Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Ordinance Regarding Public Access Channels
Up For Vote By City Council Today

[Updated 5:20 p.m.]
An ordinance to approve an addendum to the cable communications agreement between Cox Communications and the City of Omaha was approved by the City Council today. By a six-to-one vote, Cox received permission to cut the number of public access dedicated to public, educational and governmental programming channels from six to four.

Cox had asked to reduce the number of public access channels to three in order to provide for improvements and enhancements to its cable system.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

They aren't moving the channels to digital. They are removing the less watched channels, so we can have more programming choices.

Independent Basis said...

Will this affect Ernie Chambers' weekly program do you know?

Anonymous said...

They are removing the public access channels so that they can charge you more for other channels. Considering how the city bows down to Cox it is as if they have Cox confused with the CWS. Anything and everythingto keep them happy.
Cox fills their signal with phone and internet service without exapnding their delivery system, then asks to take away what they have contracted to give the city in order to make more money. The council needs to understand more about what Cox is doing and not just take them at their word. Their word is worth nothing but they get everything.

Unknown said...

I think channel 22 is staying.

Unknown said...

Hey Anonymous 7:41 How are they supposed to expand if they keep providing Analog. I bet if Cox decided to drop Analog you would complain that you could watch it.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sean,

A while back you reported that Mike Sigmond was leaving KETV. He's still around. What's going on? Just curious...

Anonymous said...

No more angry black people shows? What a crime

Unknown said...

Those will be on channel 22.

Unknown said...

Curious:

Mike Sigmond's last day at KETV is coming up soon. Look for a follow-up story in next week's print edition of the City Weekly.

Anonymous said...

So they take away something but provide nothing else for those customers who don't subscribe to digital. They don't provide anything for the users of the public access channels. I wonder how much more is in the agreement that isn't being provided and should be.

Anonymous said...

Cox was supposed to provide FREE cable to the public, broadcasting the local channels and public TV also. Seems to me they took that away too. That was one of the reasons they were given the contract way back when

Unknown said...

Hey anon 6:12 if they provide something for the Analog custom that would mean No additiona digital or HD. If you don't like it switch to another tv provider.

Does satellite even provide local public access I don't think so. If you wanted to be heard you should of went to the meeting.

Anonymous said...

Andrew,
Read the franchise agreement that was signed back in the 80s. Its on public file. There are a lot of committments that are not being adhered to in a legal document. That is all.
You also make a valid point, satellite doesn't provide public access - that is the advantage Cox has and now they are taking it away. That is the issue, there is a customer base with this.
In a matter of years analog will be gone and all will be digital so that's not the issue either.

Unknown said...

The cable companies can continue with Analog as long as they want so you statement doesn't mean anything.

If there was such a customer base as you say why weren't more people there to voice opposition?

Now if Cox would send digital from the headends to the neighborhoods (and then split the analog there and provide that to the homes) as I understand that concept that would free up bandwidth. I have already suggested that, but due to the fact Cox doesn't want to let other providers know what they are doing I haven't gotten a response.

Anonymous said...

You said it pretty well. You try to talk to them and they don't listen.

Unless you are the city council.

Unknown said...

If Cox and the City Council didn't listen then why are they only removing 2 channels instead of 3 like they wanted to? Answer because the people wanted to have EWTN on the basic tier even though it's on channel 21 already.

Anonymous said...

Cox rules the world!!!! It's a conspiracy to control our minds! Run!