MAYOR MASIELLO UNVEILS CHANNEL 21 MONTHLY BROADCAST/PREMIERS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
March 2, 2000
Contact: Peter K. Cutler (716) 851-4841

BUFFALO (3/2/00) -- Acknowledging both the strength and power of television and Western New Yorkers' need to be informed, Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello today unveiled his new cable government access television show.

Dubbed "Mayor Masiello on Buffalo," the half-hour municipally-themed television show hosted by the Mayor will air on Buffalo TV 21, the City's cable government access television channel that has been on the air since July 1999 and airs throughout Adelphia Cable's suburban Erie and Niagara county systems.

"Mayor Masiello on Buffalo" will inform Western New Yorkers about happenings in the City related to government, business and entertainment. The goal of the program is not only to inform, but also instill a sense of civic awareness, participation and pride in all Buffalo residents.

The focus of the inaugural edition of "Mayor Masiello on Buffalo" is the City's explosion of information technology ("IT") and e-commerce companies, most of which are located in Downtown Buffalo. The Mayor wants to move away from these companies being Buffalo's "best kept secrets" and put them at the forefront for college graduates and others seeking employment in Buffalo's growing IT/e-commerce sector.

"This new broadcast is an exciting opportunity to further disseminate information regarding the City of Buffalo and all of the developments that are occurring throughout the city," stated Mayor Masiello. "Given the tremendous growth of I-Tech businesses in Downtown Buffalo's Byte Belt, it's appropriate to feature them during the premier broadcast of Mayor Masiello on Buffalo."

In focusing attention on the Buffalo Byte Belt Initiative, the Mayor incorporated an eight minute video called "From Rust Belt to Byte Belt" in the premier episode of Mayor Masiello on Buffalo. The video was produced as a gift to the City by Michael Fantaske of Key Video (located on Delaware Avenue near Summer Street in Buffalo).

Mr. Fantaske became interested in the City's Byte Belt after attending one of the Mayor's information technology council meetings. Fantaske was so inspired, he went on to develop the video as a way for the City to market itself to regionally and nationally for the location and relocation of businesses inside the "Buffalo Byte Belt."

"The gift of the "From Rust Belt to Byte Belt" video was Key Video's way of giving something back to the city, while at the same time focusing attention on the numerous IT and e-commerce businesses inside the Byte Belt," noted Mr. Fantaske.

Fantaske knows of what he speaks. Plagued by a major snowstorm in the winter of 1998 that left him with a collapsed roof that fell at his then-Blasdell headquarters, he scrambled for a location to relocate his growing video business and ended up locating on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. Fantaske wrote to the Mayor for help following the collapse of his roof at his Blasdell location and received assistance in the person of Alan DeLisle, president of the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation ("BERC").

"The combination of Mayor Masiello on Buffalo and the "From Rust Belt to Byte Belt" video really captures what we're all about at the BERC," said Mr. DeLisle. "Key Video is just one of the dozens of companies who have either located or relocated in Buffalo over the past few years. I urge any and all business owners looking in the Greater Buffalo area for new locations to contact BERC after watching the show and the dynamic new IT video, so we can inform you of various incentives and benefits of doing business in Buffalo."

The first guest ever to appear Mayor Masiello on Buffalo is George Chamoun, CEO of Chek.com, a fast-growing Downtown Buffalo-based e-mail outsourcing company that has signed up more than 2 million customers in just over two years.

In addition to undoubtedly becoming the answer to the trivia question, "Who was the first guest ever to appear on the show Mayor Masiello on Buffalo?" Chamoun spoke about the success of Chek.com when he had the honor of introducing First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Advanced Training Center in Buffalo in February.

Chek.com is located inside the Buffalo Byte Belt and Chamoun says his appearance on the show and Chek's presence on the Byte Belt video gave him an opportunity to talk about his Buffalo-based business.

"I was absolutely delighted to be part of the debut edition of Mayor Masiello on Buffalo," said Mr. Chamoun. "The Mayor was great and is really focused on what's going on in the world of e-commerce and IT, locally and regionally. The show is a great way to get the message out to young college graduates and established IT professionals that Downtown Buffalo is the place to be, now and in the future."

Mayor Masiello on Buffalo is a joint venture between the City's Office of Telecommunications and Adelphia Cable which handles studio, technical and production aspects of the show.

Thomas Haywood , General Manager for Adelphia Cable's Erie region stated, "Adelphia is pleased to lend its assistance and expertise to the Mayor. We think this is just one of many areas where Adelphia and the City of Buffalo can work together in a productive and cooperative fashion. Mayor Masiello on Buffalo will be a tremendous asset to the Adelphia local programming line-up."

Thomas Tarapacki is the director of the Office. He says the Mayor's show can help bolster viewership of both government and education related programming

on Buffalo TV 21.

"Mayor Masiello on Buffalo is a good fit with all the other government related programming that's shown on Buffalo TV 21. We show a wide range of programs including Buffalo Common Council and Buffalo School board meetings in addition to programming from state lawmakers and interviews with city leaders. The Mayor's show is well produced and will undoubtedly boost viewership in Adelphia's city and suburban cable systems."

Christopher Bishop, the Office's deputy director serves as co-host of the show. Bishop says Buffalo TV 21 viewers will appreciate the effort. "So many people in our City have a thirst for knowledge about the inner-workings of not only civic government, but government in general. I think the show will not only satisfy that thirst but put Buffalo residents and Westerns New Yorkers a little bit more in touch with what's going on in the City.

Viewers of "Mayor Masiello on Buffalo" will be able to get more in touch by sending in their questions, which will be answered on the show. In keeping in touch with the "electronic age theme" of the initial show. Residents are invited to e-mail their questions to the show's mailbox at mayordept @ci.buffalo.ny.us . Questions can also be sent in the old fashioned way to "Mayor Masiello on Buffalo", 613 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202.

"Mayor Masiello on Buffalo" will air on Buffalo TV 21 each Friday evening at 6PM. New shows will be produced monthly and will incorporate a range of civic-related topics. When asked what type of effect the show will have on City and suburban and cable subscribers, Masiello responds, "Watching my show (and all Buffalo TV 21 programming) is a way to promote understanding and knowledge about the City both now and in the future. And that's my final answer!"