News

Watching local government may cost more

Bright House plans to push government channels to its more costly digital system.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 1, 2007

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Tampa Bay's largest cable company is dumping local government programming from its basic cable lineup.

Bright House Networks is moving all government television programs in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and three other bay-area counties to its higher priced digital system starting Dec. 11.

The switch means as many as 400,000 area customers will have to pay more to see programs already funded by taxpayers.

The decision affects everything from school board meetings and city council workshops, to transit discussions and community calendars.

"I'm sure there's a financial reason they're doing it," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, "but it's not a good thing for St. Petersburg."

With most Floridians still waiting for tax and property insurance relief, the idea of paying extra to watch a city council meeting is not likely to sit well.

Bright House insists the change is a response to customers, who complain that channel locations differ between counties. But a company spokesman could not explain why government television had to be relocated as a result.

Channel 15, for instance, could be the city government channel. Other common channels could be designated for school and county use.

Officials in Clearwater now fear they could be relegated to Channel 999 or some other far outpost. The city has used Channel 15 since 1996.

"There's not a lot of pass-through traffic in the high 900s," said Clearwater communications director Doug Matthews. "Not a lot of people are passing by channel 394, either."

Bright House: Change is beneficial

A Bright House spokesman said Friday that the new lineup would be better for customers, who also include Citrus, Manatee and Polk county residents.

"Moving to digital enhances the picture quality," Bright House spokesman Joe Durkin said. "Government access can be a crisper, clearer picture."

Critics say a clearer picture is little solace for someone unable to afford the extra charge.

In Tampa and St. Petersburg, officials are considering legal action, arguing that current agreements prohibit Bright House from cutting availability to government television.

"When people see me in the grocery store they talk to me about specific zoning cases they saw the night before and different issues they've been watching," said Tampa City Council member John Dingfelder. "It's important that the public see their government in action."

Tammy Peralta, the station manager for Hillsborough Television, said the county plans to meet with Bright House on Sept. 14.

However, she noted that Bright House has already publicized the pending change in an advertisement in the Tampa Tribune.

"So I don't know how admirable their discussions are going to be," Peralta said.

Several things trouble Peralta. There's the price for residents, particularly a cadre of senior citizens from Sun City Center who watch government meetings and would likely object to even an additional $1-a-month charge. There's also the time and money governments have spent to market their television channels.

Another practical consideration: The county itself owns hundreds of televisions scattered among more than 100 county buildings and faces the prospect of not being able to get its own broadcast without paying the fee, a considerable cost during lean times.

"There's a fair amount of concern," said Marcia Crawley, the Pinellas County communications director who oversees Pinellas 18.

Bright House said it will make a special converter box available for customers who want government programming without paying for digital cable.

It's unclear, however, how intensively they will market the box, which cable company officials say will cost less than $7 extra a month, excluding taxes.

In St. Petersburg, it costs $50.85 a month currently for digital cable, according to the company's Web site. Basic cable costs $35.95 a month.

New law to blame?

Local government officials say Bright House's decision was made easier by a change in state laws regulating cable companies.

The changes, which came over the objections of local government and consumer groups, stripped cities and counties of the power to negotiate with cable companies and gave it to the state.

"We told them this would happen," said Ken Small, with the Florida League of Cities. "We said this all along. This was anti-consumer."

Though Gov. Charlie Crist signed the legislation, he warned in an accompanying letter that cable companies should not use it as a way to sucker punch local governments.

Bright House's plan appears to do just that, said Baker, adding that he plans to talk with Crist about it.

Rep. Trey Traviesa, a Republican from Tampa who sponsored the bill, said local governments are missing the point. The bill could save up to $700-million for Floridians by fostering competition because it eliminates the time-consuming need to negotiate individually with local governments.

Though government wonks may cry over the loss of free public airtime, he said, most people won't lose sleep over it.

"I understand why this may be important to someone sitting inside the halls of government," Traviesa said. "They're thinking about what's good for themselves. I'm thinking about what's good for the consumer."

Times staff writers Mike Donila, Will Van Sant, Bill Varian, and Janet Zink contributed to this report. Aaron Sharockman can be reached at asharockman@sptimes.com or 727 892-2273.

 

Channels on the move

Why is Bright House moving government channels off its basic cable package?

The company says it wants unify channel lineups. They want ESPN, for instance, to be at the same channel in Hernando and Hillsborough counties.

Who does this affect?

Any Bright House basic cable subscriber in the Tampa Bay area, or an estimated 400,000 of the company's more than 1-million subscribers.

Changing channels

Are other cable companies doing this?

Not yet. But city officials believe other companies may follow.

I don't have cable. Will I be affected?

No. If you receive government programming through an antenna now, that won't change.

How many people watch government TV anyway?

There are no Nielsen ratings for government television, but in Clearwater, officials say 30 percent of the city's 110,000 residents regularly watch, according to a 2005 survey.

Why is Bright House moving government channels off its basic cable package?

The company says it wants unify channel line-ups. They want ESPN, for instance, to be the same channel in Hernando and Hillsborough counties.

 

[Last modified August 31, 2007, 22:48:31]