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Why YMCA of Greater Wauksha County bans news from shared TVs
The YMCA of Greater Waukesha County is banning television news on its big screen televisions, and politics might be to blame.
WAUKESHA, Wis. - The YMCA of Greater Waukesha County is banning television news on its big screen televisions, and politics might be to blame.
"I don’t know why they would do that. That seems really odd to me," said YMCA member James Bunda.
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Visitors to the locations of th YMCA of Greater Wauksha County will no longer be able to watch local or national news on the big screen TVs. However, news will remain available on smaller screens on some of the treadmills and other cardio equipment. The YMCA of Greater Waukesha County has more than 100 of those personal screens spread among its six locations. Members are also free to watch news on their own phones or pads.
A YMCA spokesperson said staff were already noticing disagreements surrounding shared television screens during January's Iowa caucuses.
YMCA of Greater Waukesha County
The facility now has signs that say: "We understand the impact of constant news exposure. To promote a positive environment, TV stations shown on the large, wall-mounted TVs will showcase a variety of channels, excluding news channels. You are welcome to watch TV channels of your choice on equipment with personal viewing screens or your own device with headphones."
"We should cut back on it for our own mental health, quite frankly. The news in the morning, the news at night is enough," saidDon Richmond.
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Richmond, who has been a member for 50 years, said he has never seen a fight over what was on TV.
"Most of the people that I know are political junkies like I am. It’s the only game in town for adults, is politics," he said, adding that he can still get his political news elsewhere.
YMCA of Greater Waukesha County TV news policy
"The Y gives out memberships to people who are underprivileged. And if they’re hanging out either at the library or here, this might be their only place to get news. So that could potentially stop them from getting information they need," said Bunda.
In 2020, Waukesha County voter turnout was 90% – a crucial county as Wisconsin gets ready to make news with who it elects in 2024.
There are several YMCA organizations in the area; FOX6 News reached out about their TV policies, but did not hear back by the deadline for this story.