WASHINGTON, DC – The nation’s cable companies have pledged support to the disaster relief efforts launched by the American Red Cross to aid victims of last Tuesday’s tragedies. Beginning this week, cable operators and program networks will run public service announcements featuring American Red Cross President and CEO Dr. Bernadine Healy. The free ads promote grief counseling and encourage financial donations to support the relief efforts following the terrorist attacks.
“People in the cable industry -- like all Americans -- have been deeply moved by the tragic events of last week,” said NCTA President & CEO Robert Sachs. “The cable industry’s connection with 70 million U.S. households presents a unique opportunity for us to help spread a broad message of compassion and to aid the American Red Cross in its humanitarian efforts,” he said.
“We are grateful for the generous contributions of individual Americans, organizations and private enterprise. The cable industry joins generous Americans who are turning to the American Red Cross in the greatest wave of compassion that the organization has ever experienced,” said Healy. “These efforts reflect an American tradition of volunteerism and philanthropy.”
National and regional cable networks will include the PSAs in their cablecasts, while cable operators will insert them locally in programming. The industry-wide public service ad campaign supplements many companies’ individual disaster relief support activities.
Up-links of the PSA will be available to participants this Monday through Friday at the following times and transponder locations:
- Monday, Sept. 17 -- 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET on Galaxy 11*, Transponder (C-Band) 8
- Tuesday, Sept. 18 -- 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET on Galaxy 11, Transponder (C-Band) 8
- Wednesday, Sept. 19 -- 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET on Telstar 7**, Transponder (C-Band) 10
- Thursday, Sept. 20 -- 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET on Galaxy 11, Transponder (C-Band) 8
- Friday, Sept. 21 -- 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. ET on Galaxy 11, Transponder (C-Band) 8
Engineering questions should be directed to Mark Bell, NCTA’s Director of Administrative Services & Personnel, at 202-775-1046. NCTA extends its appreciation to Verestar and C-SPAN for their technical assistance.
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), formerly the National Cable Television Association, is the principal trade association of the cable television industry in the United States. NCTA represents cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation’s cable television households and more than 150 cable program networks, as well as equipment suppliers and providers of other services to the cable industry.
# # #
*Galaxy 11 can be found at 91.0 degrees west.
**Telstar 7 can be found 129.0 degrees west.