Channels To Be Added to Island’s Cable

Mackinac Island cable subscribers will have four new channels added to their program lineup, including Turner Classic Movies, The Learning Channel, Golf Channel, and Food Network. The finance committee has given its final consent for a 15-year contract with Charter Communications that will make the channels available in March. Rates were estimated to increase between $4 and $8 during a June finance committee meeting, but Charter has yet to provide an exact figure.

The company is required to give a 30-day notice to the city council for any rate increase or channel changes.

“Right now we are in the midst of budgets and discussions on programming,” Don Gladwell, government relations administrator for Charter, told the Town Crier Tuesday, November 15. “Service rates are a function of channels and programming costs. Once we are done with the budgeting process, we will have a better understanding of the effect the new channels will have on the rate structure.”

He added that the company is hoping to have the cost established and the channels added by March 1.

During its meeting Thursday, November 10, the Finance Committee formalized the decision for the Island’s television cable service the day after the contract had been approved at a city council meeting. Council members received the contract late, and not wanting to hold up the process, based their approval pending the Finance Committee’s review of the document.

The city will receive free cable at City Hall, the Fire Hall, and Mackinac Island Public School. The company also will supply the Island with new equipment to operate the city’s information channel, Channel 3.

Mr. Gladwell said once the contract has been signed and received by both parties, the request to add the channels will be sent to Charter’s corporate office for approval. The programming department looks at the channels requested and reviews the cable network’s contract with the company to ensure compliance guidelines are met. The engineering department signs off on the request as well to make sure adding the channels is technically feasible.

“As soon as approval is received for the addition of the channels and any rate adjustment associated with it, I will notify the city council immediately,” said Mr. Gladwell.

Council signed an extension on the current contract with Charter Communications June 22. The original contract expired July 11.