Long-Running Cable Show 'Robb's MetalWorks' Jumps To STUF TV

January 20, 2006

Jim Beal of the San Antonio Express-News has issued the following report:

Robb Chavez and his Chavez Crime Family did not half step when rumblings started about control of local public access TV being turned over from Time Warner Cable to the city of San Antonio.

Chavez, 35, and his crew have been producing "Robb's MetalWorks", a headbanging, interview, commentary and video program, for almost nine years. Instead of waiting to see what would happen to the show's longtime home, cable Channel 20, Chavez and company made the move to Time Warner's STUF TV, cable Channel 50.

"Robb's MetalWorks" will make its STUF debut at 10 p.m. Sunday with an hour-long show featuring QUEENSRYCHE, SOULFLY and other metal masters. The program will remain at home on STUF and air the third Sunday of every month.

"In terms of actual editing and production, STUF TV's standards are higher," Chavez said. "We've invested in quality software and machines and produce the program out of our home. And we've implemented a whole business type. On public access we had to be careful about anything commercial. On STUF we can have advertisers. We're now selling ads and we're building the ads ourselves."

But even with the ability to sell advertising, Chavez doesn't see "Robb's MetalWorks" becoming a cash cow. His day job is working for the College Board ("The SAT people," he said.). His passion, and the passion of the others involved — Chavez's wife, Esther; two interviewers; a webmaster; a videographer; and a photographer — is metal music.

"I've always been a heavy-metal fan," he said. "We're seeing a huge upswing in heavy music again. Bands are selling large numbers of units. There are a lot of underground, indie metal bands, and major labels are paying more attention. In '05, MTV brought back 'Headbanger's Ball'. There's a lot of business going on.

"But 'Robb's MetalWorks' is done purely out of passion. We buy the time on STUF TV. If I can sell enough ads to cover expenses, I'll be happy. We say it's a not-for-profit show. Anything we make we put back into the show."

Read the rest of the article at MySanAntonio.com.

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