Does the media have a communication problem?
"Why is this channel change happening? Why does AT&T-TCI think this is better for our subscribers?" Doug Broomfield, general manager at KMVT, wants to hear from AT&T-TCI.
KMVT in Mountain View, KSAR in Saratoga, KCAT in Los Gatos, and Milpitas' Cable 6, are four community television stations being evicted from their normal Channel 6 dial slot by KICU, which has wanted the spot since 1983.
"We do not have the luxury of ignoring the Supreme Court," said AT&T-TCI spokesman Andrew Johnson who explained that under Federal "must carry" laws, local broadcasters have the right to the channels they request.
Apparently, community access channels don't have that same right. KSAR and KCAT management say their cable franchise agreements stake their claim to Channel 6. But there is an exception stated in the agreements, Johnson said. KSAR and KCAT have the right to Channel 6 unless a commercial broadcaster requests it. Because of their franchise agreements, their community identification with Channel 6, and the prime dial seat located between Channels 4, 5, and 7, the community stations want to stay put.
KICU currently appears on Channel 6 in local communities without community access stations, and views the move as a logical step in marketing consistency. But KICU is up for sale.
KMVT's Broomfield said his biggest frustration stems from the seeming lack of communication by AT&T-TCI.
"We respectfully disagree" said Johnson. AT&T notified the community channels about the move two years ago and have met with them on several occasions Johnson insisted.
Unless KSAR and KCAT city councils succeed in their search for a legal precedent to block the move, KICU will move in on Sept. 22.