The Maine Public Broadcasting Network will once again air the Maine Capitol Connection, beginning today, Jan. 8 at 9 a.m. This is the second year of the free, over-the-air television and cable channel devoted to providing public access to the political processes of the Maine State Legislature in Augusta.
Journalist Mal Leary will again serve as the managing editor and director of the channel.
As with the inaugural season, MPBN will be broadcasting the House and Senate sessions each day, with the sessions re-broadcast at night. MPBN will broadcast public hearings, work sessions and news conferences and other events around the capitol complex. MCC will also re-broadcast some hearings, news conferences events and legislative debates and other MCC programming over the weekend.
New in 2014, MCC will broadcast several “issue debates” with lawmakers on opposing sides of major issues out of MPBN’s new studio facility in the Cross Office Building at the capitol. MPBN will start the season with an interview and discussion with legislative leaders on what’s ahead in the second session of the 126th Maine Legislature.
MCC also plans to air some of the oral arguments before the State Supreme Court as well as the traditional “State of the Judiciary” speech by the chief justice. Additionally, MPBN will cover the judicial nomination hearings where the public will hear both judges and would-be judges respond to questions by lawmakers on their judicial philosophy.
As this is an election year, MCC plans extensive coverage of the various races. The Maine Capitol Connection will tap into MPBN’s “Your Vote 2014” platform and keep viewers abreast of all the candidates and topics that will dominate this upcoming election season.
“We’ve heard from viewers across the state that the Maine Capitol Connection truly connected them with the goings on in Augusta and that they really value the channel,” states MPBN’s President and CEO, Mark Vogelzang. “This year, our coverage will expand, and we are very excited to bring even more access, content and information to Maine.”
The Maine Capitol Connection is available on the digital tier of Time Warner Cable (Channel 181 in most of Maine, 171 in Cumberland and York counties). Viewers with a digital television should scan for new channels ”“ “dot-4” grouped together with MPBN’s regular MPBN Television and World Channels ”“ 10.4 in Presque Isle and Augusta, 12.4 in Bangor, 13.4 in Calais and 26.4 in Biddeford.
For more information, visit www.mpbn.net.
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