Saugus cable TV adds a channel

SAUGUS – Saugus residents may be noticing an addition to their channel lineups in the last few days, as Saugus Community Television has added a new channel dedicated to government broadcasts.Previously SCTV aired on just Channels 8 and 10, showing a mix of public access, education and town meetings. Now with the addition of Channel 9, SCTV Executive Director Rich Garabedian said each one will have it?s own dedicated programming.?It was touch and go for a couple of months,” said Garabedian, who has been with SCTV since 2008. “I?ve worked toward that goal for three years. You have to justify that you have so many hours of local programming produced within your community over a two-year period.”The additional channel comes from Comcast, which provides public access to towns as part of its contract with Massachusetts.The new lineup will now have all public programming on Channel 8, government on Channel 9 and education and school-based programming on Channel 10.Garabedian said this new lineup will open up the airwaves for more locally produced programming.?We won?t have to combine public and government,” said Garabedian. “We have some very creative blocks of local programming and that way it won?t be disrupted by repeating a Town Meeting where we?ll have repeated showings.”This past summer SCTV expanded its meeting coverage from the mandated School Committee, Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting to include Board of Appeals, Board of Health, Planning Board and Finance Committee.?You know Saugus, it?s a very politically aware town and it loves its politics,” said Garabedian. “We started opening that up with our programming. We?ve had tremendous success in getting exposure for these town groups. As long as there?s an interest in the town, we?ll have the meetings up.”SCTV also broadcasts public access shows like Saugus Our Town, In the Know, The Sports Lounge and the sometimes controversial Downin? Town along with high school varsity sports.Executive assistant Laura Toomey, who shoots sports, edits shows and keeps the books, said the small staff at SCTV will have a lot more to do with the addition of a third channel.?We have a lot of our own original programming,” said Toomey. “It?s more challenging because now that we have more space, we?re doing more.”With all the extra airtime available now, Garabedian said he?s hoping more residents will want to start his or her own show.?Our feelers are out there,” said Garabedian. “We have time available for anybody.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattTempesta.