HSTV Says Goodbye to 17 Years of Broadcasting
December 22, 2009. After 17 years of broadcasting local news, events and family friendly programming, HSTV Channel 19 has gone dark. In negotiations to renew the HSTV contract, cable provider Atlantic Broadband has demanded a substantial increase in the moneys paid for cable access; an increase substantial enough to make further broadcasting impossible. Some argue that the startling rate increase by Atlantic Broadband was designed to rid themselves of local programming thereby making room for HD channels.
As of December 22, Fayette County has lost its only local television station and, with it, all of the local programming that HSTV offered. Programs like High School Football, High School Basketball, the Fayette County Fair, local news, church services, Howard Hanna Myers Real Estate Showcase and others have all met the axe due to Atlantic Broadband's massive rate increase.
HSTV has offered the Fayette County residents their "15 minutes of fame" for almost two decades, but no longer. Residents now have only Pittsburgh television stations from which to choose, as well as CUTV, broadcast by California University. Local organizations, business' and churches no longer have local access to the people in their community via HSTV. There are no known plans to replace HSTV with any other similar television product. The faces, events and voices of the people of Fayette County have gone.
Good Bye
from the HSTV Staff
The Future
Striped Shirt Media has operated HSTV Channel 19 since December 2008. Striped Shirt Media will continue on after the demise of channel 19. Videos in the HSTV archives will continue to be available thru this website indefinately. Sports broadcasts, school programs, the County Fair, news features, church services, and all the other programs which HSTV offered are available on DVD, for purchase through this website.
Striped Shirt Media continues to service it's clients, providing television commercial production, web design, graphic design and print services.
