MEMORANDUM 

TO:

Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

FROM:

Kenneth C. Pennoyer, Director of Business Management

SUBJECT:

The Peoples Channel 2007-08 Annual Report

DATE:

November 10, 2008

PURPOSE

The purpose of this memorandum is to present The Peoples Channel’s Annual Report 2007-08.  The Annual Report is included as Attachment 1.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

The Peoples Channel has submitted through Executive Director Chad Johnston its Annual Report to the Town of Chapel Hill for Fiscal Year 2007-08 (Attachment 1).  The Peoples Channel is a non-profit corporation organized by area citizens to provide community access television in Chapel Hill.  The Channel is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. 

The Peoples Channel receives funding from several sources, primarily public access fees collected by Time Warner from cable customers under the Franchise Agreement.  The cable television franchise approved by the Council and accepted by Time Warner in July 1996 allows the Town to have cable customers billed a public access fee. 

On November 19, 2007, the Council approved an increase in the monthly subscriber public access fee from 78 to 80 cents, based on inflation.  Under the Performance Agreement with The Peoples Channel, the Town pays The Peoples Channel these public access fees, which are collected by Time Warner in customer bills.  The Channel received $122,290 in public access fees from the Town in 2007-08.

The Peoples Channel’s Audited Financial Statements for the 2007-08 Fiscal Year are included as Attachment 2. In the past, this report was submitted for the calendar year, and this has been changed to reflect activities for the fiscal year.

RECOMMENDATION

We believe that The Peoples Channel Annual Report 2007-08 meets the requirements of the performance agreement with the Town.  We recommend that the Council receive the attached Annual Report.

ATTACHMENTS

1.      The Peoples Channel Annual Report to the Town of Chapel Hill for 2007-08 (p. 3).

2.      The Peoples Channel Financial Statements, June 30, 2008 (p. 18).