For Cubans' viewing pleasure: American TV

They don't know why it's coming in, but they're watching

By TRACEY EATON / The Dallas Morning News

HAVANA – On Thursday, Rosa Hernandez turned on her television and made an

astounding discovery: She suddenly had access to nearly 70 American

channels.

"I'm happy," the 56-year-old homemaker said. "There are so many interesting

programs. But I haven't been getting much sleep. On Friday I went to bed at

6 in the morning."

She's not alone. In parts of Havana and along Cuba's northern coast, the

unexpected appearance of American TV programs is turning Cubans into devoted

couch potatoes who spend marathon sessions in front of the tube.

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Some Cubans say unusually clear weather triggered the phenomenon. Others,

after hearing last month that President Bush was stepping up plans to try to

topple Fidel Castro, say the U.S. president must be responsible.

Whatever the cause, Cubans don't want the TV bonanza to end.

"I get 127 channels," said Alicia Espinosa, 31, a homemaker in Alamar, a

sprawling jumble of concrete-block apartments east of Havana. "I watch all

the shows I want."

One of her favorites is Cristina, a popular Spanish-language talk show

hosted by Cuban-born Cristina Saralegui.

Other like to watch Sábado Gigante, or Giant Saturday , a long-running

Spanish-language variety show featuring Don Francisco. The Chilean show,

popular across Latin America, features scantily clad women, comedy, songs

and amateur acts.

It's a lot more alluring than typical Cuban fare, many viewers say. The

communist government operates four tightly controlled TV channels, which

often broadcast tedious political discussions and speeches, black-and-white

documentaries on the Cuban revolution, and language, math and geography

lessons.

Castro supporters say Cuban television is more enlightening than U.S.

television because it tries to educate viewers about not only politics but

also culture, music, sports and health.

But many Cubans want more, said Camila Ruiz, Washington, D.C., director of

the Cuban American National Foundation, an influential anti-Castro lobbying

group.

"Cubans have a thirst for information," she said. "They've been censored so

much. So when they get a window like that, they take advantage of it."

Those who believe the sudden deluge of American programming is the handiwork

of the Bush administration say it fits right in with the measures Mr.

President recently announced.

One of those measures involves deploying a C-130 Commando Solo, a $70

million plane and airborne platform that will send radio and television

transmissions into Cuba.

But, U.S. officials denied Thursday that C-130 flights had allowed Cubans to

see the American television shows.

They wouldn't comment on whether or when the plane will be deployed.

Two Cuban officials who requested anonymity said freakishly clear weather

over the last five days – and not the C-130 – allowed Cubans to watch

American programs. And it has happened in years past, they said. But they

couldn't recall such a long string of days with steady access to Americana.

Lina Jimenez, 45, an economist in Alamar, says she doesn't care about the

cause. She wants to be entertained.

"Friday and Saturday I spent all day in bed watching television," she said.

"I love the soap operas. But I've been watching everything. I've seen game

shows where people win $1,000 for answering easy questions. I've seen

commercials for pizza delivered right to your house. Restaurants that sell

huge cups of refreshments and french fries for just 99 cents."

Down a few floors was her neighbor Edith Lauzao, 63, a homemaker.

"I like action movies," she said. "And I like seeing all the beautiful

things, pretty cars, new houses. You see things on American television that

you don't see here."

She flipped through the channels, skipping past The Young and the Restless

and settling for a moment on a Denny's commercial promoting a $4.99 special.

"There are too many ads," she said. "They come on all the time and interrupt

the show. But I watch them anyway."

E-mail traceyeaton2004@yahoo.com

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