ADELPHIA COMMUNICATIONS DROPS KPAL FROM ITS CABLE TV LINEUP.

Byline: Daily News

PALMDALE - Adelphia Communications says it will drop Palmdale-based KPAL from its Antelope Valley cable lineup to make room for West Los Angeles-based KJLA starting Sept. 1 at channel 23.

KJLA's programming includes paid infomercials as well as its own music, variety and talk shows, primarily aimed at young and Latino audiences.

Adelphia officials said they made the switch because federal law requires them to carry any high-power broadcaster that provides a signal and demands to be included. KPAL is categorized as a low-power broadcaster, based on the strength of its broadcast signal.

``Channel changes are extremely disruptive to our customers and the removal of a local low-power station makes this legal obligation even more difficult,'' Adelphia General Manager Janet Spatz said in the announcement.

While Adelphia said it had to comply with KJLA's request to be included, KPAL officials said the cable company could have dropped a station other than theirs.

``We hope the people of the Antelope Valley will call and write the leadership of Adelphia to let them know that they support having their local TV station on the cable lineup,'' KPAL's chief executive officer, Raymond Horn, said in a statement.

Started in 1992, KPAL was added to the lineup of Jones Intercable, Adelphia's predecessor, in 1993.

Its programming includes local personality Herb Nero's call-in show, a ``Shop at Home'' program selling merchandise, reruns of shows like ``Bonanza.''