Or will you? If the station doesn’t find funding, it could disappear for good!
WYOU MOVED! SEE CHANNEL 95 OR 991 OR VIDEO STREAMING
Remember channel 4? That station that used to be there when you turned on your VCR that would suck you in with video of the Willy St. Fair or Laborfest some local band that you recognized or Cooking with Bob? In all the HDTV upgrades and restructuring, it moved to channel 95 or 991. Or you can actually watch WYOU live streaming on your computer. If you can’t find it on your tv, you need to call the cable company and have something reset. (Nice technical explanation, eh?) To find out what to do, contact the station (258-9644 or info@wyou.com) or just call the cable company and tell them you can’t get to those channels. That’s right Democracy Now! Grit TV and all your favorite local shows can be found there, but check the new schedule, some of the shows have switched times! To read more about the shows, check out them outhere. Or go to wyou.com and check out the video supporting local non-profits, the Ride the Drive video or volunteer testimonials. Don’t like what you see? It’s your station! Get involved . . . take a class and start your own show or help with one!
So, besides moving the channel and the new programming schedule, there is something else very important going on!
VIDEO COMPETITION ACT DEFUNDS PUBLIC ACCESS AND GOVERNMENT TELEVISION
Due to actions at the state legislature, PEG funding for WYOU is going away in 2011. “PEG” is Public, Government and Education funding that WYOU receives from Charter Cable TV subscribers via a franchise fee administered by the City of Madison (about $140,000). Wisconsin’s Act 42 (known as the “video competition act”) was passed in December, 2007 and it will eliminate Charter’s requirement to pay the franchise fee to the city and, as a result, the PEG funding will cease for WYOU, Madison’s City Channel and, for that matter, all public access, education and government across Wisconsin. This was discussed during the budget meetings on Tuesday night, because there will no longer be a fund to buy equipment for City Channel 98.
MAYOR JUMPS THE GUN, SAID HE’D REMOVE FUNDING EARLY?
Mayor Cieslewicz has told WYOU that in 2010, they will be receiving half of the funding as they have in the past, in order to prepare for 2011. So, even tho the city is getting the money, it is not making it to WYOU unless the Mayor of Council changes it’s mind. Hopefully they will with all the new changes going on at the station and the great new Executive Director. Additionally, rumor has it, there may be some legislation introduced restore the PEG funding requirement and the money won’t disappear at all if we’re lucky! So removing the funding now is premature.
HOW BAD IS IT? (We’re in critical condition!)
Meanwhile, if they can’t get a major portion of that funding restored, they’ll be out of business by the end of next year at best, at worst . . . they could have to start shutting down in the spring. While the staff and board have been working hard to find new sources of funding, it is a slow process in a bad economy. We (I say we cuz one of the first things I did after losing my re-election was join their board) think we have a viable plan, but we need your support to help us accomplish it and give it time to work!
DONATE NOW, OR TOMORROW!
Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it is gone . . . lets not let that happen to WYOU!! It’s OUR public access television station . . . and its ours to lose if we don’t act now! With the mainstream media in crisis, it is more important than ever that we maintain this valuable resource for our community. And the situation has never been more dire. That’s why I’m hosting a house party on Friday, September 25th from 5 – 7 at my house (30 N Hancock St), yes, adult beverages served! If you can’t make it, you could donate right now!
PLEASE STAND BY
And, when the time comes, we may need you to contact your legislature to get the PEG funding restored or the Mayor and Council to get the money you pay for in your cable bill that should be coming to the station for 2010. That is, unless the Mayor changes his mind – I’m foolish enough to hope he might! We’ll find out October 6th.
