TV

Press release:

Empire Access announced today that the company is providing more than 25 TV channels at no additional charge to their TV customers. Empire TV customers who do not currently subscribe to select channels will have access for 30 days at no additional cost.

“Our company is pleased to announce this 30-day free preview," said Frank Pilling, vice president of Empire Access. "We understand many families are spending more time indoors due to the impact of the coronavirus, and it’s important to offer our customers extra TV programming options during this difficult time."

As part of the 30-day free preview, Empire Access is giving current TV cutomers access to channels that may not currently be included in their subscription. Free preview channels include:

SHOWTIME® -- Enjoy a free trial of premium channels from March 27 – April 25, complements of Showtime and Empire Access.

• On SHOWTIME® watch the final season of Homeland, plus other critically acclaimed original series like Billions® and Shameless.
• Get 30 days of Hallmark, Travel, DIY Network, Disney Junior, Disney XD, HDNET Movies, and many more.

Beginning today, Empire Access TV customers will automatically have access to the additional channels. For a complete list of the 30-day free preview channels, visit our website at www.empireaccess.com/freepreview or call our office at 1-800-338-3300.

Submitted photo and press release:

WXXI’s Television Program Director Irene Fink, who lives in Bergen, was recognized as the “Charles Impaglia Programmer of the Year” by TRAC Media Services and the Public Television Programmers’ Association (PTPA) at the PTPA Annual Meeting in New Orleans on May 6.

The Programmer of the Year Award is given to someone who “has developed a program format that has had significant impact on his/her community,” and “demonstrates an ability to creatively use changes in the media environment to his/her station’s advantage.”

Fink has served as WXXI’s Television program director since 2009. She is responsible for programming strategy and scheduling on WXXI's television stations and on City 12 (cable 1303) in the City of Rochester. 

The PTPA praised Fink’s impact at WXXI and the effect she has had on the community. They listed several reasons why she was the top programmer:

• She weighs all content decisions with the audience and community in mind.
• She is a good communicator and collaborator, ensuring that WXXI’s content reaches the widest audiences across multiple platforms.
• She goes above and beyond in the programming and promoting of WXXI’s Move to Include initiative, helping to ensure people with disabilities are represented in WXXI’s content throughout the year. Move to Include is a partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation designed to promote inclusion for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. 

Fink joined WXXI in 1998 as a casual in the Engineering Department, and in 2002 moved into the TV Division as traffic coordinator. In 2006 she was promoted to assistant director of TV Programming/Traffic and in 2009 to TV program director. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from SUNY Brockport. Fink resides in Bergen with her daughter Kaitlyn.

This is the second award Fink has received from PTPA and TRAC Media Services. The first was the Golden Grid Award in 2011, which she received in recognition of her ability to help strengthen her community by scheduling high-quality programs.

The “Charles Impaglia Programmer of the Year” award is given by PTPA and TRAC Media Services, an audience analysis organization that works with public television stations.

About WXXI

WXXI is the essential, lifelong educational media resource for the Greater Rochester area. WXXI puts the community first with programming that stimulates and expands thought, inspires the spirit, opens cultural horizons and promotes understanding of diverse community issues.

WXXI also has a long-term affiliation with Little Theatre, which helps enhance the cultural life of the community and strengthens two of Rochester's most vital arts institutions. Log on to wxxi.org for more information about our services and programs.

Batavia High School students volunteered early this morning to be featured live on this week's edition of "Friday Morning Lights" on Fox channel 13 Rochester.

Hannah Welker 13WHAM News/FOX Rochester morning reporter was setting up before 6:30 a.m. to prepare for this week's show. Hannah was very impressed with the school spirit of the students at BHS.  

Many athletic teams, including Batavia football, cheerleading and girls volleyball to name a few, attended today's event. The Blue Zoo will be traveling to Rochester this Sunday to cheer on the undefeated Blue Devils at 1 p.m.  

Principal Scott Wilson being interviewed.

Senior co-mayor Sam Cecere being interviewed in front of students from the Blue Zoo.