Equipment in the Control Room of SXM-TV15.
POND ISLAND–SXM TV 15 enthusiasts can now enjoy their favourite programmes once again as the channel is now back on the air.
The Cable TV’s community access channel made its return to tele-viewers on Thursday, with a “soft launch” aimed at attracting producers back to the channel.
First of the locally produced programmes to return Thursday evening was the SXM Daily News programme produced by seasoned videographer and editor Ricardo William.
According to a press release, SXM-TV15 expects other top producers to follow suit very quickly based on the demand for the variety of religious, chat, current affairs and documentary programmes that have been missing since the channel went off air in December.
St. Maarten Cable TV formally closed its operations in December, three months after the passing of Hurricane Irma in September. The local TV station is currently being managed by an independent contractor on behalf of TelEm Group.
Thursday’s soft launch began at 9:00am with regional programmes and music videos until 12:00noon. The channel was back on air again at 4:00pm with the local news programme – SXM Daily News which aired at 7:30pm.
SXM-TV15 says it will be holding open all time slots from 4:00pm until 12:00midnight each day for local producers who wish to maintain the same time slots they enjoyed before the channel went off the air in December. Should these reserved time slots not be taken up other producers will have the opportunity to take the vacant spots for their own productions.
The channel’s operators have circulated e-mails to all former producers informing them of the latest developments and inviting the producers back to SXM-TV15 to air their programmes.
The email stated that for the next few weeks SXM-TV15 along with TelEm Group will be assessing various ways to enhance the TV15 experience for viewers including new investments in equipment.
Local producers, businesses, advertising agencies, church groups, chat show hosts, political parties etc. who are interested in having their programmes or advertising on the local TV station are urged to contact sxmtv15@gmail.com for inquiries.
SXM-TV15 says it is happy to have the local access channel (Channel 115) back on the air, especially for the many senior citizens in St. Maarten who have been enquiring daily about the return of their favourite local shows.
The channel managers say even in the world of computers with access to unlimited shows and programming from around the world, St. Maarten seniors still prefer their local shows and will be amongst the first to welcome them back in their Cable TV viewing line-up.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/73308-sxm-tv-15-back-on-air
View comments
Hide comments