Get ready, New Haven humanoids, to tune into “Area 51 TV.” It boasts a “franchise pack of maniacs.”
A deal is in the works to launch the new local TV station and broadcast it from East Rock. Channel 51 — whose owners will include local powerbroker Ed Marcus as well as a partner in a company called “Attention Earthlings LLC” who was once half of a Cleveland TV film-hosting duo called “Frank and Drac” (pictured) — will feature old-style horror/ sci-fi flicks as well as new-generation mass-participation games that people will be able to play live (for cash prizes) from their televisions, computers, or cell phones.
The prime mover behind the station is Allen Christopher (aka “Frank” of “Frank and Drac”; most recently he helped write a new state law promoting digital and motion-picture production in Connecticut).
Christopher (pictured) completed a deal with Mayor John DeStefano to lease space on a tower atop East Rock for ten years to begin broadcasting.
Now he just has to wait for Federal Communications Commission approval to get up and running. He said Wednesday that he expects to be on the air within 30 to 60 days. He plans to locate the station’s offices in Science Park.
The FCC must first approve the renewal of a license for the station held by another company Allen heads; then approve sale of the license for $500,000 to Area 51 DMG, a new company Allen has formed with Marcus and local jeweler Richard Sykes (of Sykes-Libby). Click here, here, and here to view the FCC application and related documents. And click here for a fuller description on the pending station’s offerings as well as bios of the principals on the website.
At first the station’s signal will reach an area covering about 600,000 people, according to Christopher. Eventually the plan is to reach 1.2 million potential viewers, once the station converts to a digital format. The company doesn’t currently have any deals in the works to be carried by cable companies.
A government plan to build a new tower on East Rock for emergency government communications may free up space on the old tower for Channel 51 (as well as NBC 30 and CPTV) to reach a wider area, Christopher said.
The station’s plan for live interactive games represents one wave of the media future; networks have been testing out the idea throughout the country.
Meanwhile, other offerings planned by the station reflect TV of yore: decades-old black-and-white and 1950s and 1960s-vintage horror flicks hosted by local characters. Christopher was one of those characters back from 1987 – 8 when he was “Frank” of “Frank and Drac,” introducing scary movies at WOIO-TV in Cleveland.
Christopher (dressed as Frank, at left, back in the day) has since moved on to a variety of film production gigs. But, he said, “I promised the investors, if we can do this, I’ll put on the suit a few more times” and introduce late-night horror flicks again.
Allen linked up with Ed Marcus, among others, to launch the project. Marcus will obtain an ownership share and serve as legal counsel and a director for the company.
Marcus is best known as a former state Democratic chairman and the longtime head of a politically high-powered eponymous New Haven law firm.
Marcus (pictured) said Wednesday he doesn’t understand all the ins and outs of the new technology. “You’re talking to someone who — we handle construction litigation and I wouldn’t know how to hammer a nail straight.” But he does know that this kind of interactive multi-media digital TV is where the industry is headed. “It’s going to be a different world,” he said.
A world he’s eager to get involved with even as he approaches his 80th birthday this June.
“My state of mind is 39,” Marcus said. “I still play tennis tournaments without any age barrier. I have tennis partners who are less than half my age. I hold my own.”