frequently asked questions
why support TV2?
In the cable media landscape, TV2 is the only source of long-format and citizen-produced local content. Many government and non-government organization meetings and programs are shown.
TV2 provides a place for citizens to sound off, share an experience, or record a community event. Typical TV2 program topics include local government meetings, school events, local music, and meetings and programs from organizations like the local Parkinson's Support group and League of Women Voters. For interested citizens who cannot attend these events due to mobility limitations or schedule conflicts, TV2 is the only access they will have.
Unobstructed public communication is so important that it is addressed in an amendment to our Constitution. Years ago, mass communication took place exclusively through printed and spoken word. Today the primary vehicle is television. Public access community television TV2 insures that ordinary citizens and local non-profit organizations have a voice in this powerful modern medium.
how many people actually watch?
The last formal customer survey reported that 37% of Charter cable viewers in our community watch TV2 one the three times a week. With over 26,000 subscribing households when that survey was conducted, that's over 9000 people. There are very few non-commercial community operations that can claim to serve that many people each week.
When I last checked, the most popular cable-only program got 7% of viewers. The second most popular cable-only program got less than 4%. Check the current statistics for yourself at Nielsen Media Research
how is TV2 funded?
Under current state law, many local governments receive a franchise fee from Charter Communications, our regional cable television provider. That fee is typically 5% of Charter cable revenue (not Internet or Internet phone). In 2005, members of the Cherry Capital Cable Council agreed to split the franchise fee 70/30 with TV2 for public access operation. That would amount to about 80 cents per subscriber. Council members also agreed to collect a 30 cents per month subscriber surcharge for capital costs like TV cameras and computers. Charter passes these fees on to subscribers
what is the TV2 funding problem?
Currently about half of the original 4Cs member are withholding TV2 funding. They keep the entire franchise fee even though cable viewers in their townships still get to watch TV2. (Charter says it cannot turn off TV2 in selected areas.)
That’s bad regional citizenship, making people in other communities pay while receiving the benefits. It's also shortchanging TV2.
Compare our situation to that of Midland where community television gets the whole 5% franchise fee or Battle Creek where their community television gets 3%.
Currently, only Elmwood, Garfield, Kingsley, Paradise Township, and Traverse City pass along fees designated to fund TV2.
Acme, Bingham, Blair, East Bay, Green Lake, Long Lake, and Peninsula Townships collect the whole 5% franchise fee put return none of it to cable subscribers in the form of support for public access television.
why have townships dropped funding?
The reasons vary. Some townships have claimed they need the money (and have decided to get it from the cable subscribers). Others have complained that nobody watches, it's mismanaged, financially irresponsible, and programs are poorly produced.
TV2 has also had one ardently vocal naysayer who has actively campaigned to shut it down by getting townships to drop funding.
Some claims are justified, others are not. Much is exaggerated.
TV2 gets high ranks for viewership as noted above. Although it's true that 58% of viewers surveyed said they never watch TV2, a figure of 37% for those who watch it regularly a very strong number in viewership statistics. Omitting that information is misleading.
The claim that TV2 is financially irresponsible is also misleading. The TV2 budget is set by the Cherry Capital Cable Council (4Cs) and the Traverse Area District Library. Anyone can get a copy from the Traverse City Clerk's office.
TV2 abides striclty by its budget. In fact, it currently has a small surplus. Its expenses have always been deemed appropriate by the 4Cs and have even been audited.
It's claimed that TV2 does not produce timely reports on the number of producers, statistic on the number of programs, and that program schedules are frequently in error.
In the last 10 years, over 600 people have become certified TV2 producers. At any given time, only a few are active but it's enough to keep a steady stream of programs coming in. Using the number of active producers as a measure of TV2 success is limited. A more important metric is how many people are watching and that is a more difficult measure to regularly make.
TV2 is not like a commercial TV station that gets most of its programming from a network in neat 1/2 hour and 1 hour blocks. Programs submitted to TV2 arrive in several different media formats and have playing durations that range from a few minutes to several hours.
Each week, the TV2 coordinator must piece together a new patchwork quilt for 168 hours of program time. He must also type up a program schedule. Sometimes it gets a little tangled up.
TV2 must make every effort to deliver programs professionally and on time. But critics must also appreciate the nature of the effort and how it differs from conventional television.
Complaints have been made that TV2 programs are not listed on the TV Guide channel. I contacted the TV Guide channel and was told that they do not accept listings for public access channels. Period. I think their reasons are weak but that is their policy. I even inquired about paying a fee to get the programs listed and they still declined.
Some citizens have complained about vulgarity in a locally produced comedy/satire program called "Jerrytown". New episodes have shown several times on TV2 over the last few years and the show has a local fan base.
I have only seen a few minutes of "Jerrytown". It is largely crude and sophomoric. By design, the producers have made a game of seeing how far they can push the envelope of acceptability and, by getting a handful of citizen complaints, they have achieved part of their goal. Cutting off funding to TV2 is not the solution to this problem.
TV2 is not perfect and it must always be looking for ways to improve. It needs to be more pro-active in communicating its value to the community and keeping local governments informed. But focusing exclusively on the issues discussed here creates a very lopsided picture of TV2 that misses its valuable contributions and potential.
Unfortunately, too many of our township leaders have only looked at the lopsided picture when deciding to withdraw TV2 support.
why are fewer people submitting shows?
The current rules say programs may only be submitted by certified producers who live in cities and townships that are members of the Cheery Capital Cable Council. That currently limits the list to Traverse City, Garfield, Elmwood, Kingsley, and Paradise Township.
Two things need to happen. First, townships need to recognize the value of public access television and restore funding. Second, access rules need to change so people from non-participating areas can pay a fee and submit programs as long as they comply with TV2 content requirements.