Editor’s Note: We are in receipt of a press release issued by Charter Communications–the cable provider in the Glendale–Burbank and La Crescenta communities. The release–which is printed in its entirety below–addresses the addition of four hours of Armenian programming on a new channel on Charter Communications. In recent weeks–the owners and some programmers on Charter’s channel 17 have waged a campaign against Charter Communications alleging that Charter is out to stifle the Armenian voice from its programming. The addition of this new channel clearly demonstrates that such allegations are only meant to create undue schism between the Armenian-American community and Charter Communications. On this occasion the Armenian Cable Television–channel 55–which is managed by our affiliate broadcast wing Horizon Television–welcomes the addition of new programming in the Glendale cable television mosaic.
BURBANK–Charter Communications and Armenian Media Group of America–Inc. Thursday announced plans to add 28 hours of weekly prime time programming on a Glendale/Burbank basic cable service.
Programming will be provided by a group of producers not affiliated with Charter Communications on the system’s commercial leased access channel 36. Scheduled launch date for programming is Monday–February 14–2000. AMGA programs will air daily from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight.
"We are pleased that AMGA will have the opportunity to present 4 hours of continuos daily programming on our basic level of service," stated Tom Belcher–General Manager of Charter Communications.
AMGA has been negotiating with Charter Communications since June 1999 for the lease of prime time hours on the basic level of service. Until now–local producers secured time on the basic level from Wallis/Silliphant Communications on channel 17.
"My clients are extremely excited about the new channel 36 programming," said Albert Abkarian–attorney for AMGA. "We had been negotiating the details of our deal with Charter Communications for months. We are pleased that both sides were able to make concessions and reached an agreement that is fair to both sides. Starting February 14–2000–we will be able to deliver what we promised to the community last year," added Abkarian.
"We want to thank Charter Communications–its management and staff for their patience and professional attitude during our negotiations in the past few months," remarked AMGA’s attorney.
"The programming quality will be very high. We want to deliver programming on Channel 36 that will make the community proud of our heritage and culture," said Edward Kaladjian–President of AMGA.
"Charter Communications wishes AMGA success in presenting interesting and entertaining programming to our Armenian speaking customers," added Tom Belcher.
Charter Communications customers residing in Glendale–Burbank–La Crescenta–La Canada Flintridge–and Montrose currently have access to diverse Armenian language programming on several channels.