last Comic Standing (NBC) has an Austin connection: Kristin Key. No idea on how far she gets in the competition, but as she reportedly has plans to move to L.A., it's fair to assume she does well. Want to see her before she hits the big time? Catch her live at the Velveeta Room on June 16 and 17, where she'll be recording her act for DVD. For more information, call 469-9116 or visit www.thevelveetaroom.com. Last Comic Standing airs Tuesday nights at 7pm on NBC.

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More Stuff

Bravo has launched – in a big, big way – their broadband initiative, BrilliantButCancelled.com. Like the former series on the now defunct TRIO network (a moment of silence, please) the site features short-lived series for your online viewing pleasure. Current selections include The Jake Effect, starring Jason Bateman; EZ Streets with Joe Pantoliano and Ken Olin, and Johnny Staccato starring John Cassavetes. That's great, but what about contemporary Brilliant but Cancelled series like Arrested Development, Wonderfalls, Boomtown, and Freaks and Geeks, to name a few? (I asked my friendly media contact for Bravo, who said, "Good question! I don't know.") Maybe I can make my case at one of several Brilliant but Cancelled links: Critical Mass, the Anonymous Critic, Pop Autopsy, and my potential favorite, Just Make It Stop, a blog for visitors to make their case for what should be killed off and why.

As always, stay tuned.