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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

2014 Will Include Many Cable Programming Issues and Decisions



There is a new link on our website that we hope you have noticed and clicked, www.tvonmyside.com   The Glasgow EPB, along with every other cable company in the country, will be dealing with many issues this year related to cable programming and the outlandish rates many of the programmers will be requesting.  Just in case you may have forgotten, or were unaware, over 90% of the channels on the EPB cable service require that we pay a monthly fee for the right to carry their programming. Some programming already carries a rate of more than $5.00 per subscriber/per month, for one channel!   Preliminary estimates have suggested that programmers will request increases this year of 100%, or more, for some channels. We purchase the majority of our programming through a cooperative called NCTC.  The new link is provided by NCTC to help educate and inform all cable customers of the ongoing negotiations with these various programmers.

Added to this already confusing mix is the fact that we must negotiate with the broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.), to carry them on our cable service.  These are the same channels that just a few short years ago we received via antenna directly into our homes and who negotiated a wonderful deal so that they use our public airwaves for free.  Every three years each cable service across the country must renegotiate with these programmers, and unfortunately 2014 finds all of us in that process again.  We currently pay well over $10,000 per month just for these channels. One more thing to remember, all of the money for programming is removed from the Glasgow economy and sent to a corporation whose CEO typically receives multi-million dollar pay packages.

We’re going to be talking to you a lot in the coming months, and we want your input as we try to make these difficult and costly decisions.  You can always reach us at epb@glasgow-ky.com or on our FB page at Glasgow Electric Plant Board. Or you may contact any of the following local citizens serving on our Programming Committee and who make final recommendations to our Board of Directors relative to all programming matters: Petie McLean, Joe Trigg, Mary Burchett-Bower, Beverly Vance, Karl Napier and Jodi Crane.  

2 comments:

zmturner said...

If i could cancel my cable and keep the internet i would. Nothing on TV worth watching except a handfull of shows.

Unknown said...

I love watching TV. With that stated, I'm prepared to recognize that is is just that "TV." I don't want to have to reduce my cable package or miss some of my favorite shows but the way it sounds the only way we as a whole can have any impact is to NOT buy their product. Which is what I find myself thinking about more and more. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if EPB decided not to have WBKO or any other nearby stations on our services because they are being unreasonable.