Thousands Petition to Keep Ovation on Time Warner Cable

NEW YORK: The U.S. arts network Ovation has been dropped from the Time Warner Cable lineup, despite a petition signed by more than 25,000 Americans that urges the operator to keep the channel.

Ovation solicited a petition online at the website KeepOvation.com, notching up 25,000 signatures to express dismay about the intention to drop the network. The supporters of the channel include several high-profile celebrities, including Alec Baldwin, who tweeted to his more than 1 million followers to "stand up for the arts" by asking Time Warner to keep Ovation, and Nigel Lythgoe, who tweeted that the decision was "unacceptable."

Nonetheless, Time Warner Cable pulled the channel from its lineup as of January 1. The company has stated that the decision is based on poor demand and economics.

"The outpouring of support we have seen over the past few weeks demonstrates that the arts matter to people and that Ovation is fulfilling an important role as the only cable network dedicated to the arts," said Chad E. Gutstein, the chief operating officer at Ovation. "Time Warner Cable should listen to the voices of tens of thousands of viewers, partners, celebrities and arts lovers."

"The outcry of support for Ovation has been overwhelming and encouraging," added Brad Samuels, Ovation’s executive VP of content distribution. "It’s clear how much our network means to Americans and that it provides them with programming that is distinctive, inspiring and valuable. While we share disappointment with our fans and hope that Time Warner Cable will reverse their decision, our network has proven to be a remarkable success over the past six years and that success will continue into the future."