A local blackout of sorts

June Casagrande

Some local Adelphia cable subscribers who sink into their sofas for

coverage of the Toshiba Senior Classic are in for an unpleasant

surprise. The Golf Channel, until recently available as part of

Adelphia’s basic cable service, is now available only to subscribers

with a digital cable package.

“We’re disappointed,” said Debra Legan, a spokeswoman for Hoag

Hospital, which puts on the professional charity tournament.

The Golf Channel had been available as part of the Expanded Basic

cable program in Newport Beach on Channel 73. Now it is available

only as part of Adelphia’s Digital Plus program on Channel 121.

“This is a decision the company made earlier in the year to try to

standardize their channel lineup for everyone in the area,” said

Keith Swenson, a spokesman for Adelphia.

In other Orange County communities, the Golf Channel has been part

of the Digital Plus package for a long time, Swenson said. The

company’s decision to make the change in Newport Beach took place in

January or February. Swenson said that customers were sent notices

earlier this year informing them of the upcoming change.

“It didn’t happen right before the tournament,” Swenson said. “It

sounds like some people are just noticing it now.”

The Toshiba Senior Classic Golf Tournament -- which annually

raises about $1 million for Hoag Hospital -- begins today at the

Newport Beach Country Club and for the first time will include

golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.

“It’s disappointing that we have such a great field and now it’s

not going to be broadcast to some places in our own backyard,” Legan

said. “All we can do is hope that some people will choose to come out

and watch the tournament in person.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.