Just Notified by Comcast we have to move to Ch. 97

[Eddie Arthur]

Our understanding is that they have the right in the contract as long as they give 90 days notice. All of the other 3 peg channels have had to move over the last few years, but they moved to lower channels. Obviously this is a huge pain in the butt. There is some debate at our station about how detrimental moving to channel 97 vs. maybe a channel under 35 might be. They apparently have to pay for advertising the move and I believe the cost of new marketing materials.

Anyone have any experience with this? Can you fight it or even negotiate a lower channel? Does a lower channel really make that big a difference? Does an underwriter care whether we are at channel 22 or 97? Comments?
FCPAN Ch. 22 in Fort Collins.
Eddie

[Ann]

This happened to us too. They wanted channel 59 (for the extra analog bandwidth) in exchange for 219. 219 is terrible in our opinion because you have to have a digital converter box to get it and not that many people actually go that far up the channels to browse through it. They offered over $250,000 for the exchange through the next franchise agreement (which now they put off until 2011). The city originally was going to take that money for their general fund but we were able to convince them that the money belong to public access. they wouldn't allow us to have to money but they agreed to put it in a trust for public access and allow us basically get the monthly interest.

Also, the Gov. channel decided they wanted 58 instead of 56 so they could promote 8, 58 (58 for the Sesquentenial of Denver). They basically offered us the deal you have in front of you, promotion and marketing costs.

Is Channel 97 still on the basic cable system or the digital tier? That will make a difference for underwriters and the community.

[Eddie Arthur]

Yes, Ch. 97 is on the same basic cable tier. We are trying to look at it as a great opportunity to get plenty of advertising for FCPAN.

[Ann]

The cable companies keep doing this to public access, push us out to the fringe of the channels. For the most part public access viewers just happen upon the channels by flipping around and seeing something that catches their interest. This happens less and less as we get pushed further away from the mainstream channels. At least you are still on analog with full bandwidth. Are thinking you'll try to fight it? Or ask for compensation? It seems that you might be able to use us as a precedent.

[Eddie Arthur]

Some want to fight it. I haven't made up my mind about how big a deal it is. It seems like 97 is only two channels from 2 on basic cable.

[Christopher Hall]

Of course 22 is waaaaaaaay better than 97 unless the networks, espn, cnn, etc are in the 90's which i doubt. I would fight it, but depending on the wording on your franchise, it may be hard to stop. Somewhere I remember a study that people surf channels 1-30 the most.

[Eddie Arthur]

The franchise agreement says only that they may move channels if they give us 60 days notice. I am not sure how to fight that.