HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 27, 1993CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 1, 1993
REPORT BY LODI KING VIDEOCABLE COMPANY REGARDING RECENT
CABLE CHANGES
Deanna Enright, General Manager, King Videocable Company,
made a presentation regarding the recent cable changes due
to the Cable Consumer Protection Act and how it will affect
the public.
FILE NO T22.(WJF
r
CITY OF LODI
MEMORANDUM FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT CI-' MANAGER
To: The Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers
From: Jerry L. Glenn, Assistant City Manager
Date- August 27, 1993
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We received the attached packet of material on.Friday, August 27, 1993 at
3:15 p.m. This material will be m.3iled to each cable television subscriber
next week. Newspaper advertisements will begin on Monday, August 30, 1993,
and the Channel 3 television statiom wit= carry details.
King Videocable Company General Manager Deanna Enright will be at the City
Council meeting on Wednesday, September 1, 1993 to address the Council and
the public during the "Comments by the Public on Non -Agenda Items" segment
of the Agenda.
J RRY L. GLENN
Assistant City Manager
Attachment
-ABLE/TXTA.01V
000
94C _- -
King Videocable Company L1521 odi. CAsto«ka s 2140 t
2091369.7451
An Affiliate of Kinp $ro3dcastin4 COrMartj
August 26, 1993
Tom Peterson
City Manager, City of Lodi
221 West Pine Street
Lodi CA 95240
Dear Tom:
AUG 2 7 1091
City Manager's office'
Many local residents who subscribe to King Videocable cable TV
service may soon be calling your office with questions about sweeping
changes in their cable rates•and program services brought about in part by
the 1992 Cable Act.. As part t..f King Videocable's on-going effort to give
you advance information about how our compliance with the Act's new
regulations will affect our customers - and help you answer their
questions - we've comF�led some highlights.
Starting eptember 1, many customers will see an immediate savings in
their cable bills. Customers to our most -basic service will be especially
pleased to see their rates drop significantly, by 27%. There are also
savings for customers with more than one TV connected to cable.
Still, despite the many benefits most customers will enjoy, whether
the total remains the same or goes down, and by what amount, depends on
the exact program service packages customers receive, the number of TV
sets connected to cable, and -the type of cable ecrApment (like converter
boxes) they use to receive cable service.
We will see a decrease in revenue under the new regulations. Pricing
formulas were established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC),
the agency responsible for re -regulating the cable TV industry under the
new Act. This has resulted in revised cable service packages and
equipment rates. We've also made some additional charges such as renaming
the service packages available to our customers. Here's how our new
service offerings and the new rates stack up:
* Basic is now called Lifeline.
* BasicPlus is now called Ba ic.
• A new A La Carte option now lets customers choose Just 1
or up to 4 channels in a package called Expanded.
Please note that premium services like HBO and Cinemax are not
affected by the new regulations. I have enclosed a new channel line up
and rate listing.
page Z
Many of our customers will benefit from these changes:
* Lower prices for most cable customers.
* Greater choice with A La Carte channel offerings.
* Savings on additional TV sets hooked up to cable.
Cable viewers may also see a change in their bzoadcast channel lineup
in coming weeks because after October 6, 1993, King Videocable is
prohibited from carrying broadcast stations without the broadcasters'
explicit, negotiated consent. As of now, we have not yet reached.
agreement with all broadcasters.. We.hive added KCMY and KFTL to comply
with the "Must Carry" provisions of the federal law. We're advising our
customers that if agreemnt cannot be reached by October 6, King Videocable
will be prohibited from carrying KORA, KTXL, KXTV, KOVR, KRON, KTVU, or
KICU. I'll update you - and my customers - as soon as we know which
channels we are allowed to keep.
Every employee at King Videocable is working hard to minimize any
negative impact of the new cable law on our customers. And while we can
do a lot to explain the new regulations and make them easier to
understand, the new rules are quite rigid. we'll continue to work within
them in the customers' best interest.
If I can provide more information that would help you answer local
residents' questions, or your questions, please don't hesitate to call me.
Sincerely,
Z,4,�O,, ��
Deanna Enright
General Manager
Starting September 1
Most King Videocable Customers..
Are In. For Some Pleasant Surprises'
What will the new Cable Act mean to you?
Your next King Videocable bill will mot
reflect sweeping changes in rates. pro-
gram service tiers and equipment
charges. Subscribers to our most -basic
service will be especially pleased to see
that their rates are dropping up to 27`x.
We've also provided savings for customers
who have more than one TV hooked up
to cable.
Starting September 1, many subscribers
will we an Immediate savings In their
cable bills. The savings will vary depend -
Ing on the exact program service pack-
ages you receive. the number of TV sets
connected to cable, and the type of
equipment you use (like converter boxes)
to receive cable service.
Please take a few minutes to examine
the information and new channel lineup
we've provided. Then keep this literature
as reference to help you understand vour
next cable bill. Yqu don't need to call us to
If you do have questions, our customer
service representatives will do their best to
answer them. But pleose be patient; our
phone Imes may be busier than usual
during this hectic period of change.
Now Did We Arrive At The New Rates?
Formulas for setting new rates were
established by the Federal Communica-
tions Commission (FCC), the government
agency responsible for re -regulating the
cable television industry unJer the new
Act. This has resulted In revised cable
subscription and equipment rates. and
new cable channel packages.
Now There Are
More Choices Than Ever Before)
We've also made some additional
changes. such as renaming the service
;;ackoges available to you.
• Basic is now called Ufellne.
• BostcPlus Is now called Basic.
. A new A La Carte option now lets you
choose just 1 or up to 4 channels In a
package called Expanded.
Please refer to the enclosed Chcnnel-
Rate Card. This provides detailed Informa-
tion on all of these chances.
Under requirements of the new law.
your cable bill now separates (and hats
separately) the charges for cable equip-
ment that were once provided as part of
selected service packages. This means
that the charge for the remote will now be
separated from the charge for the con-
verter. Remember. you do not need to
call us to continue receiving your existing
cgbie services.
The Benefits To Our Subscribers Aro Many
Most of our customers will benefit from
these changes with lower rates and new
services. The new rate structure gives
many subscribers some new advantages:
• Greater choice In entertainment with A
La Carte channel offerings.
. Savings on additional TV sets hooked
up to cable service.
. Reduced rates for remote converter
rental.
A New Look In Your Cable Bill.
And to Your Channel Une-up.
Starting Ir September. every King
Videocable bill will have a new look. take a
minute to review this sample cable bili. Keep In
mind this Is only a sample. Your personal bill will
show the some services t3nd equipment you
have been receiving all along from us, but they
will be shown In a new, Itemized format.
A) Program services will be listed separately.
Z Monthly equipment charges for converter
boxes and remote controls will now be
'unbundled' and Itemized on your bill
(charged for separately).
Notification of Passible Changes in Cable
Delivery of Broadcast N Stations.
The new federal law also brings changes in
our ability to carry local broadcast stations on
the coble ystem. The law has authorized local
broodcost stations. regardless of viewer popu-
lority, to choose either guaranteed transmission
on a preferred channel position - or the right to
negotiate for compensation from trio cable
company to retransmit their station. On
September 1 we will be adding KCMY and KFTI ,
to comply with the 'Must Carry' provlslors of the
federal law. We will also be adding the TV Food
Network.
We do not believe that cable customers
should have to pay to view broadcast stations
that are available over -the -air for tree. As of
now, we have not yet reached agreement with
all local broadcasters. We are notifying you
that it an agreement cannot be reached by
October 6, we will be prohibited by law from
carrying KCRA, KXTV, KOVR, KRON, KTXL, KICU
and KTVU on our cable system. We at King
Videocoble want to continue to carry these
local broadcast stations. Only the broadcaster
can make the choice to be dropped from our
cable system.
We'll keep you Informed about programming
changes brought about by the new regulations.
And we'll do our best to protect your best
Interests.
' We're working hard - not only to comply with
the new cable law - but to minimize any nega-
tive Impact on you. And while we can do d lot
to make your bill easter to read, the regulations
ore quite rigid. We'li continue to work within
them In your best Interest.
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We pledge to provide excellent value and
variety In entertah .ment and information,
because we know that's why you subscribe to
cable television.
Thanks for your patience as we put these
complex new regulations Into action. And, as
always, thanks for being a King Videocable
customer. We value your business.
King Videocable Company, Lodi
Summary of Rates and Services
Monthly Service Rates
CURRENT
Basic S14.00
BasicPlus S 7.95
Additional Outlet S 4.25
Converter S 3.00
Converter w/ Remote Control S 3.50
CLMRENT
New Connect/Underground
New Connect/Overhead
Reconnect/Underground
Reconnect/Overhead
Additional Outlet at
Time of Install
Additional Outlet at
Later Date
Change of Service (Upgrade)
Relocate Outlet
VCR Hookup
A/B Switch
Converter Installation
Hourly Service Charge
SEPTEMBER i. 1993
Lifeline
$ 10.13
Basic
S
9.06
Expanded
S
2.76
(TNT, TBS, TNN, and Nostalgia)
Expanded Per Channel
S
1.00
Additional Outlet
S
.00
Converter
S
1.51
Converter for Remote Control S
1.51
Hand Held Remote Control
S
.14
Installation Rates
S60.00
$ 60.00
S60.00
$ 60.00
$ 20.00
$35.00
$ 10.00
S35.00
$ 35.00
$ i n np
S10.00
$ .00
SEPTEMBER 1. 1993
New Connect/Underground
New Connect/Overhead
Reconnect/Underground
Reconnect/Overhead
Additional Outlet at
Time of Install
Additional Outlet at
Later Date
Change of Service (Upgrade)
Relocate Outlet
VCR Hookup
AIB Switch
Converter Installation
Hourly Service Charge
$ 87.00
S52.00
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
$ 11.00
$ 26.00
S30.00
$ 26.00
$ 30.00
$ 30.00
$ 30.00
$ 34.83
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Channel Guide (Effective 9-1-93)
19
KCSO (Univision)
2
•SHO
KING 3 (Local Programs)
3
31
KRHK (Ind)
4
QVC
Howe Shopping
S
6
KVIE (PBS)
6
3
KORA (NBC)
7
40
KTXL (FOX)
8
10
KXIV (CHS)
9
58
KSCH (Ind.)
10
36
KICU (Ind)
11
13
KOVR (ABLE
12
CSP
C -SPAN I
13
'DIS
The Disney Channel
14
•SHO
Showtime
15
•MAX
Cinemax
16
'HBO
Home Box Office
17
0*29
K, -MY (Ind.)
18
19
Reserved for Pay -Per -View
19
'TMC
The Movie Channel
20
4
KRON (NBC)
21
2
KTVU (FOX)
22
CSP
C -SPAN 11
23
7
KGO (ABC)
24
0064
KFTL (Ind.)
25
HSN
Home Shopping Network
26
TNT Turner Network Television 28 i
T13S
TBS Superstation
29
TNN
The Nashville Network
30
I NOS
The Nostalgia Network
31
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Q Lifeline [ _ ] Expanded = Basic
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