People TV Remains in Limbo
Despite the mayor’s office saying it remains committed to community television, Atlanta public access channel People TV currently has no funding past December.
It’s making those that work and contribute to the station nervous.
Last year it took a special, last-minute allocation from the city of Atlanta to keep People TV’s doors open.
Sonji Jacobs, a spokeswoman for Mayor Kasim Reed, says the city is beginning a review process of the station and preparing to meet with station personnel.
“The Reed administration over the past two and half years has been supportive of People TV. At this point the administration is taking a look at People TV and is working on a plan for moving forward.”
Because nothing has been scheduled thus far, People TV CEO Charlotte Engel says she’s working under the assumption that the station will be closing in December. Engel says the lack of clarity from the mayor’s office has made it impossible to find additional grants or other sources of funding.
“If the city’s not going to renew our contract, I can’t legitimately raise money.”
Engel says the station has struggled to find additional funding since Comcast renegotiated its contract with the city of Atlanta and was allowed to cut direct public access funding past 2012.
People TV cost about $600,000 to run per year. It has four staff members and more than 80 volunteer contributors.
Engel says she’s heard from several sources that the city wants to contract with another private entity to take over the channel after December, but that could not be confirmed with the mayor’s office by deadline.
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