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Charter Launches “Local Edition,” Ends Public Access
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| ON THE SET. “Local Edition” host tracy Young interviews Melanie Washington during a taping of the new cable show. —Gazette photo by Harry Saltzgaver |
By Harry Saltzgaver
Executive Editor
Charter Communications and its forebears have been Long Beach’s cable television company since the beginning of the industry.
But it has become even more important in today’s atmosphere of deregulation and intense competition to hang on to the mantle of Long Beach’s local provider, according to Craig Watson, Charter’s vice president of communications.
Enter “Local Edition,” a five-minute interview segment tagged onto CNN’s “Headline News” on cable channel 36. Everyone from State Sen. Alan Lowenthal to Melanie Washington, an advocate for at-risk youth, can be seen on the locally produced show.
“Obviously, this is a cable exclusive,” Watson said. “The satellite companies can’t do this, the telephone companies can’t do this. We have strong competition from them, but they are on a national model. We provide local service.”
“Local Edition’s” host is Tracy Young, a dead ringer for a national news host. It is produced by Del Heintz, Charters director of government relations.
The short format allows local programming on the national platform of CNN (the network offers the same window to all its costumers). It also fits the consumers’ desires, Heintz said.
“Everybody likes fast food these days,” he said. “It fits the lifestyle of our constituents.… Part of it is politics — it provides a platform. But it’s also for community-based organizations who need desperately to get their information out. Helping do that just feels good.”
At the same time that Charter launches its new local programming, it is preparing to pull the plug on its local access channel. For years, Charter has provided Channel 65 or 69 as an outlet for independently produced shows, and even provided a studio for some programs.
That offering had been part of the basic cable television franchise across the country. But it has been disappearing in other places, and the California legislature ended the requirement with the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act, which opened competition to provide cable television to telephone companies (Verizon provides service in Long Beach).
“As the legislation went forward, it became clear that the others couldn’t be responsible for public access,” Watson said. “So clearly we shouldn’t be required to provide it.
“We’ve always looked at our service as PEG, Public, Education, Government. The E and the G is not going away.”
Even after the public access channel goes dark, there will be seven channels in the basic cable package dedicated to local programming. Channel 8 is controlled by the city and includes live coverage of the City Council meetings. Signal Hill also has a government channel, as does the library. The Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach, also have their own channels.
Charter has its own local Channel 3, as well. It produces local programming on that channel from 5 to 8 p.m. each night, covers parades and special events there and airs some independent programs such as Art Levine’s “Straight Talk.” Groups also can purchase air time on that channel.
There are 53 different programs currently airing on the public access channel with varying degrees of frequency. The titles range from “Dr. Dohn’s World of Health” from James Dohn to the “Letter of the Law” with City Prosecutor Tom Reeves to “Whimsical Wendy’s World of Sign.”
“The thing is, there is a lot more access options now,” Heintz said. “Especially with the Internet. Some of the shows, like Councilman (Val) Lerch’s, can transfer easily to the government channel. Others can look at Channel Three as an option.”
Watson said that the city gains significantly from Charter. In addition to the 5.75% of gross revenue Charter pays as its franchise fee, another 1% of gross revenue goes to the city specifically for public access. But that money must be spent specifically on capital expenses, not salaries or programming.
All of which makes the new “Local Edition” even more important, Watson said.
“Channel 3 and all the other channels are fine,” Watson said. “But we are not so naive to think the viewership equals that of ‘Headline News.’ We think this is a significant commitment to our community. We see this as the most visible outreach we could possibly do.”
“Local Edition” segments are taped for two days each month, with eight to 10 segments produced each day. The pieces then rotate into the slots at the end of the hour and half-hour, with each segment seen multiple times in the month of airplay.
For more information on how to arrange a “Local Edition” segment, contact Heintz at Del.Heintz@chartercom.com.
But it has become even more important in today’s atmosphere of deregulation and intense competition to hang on to the mantle of Long Beach’s local provider, according to Craig Watson, Charter’s vice president of communications.
Enter “Local Edition,” a five-minute interview segment tagged onto CNN’s “Headline News” on cable channel 36. Everyone from State Sen. Alan Lowenthal to Melanie Washington, an advocate for at-risk youth, can be seen on the locally produced show.
“Obviously, this is a cable exclusive,” Watson said. “The satellite companies can’t do this, the telephone companies can’t do this. We have strong competition from them, but they are on a national model. We provide local service.”
“Local Edition’s” host is Tracy Young, a dead ringer for a national news host. It is produced by Del Heintz, Charters director of government relations.
The short format allows local programming on the national platform of CNN (the network offers the same window to all its costumers). It also fits the consumers’ desires, Heintz said.
“Everybody likes fast food these days,” he said. “It fits the lifestyle of our constituents.… Part of it is politics — it provides a platform. But it’s also for community-based organizations who need desperately to get their information out. Helping do that just feels good.”
At the same time that Charter launches its new local programming, it is preparing to pull the plug on its local access channel. For years, Charter has provided Channel 65 or 69 as an outlet for independently produced shows, and even provided a studio for some programs.
That offering had been part of the basic cable television franchise across the country. But it has been disappearing in other places, and the California legislature ended the requirement with the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act, which opened competition to provide cable television to telephone companies (Verizon provides service in Long Beach).
“As the legislation went forward, it became clear that the others couldn’t be responsible for public access,” Watson said. “So clearly we shouldn’t be required to provide it.
“We’ve always looked at our service as PEG, Public, Education, Government. The E and the G is not going away.”
Even after the public access channel goes dark, there will be seven channels in the basic cable package dedicated to local programming. Channel 8 is controlled by the city and includes live coverage of the City Council meetings. Signal Hill also has a government channel, as does the library. The Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach, also have their own channels.
Charter has its own local Channel 3, as well. It produces local programming on that channel from 5 to 8 p.m. each night, covers parades and special events there and airs some independent programs such as Art Levine’s “Straight Talk.” Groups also can purchase air time on that channel.
There are 53 different programs currently airing on the public access channel with varying degrees of frequency. The titles range from “Dr. Dohn’s World of Health” from James Dohn to the “Letter of the Law” with City Prosecutor Tom Reeves to “Whimsical Wendy’s World of Sign.”
“The thing is, there is a lot more access options now,” Heintz said. “Especially with the Internet. Some of the shows, like Councilman (Val) Lerch’s, can transfer easily to the government channel. Others can look at Channel Three as an option.”
Watson said that the city gains significantly from Charter. In addition to the 5.75% of gross revenue Charter pays as its franchise fee, another 1% of gross revenue goes to the city specifically for public access. But that money must be spent specifically on capital expenses, not salaries or programming.
All of which makes the new “Local Edition” even more important, Watson said.
“Channel 3 and all the other channels are fine,” Watson said. “But we are not so naive to think the viewership equals that of ‘Headline News.’ We think this is a significant commitment to our community. We see this as the most visible outreach we could possibly do.”
“Local Edition” segments are taped for two days each month, with eight to 10 segments produced each day. The pieces then rotate into the slots at the end of the hour and half-hour, with each segment seen multiple times in the month of airplay.
For more information on how to arrange a “Local Edition” segment, contact Heintz at Del.Heintz@chartercom.com.
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| Termino Storm Drain Takes Step Forward | Lowenthal Readies For New Job, Promises She Is Not Leaving |
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of gazettes.com.
And another thing... wrote on Nov 23, 2008 8:49 AM:
" And imagine... just IMAGINE if all cities accross America showed the stream of Missing Children on cable access along with America's Most Wanted.
The LB city/police website used to have "Long Beach's Most Wanted."
Imagine if people, even poor people who subscribe to the local cable carrier just to get basic reception had ACCESS to these streams, in addition to LOCAL content.
Important content. For instance Lois Ledgers' Show "View of Long Beach" gives tons of resources for the mentally ill. And Long Beach is full of people who can benefit from these resources.
Channel 3 is an option if the producers have sponsors. WANT TO SPONSOR A SHOW? Leave a message at (562)804-5625 "
The LB city/police website used to have "Long Beach's Most Wanted."
Imagine if people, even poor people who subscribe to the local cable carrier just to get basic reception had ACCESS to these streams, in addition to LOCAL content.
Important content. For instance Lois Ledgers' Show "View of Long Beach" gives tons of resources for the mentally ill. And Long Beach is full of people who can benefit from these resources.
Channel 3 is an option if the producers have sponsors. WANT TO SPONSOR A SHOW? Leave a message at (562)804-5625 "
KaRi from LBCTelevision wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:39 AM:
" LBCTproducers and the people of CALIFORNIA should watch:
http://alliancecm.blip.tv/file/1278920
Special Thanks to Ed Wode "
http://alliancecm.blip.tv/file/1278920
Special Thanks to Ed Wode "
crypple wrote on Dec 9, 2008 8:58 AM:
" Tracy Young's CNN Local edition is so bad and poorly produced that I'm forced to change the channel whenever that horrible music comes on. It looks, sounds and reads like an infomercial and does no justice to the admittedly good messages the guests are trying to convey.
Local news is great. This however is just painful. "
Local news is great. This however is just painful. "
KaRi from LBCTelevision wrote on Nov 23, 2008 8:43 AM:
What effect will cable access closure have on Charter subscriber rate?
Where will the monies go that are currently in the fund set aside for cable access programming?
Stay tuned for answers to these questions and others and watch LBCTelevision clips here: www.youtube.com/LBCaccess also www.myspace.com/LBCTelevison "