HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 9/28/2021 - Memorandum From Amanda King And Carson Hamlin Re: Quarterly Cable Franchise And Peg Funding Update - Q2 2021
MEMORANDUM
1
Communications & Public Involvement
215 N. Mason St.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2209
fcgov.com
DATE: September 23, 2021
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
THROUGH: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Tyler Marr, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Amanda King, Communications Director
Carson Hamlin, Video Production Manager
RE: Quarterly Cable Franchise and PEG Funding Update – Q2 2021
Background: The City has a non-exclusive franchise agreement with the local subsidiary of Comcast
Corporation. During the franchise renewal process, Council made a request for increased tracking and reporting
on compliance. Based on this request, quarterly reports will be shared and posted on the City’s franchise
webpage: http://www.fcgov.com/fctv/franchise.php.
Below is a summary of quarterly franchise and Public, Educational, Governmental (PEG) fees, reported
customer complaints and current service pricing:
Revenue received –
• Franchise fees were under budget by 17.5% in Q2 and -17.6% YTD
• PEG fees were were down 15.7% in Q2 and -17.1% YTD
o Franchise fees are based off 5% of gross revenue.
o PEG fees are $0.75/cable subscriber.
o A financial audit was completed in Q2 (see details below).
Complaints-
• Comcast reported zero complaints in Q2 2021.
• The City received zero complaints in Q2 2021:
Comcast website check-
• Limited Basic pricing could not be found on the Xfinity website.
• The lowest price listed for TV only was $49.99
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Comcast Customer Service Center check -
• Limited basic signage is posted at the customer service center.
Other Franchise Updates –
• Financial audit of Comcast:
o Per the current cable franchise, the City is authorized to conduct a mid-franchise financial audit
of Comcast which is in progress.
o A preliminary audit report was completed in June 2021. City staff is working with the City
Attorney’s office to review the audit findings and any potential next steps.
• Programming Notice
o The attached programming notice regarding changes to Comcast’s channel lineup was provided
in June 2021.
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From:Carson Hamlin
To:Amanda King
Subject:FW: Comcast Programming Notice
Date:Monday, June 21, 2021 9:54:38 AM
Hi Amanda,
FYI.. Comcast changes to Latino programming.
Carson
From: Walker, Glenn <Glenn_Walker@comcast.com>
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2021 8:12 AM
To: sara.ott@cityofaspen.com; debra.figueroa@cogs.us; eheil@avon.org; srobson@vailgov.com;
jhgreene@springsgov.com; rick@arvada.org; RSIMPSON@auroragov.org; manager@broomfield.org;
Julie.Martinez@denvergov.org; WHolmes@douglas.co.us; mbrocklander@englewoodgov.org;
Melissa Gallegos <MGallegos@greenwoodvillage.com>; knarde@littletongov.org;
heatherb@louisvilleco.gov; apeterson@northglenn.org; Todd.Barnes@cityofthornton.net;
dhord@cityofwestminster.us; Carson Hamlin <CHAMLIN@fcgov.com>; roy.otto@greeleygov.com;
Harold.dominguez@longmontcolorado.gov; Steve.Adams@cityofloveland.org; ngradisar@pueblo.us;
peytonr@townofbreckenridge.com; AdrienneS@townofdillon.com; nancyk@townoffrisco.com;
ryan.hyland@silverthorne.org; Julie.sutor@summitcountyco.gov
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comcast Programming Notice
We are committed to keeping you and our customers informed about changes to Xfinity TV services.
Based on factors that include consumer usage, preferences, and changes in programmer offerings,
we are adjusting several of our foreign language program offerings. Please see the summary of
changes below.
Programing adjustments effective August 24, 2021:
Customers who added the current Xfinity TV Latino and Selecto tier to their package will see the
name change to Latino Plus and will also receive access to 1000s of hours of free Video On
Demand programming [FlixLatino and ATRES Player]. For customers paying the retail rate, the
price remains the same. Latino Plus will no longer be available for new subscriptions. Existing
customers will continue to receive the service until they make a change or receive further notice.
Customers who added Xfinity TV Latino tier to their package and are currently paying $9.99 as
part of a 12 month promotion will now roll to $10/month at the end of their promotion duration.
An Xfinity TV Latino tier will be available to Xfinity TV customers to add to their package at
$10/month for approximately 45 Spanish language channels.
The 13 Spanish language Latino (Genre) pack will no longer be available for new subscriptions.
Existing customers will continue to receive the service until they make a change or receive further
notice.
Customers will see the following changes on their bill:
“Zee TV / SET Asia” and “Zee, SET” will be renamed “Hindi 2 Pack.”
“SET: Asia” will be renamed “SET: Hindi.”
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Customers subscribing to the previously retired from sales “Brazilian 3 Pack” will see the
name change to “Brazilian 4 Pack” and the Record TV Americas channel will be added to
the package at no additional charge.
The “Filipino Elite PKG” will be renamed “Filipino 3 Pack.”
The “C1R” package will be renamed “Russian 2 Pack” and the NTV America channel will be
added to the package at no additional charge.
“SBTN” will be renamed “SBTN: Vietnamese.”
“Willow Plus” will be renamed “Willow: Cricket.”
Customers subscribing to the previously retired from sales “TV5Monde” at $10.99/month will see a
price decrease to $9.99/month.
Customers subscribing to “Impact Russia ALC” network at $9.99/month will see a price decrease
to $6.99/month.
“Willow: Cricket Add-on” will no longer be available for sale.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Glenn Walker
Comcast Government Affairs Dept.
8000 E Iliff Ave
Denver, CO 80231
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