Conejo Educators Launch Cable Programming Schedule

THOUSAND OAKS — While President Clinton and the national television networks congratulate themselves on their pact to air three hours of instructional programming a week, this town’s educational leaders have done them one better.

Educational Television of the Conejo--a nonprofit partnership involving Cal Lutheran University, Moorpark College, the Conejo Valley Unified School District and several private schools--launched its first regular programming schedule this week with the goal of eventually offering service 24 hours a day.

Satellite feeds from NASA, televised lectures from Moorpark College and high school sports will fill the airwaves on ETC, as the fledgling, all-volunteer channel is known. After a four-month trial run, the educational venture is moving to what will be its permanent home, Channel 21 on TCI and Falcon cable systems.

The channel represents 10 years of “debate and dreaming” by Conejo Valley educators about ways to join forces and develop TV shows that appeal to everyone from preschoolers to postgraduate students, said ETC President Beverly Merrill Kelley.

ETC hopes to eventually offer 24 hours of educational programming daily--real educational television, not window dressing for the politicians, said Kelley, who works in Cal Lutheran’s communication arts department.

“You know commercial television, what they get away with calling educational programming,” she said. “We’re educators, and we’re bringing a different perspective to this.”

So far, the channel, which started airing in April, has been little more than a bulletin board for its participants. But with it move from Channel 59 to the more trafficked Channel 21, ETC plans to be much more.

The “spanking-new lineup,” as described by Kelley, will include the home learning program “Crossroads Cafe,” which will allow students to take Moorpark College courses from their living rooms. The first course offered will be English as a second language.

“The more you think about this, the more you realize there are so many things Moorpark College can do through television to make itself better known to the community,” said Rene Rodriguez, dean of instructional services. “Right now, we’re just getting started.”

ETC--which features a bunny logo designed by Newbury Park High School student Christine Sanford--will also televise high school and college sports as well as special lectures and cultural events on Conejo Valley campuses. All of the participating schools will provide programming.

Moreover, for four hours per day the channel will feature live satellite feeds from NASA Television and the Classic Arts Showcase, which features dance, music, theater and art programs. And ETC plans to televise community events such as the recent National Issues Forums held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Programs geared to younger students will soon be introduced into the lineup. For specific listings, viewers should watch the channel’s bulletin board, which airs daily from 2 to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.

Money matters are already a major concern for ETC. To get the channel going, TCI and the city of Thousand Oaks each contributed $25,000. GTE, which is vying to become a major player in Ventura County’s cable market, pitched in $4,000 and small Falcon Cable gave $3,000.

But that money can only be used for equipment costs, and ETC is seeking businesses or individuals to underwrite their programs.

“The sky’s the limit,” said Rodriguez of Moorpark College. “Our faculty is already beginning to see the possibilities of this. The difficult thing is gathering the resources to get this thing going.”

ETC is also interested in input from Conejo Valley residents, particularly feedback and suggestions about what kind of educational television people want to watch.

“This is a modest beginning,” Kelley said. “But this is where people come in. If people want to help, they can donate their ideas, they can donate their money, they can donate their time. All three are welcome.”