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Access TV: What does poll mean?

Backers say the survey shows that people are watching, but Bright House has a different interpretation.

By BILL VARIAN
Published January 28, 2006

TAMPA - The operators of the Tampa and Hillsborough County cable public stations say a new survey shows more people watch their programing than Bright House Networks suggests.

A survey conducted by Speak Up Tampa Bay Public Access Television Inc. of 400 residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County in December found that more than a third - 36 percent - had watched some access programming.

Of those, the survey found that 60 percent tune in for stretches of 10 minutes or longer and that 56 percent gave the programs a score of A or B - on a scale of A to E - when asked if they provide a "valuable community service."

However, other survey questions reveal some confusion on the part of people who responded over whether they are tuning in to public access or stations run by county government, the school district or Tampa.

"There is always confusion among the access channels," said Louise Thompson, executive director of Tampa Bay Community Network, the name Speak Up uses for business purposes. "But it does tell you that all the access channels are being watched."

The results are not entirely different from results in a survey conducted by Bright House, the county's main cable provider, late last year. But Bright House presented those results in glass-half-empty fashion, emphasizing the larger number of people who said they have never watched the access stations.

Access channels on cable are a major point of contention as Bright House seeks to renew its franchise in Hillsborough County with the prospect of Verizon Communications entering the pay-television business here. Commissioners are scheduled to consider a proposed franchise agreement with Verizon on Wednesday, with the board expected to discuss how many access channels it wants in return.

Currently Bright House provides Hillsborough County four access channels for residents in unincorporated areas. One is run by county government, a second by the school district, the third by Tampa and a fourth includes programing by citizens. The county is seeking an additional station, as well as 47 cents per customer per month to help defray operating costs of the access channels.

Bright House is balking at the charges. In commercials it is running daily on its stations, it says that amounts to $18-million. That amount is over the course of a 15-year contract. The company also wants to provide only three access stations.

Bright House vice president of communications Dan Ballister said if the county insists on adding another public access channel, it will be at the expense of something that many viewers may now enjoy. He said the company's own survey suggests people don't tune in to access channels now, and certainly don't want to have to pay for them.

"I've been in this business a long time," Ballister said. "People get upset if their bill goes up a quarter, especially if it's for programing they're not interested in."

[Last modified January 28, 2006, 01:37:10]