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Mayor Tarver felt it made sense to have separate channels so people know what they are <br />tuning into, i.e., they don't get public access when they are trying to get government <br />information. The issue of original programming is a concern to him as it is an expensive <br />proposition. <br /> <br /> John Pozzini, Government Affairs Manager with TCI Cablevision, stated that channel <br />space is very valuable. He was happy to provide the second channel and would be happy to <br />provide another channel if 50 % or more of original programming is shown. Many networks <br />have been launched and haven't been able to fill the channel with programming because it is <br />very expensive and time consuming to develop programming that will fffi that capacity. With <br />two channels, he felt there should be more than enough programming time available to provide <br />the services within the community that it needs. <br /> <br /> Mayor Tarvet commented that two channels only get back what the community had <br />before. They were limited channels with "must carry" before and now there are many channels. <br />The community is only getting back the channels it had when there was limited access. When <br />the issues are looked at, how the City has been responded to, and whether or not Viacorn has <br />been in compliance, the answer is no in a couple of areas. The City has not pushed that. The <br />City has understood the expansion and it wants to give Viacom the opportunity. He would like <br />an opportunity to sit down and work out a process with Viacom or TCI where what is being told <br />is what the City will get after the transfer. When Channel 30 comes to you and says that we <br />need more capacity not necessarily for original programs because it may choose to run agendas <br />on the screen, or rebroadcast Planning Commission meetings or Council meetings, etc., there <br />may be a need for the community to see those things at a more convenient time. <br /> <br /> Mr. Pozzini talked about sitting down and talking when the franchise is near expiration <br />and having negotiations about many aspects of the franchise agreement, including PEG access. <br /> <br /> Ms. Michelotti asked if this could be done sooner. She asked if he would meet with a <br />subcommittee of the Council. <br /> <br /> Mr. Pozzini said he couldn't commit tonight but would forward the request and have <br />someone give them an answer tomorrow. He felt it was important to follow all the provisions <br />that are now in force because the regulations are costly. <br /> <br /> Mayor Tarver wanted to have the transfer take place with the understanding that both <br />parties would meet and resolve that issue. <br /> <br /> Mr. Pico commented about the need for original programming taking up 50 % of the time <br />before the new PEG channel comes on line. He asked whether the 580/680 news, which is a <br />daily news telecast that is shown live at 5:00 p.m. and repeated three or four times during the <br />rest of the evening, would be considered original programming each time it is broadcast. <br /> <br /> 11/21/95 -14- <br /> <br /> <br />