AGENDA #12
TO: Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Summary of The Peoples Channel 1999 Annual Report
DATE: April 10, 2000
The purpose of this memorandum is to present summary information from The Peoples Channel’s Annual Report. Mr. Robert Gwyn, President and Chair of The Peoples Channel Board of Directors, will present the report.
The Peoples Channel has submitted its Annual Report to the Town of Chapel Hill for Calendar Year 1999. 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.
I. Facilities & Services
A. Governance. The Peoples Channel is governed by a Board of Directors who serve without compensation.
B. Staffing. There are currently two (2) full-time and one (1) part-time position employed with The Peoples Channel.
C. Programming and Scheduling. Over the past year, the amount of local programming produced and cablecast on The Peoples Channel has doubled. During 1999, The Peoples Channel aired 21 locally-produced series.
II. Funding and Development
A. Funding and Other Contributions
1. The Peoples Channel receives funding from several sources, primarily pass-through fees collected by Time Warner from cable customers under the Franchise Agreement. In fall 1999, the Town granted the channel’s request to increase the monthly subscriber pass-through fee from 67 cents to 68 cents.
|
Funding
Source |
1999
Revenue |
|
Contractual (Time Warner Pass-Through Cable
Fees) |
$81,679 |
|
Rent Income for Office Space |
$10,698 |
|
Rental of equipment & studio space |
$1,098 |
|
Tape sales & dubbing |
$2,431 |
|
Contributions |
$3,588 |
|
Net Ordinary Income |
$11,581 |
|
Miscellaneous |
$4,330 |
|
Total |
$115,406 |
|
Expense
Item |
1999
Expense Amount |
|
Payroll |
$46,352 |
|
Payroll Taxes |
$17,494 |
|
Rent |
$32,815 |
|
Telephone |
$2,550 |
|
Utilities |
$3,869 |
|
Miscellaneous |
$12,326 |
|
Total |
$115,406 |
B. Development Activities
1. Possible future funding sources include:
(a) Grants from the NC Commission on National and Community Services
(b) A grant from the Orange County Arts Commission
(c) Establishment of an Endowment Fund
(d) Funding from the Triangle Community Foundation in Research Triangle Park.
IV. Goals for Calendar Year 2000
A. Board Development – Includes an Advisory Board to provide support and advice on fundraising, community involvement, and long-range planning.
B. Identity Development and Community Involvement – Includes design of a logo, letterhead, and promotional materials, and increased outreach to the community.
C. Financial Development – Includes expansion of funding options, such as grant-writing and pursuing pass-through fees from other local franchising authorities.
D. Plans for Expansion – Includes pursuing performance agreements with other local franchise authorities.
E. Fulfilling Performance Agreements – Includes upgrading editing and playback equipment.
That the Council receive the attached Annual Report.