By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 — PLG-TV, the cable TV channel operated for more than 20 years by Standard Publications, will go off the air on May 31, 2025.
The move comes after following the City of Bardstown’s sale of Bardstown Connect to Spectrum, the cable TV and internet brand owned by Charter Communications.
According to a social media post, PLG TV’s social media presence will also end.
PLG isn’t the only media casualty in the Spectrum purchase. WBRT’s cable TV channel, BRTV, channel 19, was cut off immediately after Spectrum took control of the city’s cable TV and internet business. The radio station was given no warning ahead of the change. Approximately 20 other channels on the city cable TV system were also dropped, including the popular MeTV and GRiT channels.
PLG began as a private project that included former Kentucky Standard publisher Steve Lowery and former WBRT station owner Tom Isaac. The station operated independently until it was purchased by Standard Communications in the late 1990s. Tom Isaac also joined Standard Communications as part of the sale, and he managed its operation and later served as the first anchor of a nightly newscast at aired several times each evening.
The three letters that make up PLG actually represent the words “Phoenix Loft Group,” a reference to the location where the three partners came together to make their idea a media reality.
In its early days of operating, PLG made money by inserting advertising on a number of the city’s cable TV channels. Much of the channel’s early TV content consisted of text community announcements that rotated. Over the years, PLG also produced a variety of independently produced video programs.
For many years — until Paxton Media Group purchased Standard Communications and its assets — PLG provided a tremendous public service by hosting numerous debates among local individuals seeking public office. For many constituents, the debates — which were replayed several times ahead of Election Day — were the only exposure voters may have had to the candidates seeking office.
Though its demise is imminent, PLG-TV and all its employees through the years, have provided years of community service journalism. We were all richer for their contributions to the community.
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