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 Ossining, NY - Greater Ossining Television (GO-TV), the public access TV station that has been serving the local community for the past 10 years, will become homeless after May 31, 2008.
An extended lease for GO-TV at a classroom at Ossining High School will expire at the end of next month, and the Ossining School District has decided not to provide any additional extensions, stating that it needs the space for educational purposes.
Some time ago, the public access television station submitted a comprehensive proposal and business plan to the Ossining Library Board for possible relocation there. A public survey undertaken by GO-TV last summer indicated that the majority of Ossining residents who responded preferred the Ossining Library as the best location for GO-TV. However, while the Library Board considers GO-TV’s proposal and business plan, the station is now faced with finding a temporary location for both its office and broadcasting point.
The original 10-year IMA agreement between the Village and Town of Ossining, and the Ossining School District expired in June 2007. At that time, the District extended the agreement to allow GO-TV time to conduct a public survey and develop relocation plans.
Should the Library vote in favor of accepting GO-TV into the building, the next step would be construction of a new studio, which could cost more than $100,000. Currently, the stations are owned by the Village and Town of Ossining and managed by GO-TV. Public access broadcasting is provided through Cablevision and Verizon. At this point, there has been no determination as to who would be responsible for those construction costs.
In the meantime, the GO-TV Board of Directors is working with both municipalities and broadcast providers to ensure that the public will have a continued forum for free speech. There has been some discussion of moving GO-TV’s broadcast distribution point, currently located at the Ossining High School, to the Ossining Library. However, a decision has not yet been finalized.
“If GO-TV were to ‘go dark,’ it would have a devastating effect on the local community,” said Joel Greenbaum, Co-Chairman. “Non-profit organizations, which depend on GO-TV for public service announcements, would lose a vital media venue. Senior citizens who are homebound and cannot attend local meetings or public events, would lose touch with the community. Local shows that highlight every aspect of the community would be lost. In essence, without GO-TV, the local community would lose its voice.”
While GO-TV is working diligently to ensure that the greater Ossining community will continue to have a public and open forum for free speech, it also welcomes any help or suggestions from the public. GO-TV is urging the public to contact its local Village and Town officials, call the studio office at (914) 923-7745, or email
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“Working together with the community, the municipalities and the broadcast providers, our goal is to continue the great community service that GO-TV has provided over the past 10 years,” added Greenbaum.
GO-TV, a 501-3C non-profit organization, broadcasts public access on Channel 74, and government access on Channel 78. Now in its 10th year of operation, GO-TV serves the Village and Town of Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, and parts of Chappaqua, Pleasantville, Valhalla and Mount Pleasant.
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