Metro 21 is a local Government-access television (GATV) cable TV station in Baton Rouge. It is operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish Office of Public Information and broadcasts 24 hours a day. It began with a $50,000 donation from TCI Cable (now Cox Communications

Cox Communications

Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...

) in September 1999, and every year since then, Cox gives the station an operational donation. While the station broadcasts governmental programs, it also airs programming from the Classic Arts Showcase

Classic Arts Showcase

Classic Arts Showcase is a television channel in the United States promoting the fine arts. The television program content includes prepared media and recorded live performances...

.

The station is available in 150,000 households in the Baton Rouge area. According to its website, the channel provides information to the public about city services and activities including weekly council meetings and school board meetings and classes for credit from Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...

. In addition, local events such as community meetings, "How to Adopt Pets", tax seminars, road work updates, police, fire and EMS information, job opportunities, commodity listings, housing and energy assistance programs by the Parish, State and Federal Government can be found on this channel. In addition, a city directory and airport flight times from the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport , also known as Ryan Field, is a public use airport located four nautical miles north of the central business district of Baton Rouge, a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States....

play intermittently on the station.

According to the station's website, the goals of Metro 21 are:

• To inform the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish about opportunities available to them through local Government.
• To telecast events in the community that otherwise would not be seen by the public.
• To provide knowledge and understanding of local government to residents, who cannot attend regular meetings.
• To have a better informed public as the result of live tape delayed and features, such as Press Conferences, breaking news events, emergency announcements and job opportunities.
• To continue to provide entertaining and valuable information to the public with the use of the latest technology.