IF YOU'RE IN TAMPA BAY, AND HAVE BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS, HERE'S A NEW PROGRAMME FOR YOU!

Bay News 9 is the local cable news channel that serves Bright House Networks service area in and around Tampa Bay from Citrus to Manatee to Polk counties. They generally do a good job, although I occasionally get annoyed with their recording and repeat of hours of newscasts. You know that senior anchor Al Ruechel isn't on set as many hours a day as we see him on screen.

Anyway, getting back on subject, BN9 is premiering a new chat show Sunday morning, Political Connections, which is part of their partnership with the St. Petersburg Times. The programme will be co-hosted by (who else) Ruechel --- who has been known as a heavyweight from his days at WTSP-TV 28 --- and Times political editor/columnist Adam C. Smith.

I'm sure that behind Smith's boyish face are some tough questions, especially for the show's first guest: Governor Jeb Bush.

The show airs Sunday mornings at 11:00.