Keith Morelli/Star-Banner ED MORRIS, STATION MANAGER ... Stands next to the Channel 49 logo Crystal River,Getting Its Own Station ED MORRIS OF CHANNEL 49 IN CRYSTAL RIVER READIES A SWITCHING CONSOLE ... Used to substitute local advertising and community service spots By KEITH MORELLI Citrus County Bureau CRYSTAL RIVER — Citrus County television lovers will soon have more fodder to chose from among the many television shows, now'reaching county antennas. It may be the end of March or ear ly April, but Channel 49 in Crystal River is “Coming Alive.” That’s the motto of the low power television station scheduled to begin broadcasting within the next two months. J. Edward Morris, station manager, is feverishly working to ward that goal. Currently the only employee of the station, located next to the Key Training Center off SR 44, just east of Crystal River, Morris is twisting knobs, painting studios and review ing different logos to be associated with Citrus County’s first television station. And Citrus County’s it is, for the broadcast signal will stretch only 18 miles from’ the tower already con- strqcted at the site. That of course will include some parts of Marion County and Hernando County, but mainly-it will spread its frequency waves among Citrus County antennas. Morris fur ther stated the signal will reach over 55,000 people or 19,000 homes.' The station will be a rebroadcast of independent Channel 35 from Or lando, Morris said, claiming the programing is “outstanding.” “We have the cream of the crop in syndicated and independent pro graming,” Morris explained. . A look at the program schedule reveals many movies are planned, and several syndicated shows will be shown as well. Independent Net work News (INN) will also be a fea ture along with Cable News Network (CNN). The television company is a busi ness owned by the Citrus County As sociation for Retarded Children, which also owns and operates the Key Training Center and the Key Pine Village. The association is a non-profit organization, Morris said, adding it is the first television station in the United States owned by a non-profit.organization such as the Citrus County Association for Retarded Children, In addition, the station manager said, emphasis will be placed on community service and the taping of community informational spots - to air at certain times during the day. The day is 18 hours long at the sta tion, broadcasting from 7 ^.m. until 1 a.m. (1:30 a.m. on the weekends). , The rebroadcast will be identical to that of WOFL of Orlando, Chan nel 35, with the exception of local advertising, station identification and community spots. During those sequences, Channel 49 personnel will switch their own logo,onto the screen and air their own advertising while the Orlando station airs Orlando local advertising. While some Tampa, Orlando and Gainesville TV stations are getting thousands of dollars for a 60 second advertising spot, Channel 49 is charging $25 per 60 second spot. “You can’t take a small business and advertise in a large market,” Morris explained. The advertisers on Channel 49 will reach only local residents, but the cost will be great ly reduced. “Advertisers will not only reach the viewer, they will also help the association,” he added, referring to the Citrus County Association for Retarded Children. “Here is a chance for the 1 community to sup port local television and a non-profit organization as well.” But, he added, “This station will not eliminate the need for local sup port for the associaion. It will only help where the government cut backs are starting to affect the op eration of the association.” It will take a staff of less than 10 people to run the station, Morris adds, as opposed to independent Channel 20 of Gainesville which has 55 staffers. “And,” he adds, “we will look as professional as any other TV station you see.”