PPMtv says it will close without more money from Portsmouth; seeks more of franchise fee

Portsmouth Public Media TV (PPMtv) is looking to the community — and the Portsmouth City Council — for a lifeline.

If a 2009 agreement between the city of Portsmouth and PPMtv, regarding distribution of a Comcast Public Educational, and Government (PEG) Franchise Fee is not altered, the station will be forced to close its doors in as few as four months, according to Executive Director Chad Cordner.

"What we're really trying to change is the policy created in 2009," Cordner said. "With the current arrangement ... PPMtv just doesn't receive enough to continue."

The law requires Comcast to pay an annual PEG Fee of 5% of its cable revenue to any community it operates in "for the purpose, in layman's terms, of having a monopoly in that area," studio operations manager Jake B. Webb said.

The original agreement between Comcast and Portsmouth was struck more than 20 years ago, according to Suzanne M. Woodland, Portsmouth's deputy city manager. At the time, it was decided the city would receive 5% of Comcast's annual gross income from its Portsmouth television subscriptions that would be allocated into the city's general funds. The agreement also stipulated, among other items, that the money would fund two public access stations..

The city helped establish PPMtv in 2009. At that time it determined it would retain an annual amount of $360,000 of the PEG fee, setting aside the remainder in a trust to be distributed to PPMtv.

It is up to the City Council to determine how much of the franchise fee is transferred to the PPMtv trust, Woodland added.

"Technically (the city's fee) goes into the general fund and is used for various purposes, such as the support of Channel 22 (Portsmouth's government channel)," Woodland said. "That station costs roughly $200,000 annually to operate for the producer and equipment."

Channel 22 broadcasts public meetings, such as City Council, School Board, Police Commission and land use boards.

During the July 15 Council Meeting, the council agreed to renew a 10-year contract with Comcast at the original 5% fee.

Woodland noted the city had experienced a decline in the fee revenues since 2018, a loss felt by the PPMtv trust, as the city maintained its $360,000 flat fee.

Mayor Deaglan McEachern asked, should fees fall short the $360,000, was the city required by policy or state statute to transfer funds to the PPMtv trust. Woodland responded there is no requirement, the arrangement was a city policy, determined by the council. There was no further discussion on the matter.

How much does PPMtv get from Portsmouth?

PPMtv has received varied amounts over the years.

In its first year it garnered $79,700. Since then, it has received between $101,000, and $160,000 annually, with the amount generally hovering midway between the two, Cordner said.

The two exceptions are 2024, when it received $175,500, which included additional funds saved in the PEG trust, to help offset the cost of moving from South Meeting House on Marcy Street to the Fox Run Mall, and its current fiscal year (July1, 2024 through July1, 2025) at $87,281, which includes $2,117, the last of the PPMtv trust fund.

"We were stunned, like deer in headlights," said PPMtv Board President Alexis Mason. "On May 22, Chad ... received notice that the allotment for PPMtv for the upcoming year would be $86K. This total was a significant drop from the $118,000 ... in 2023. To say we were jarred and confounded by the 27% cut in our funding would be an understatement."

The current expenses at the station's Fox Run location are less costly than at the Meeting House, Cordner said.

In the final Meeting House years, the monthly payment included rent at $2,392, water and sewer at $100 and upkeep.

"A lot of expenses inside the building we were able to use towards our rent, like maintaining fire code and inspections, Cordner said. "But everything interior like bathroom maintenance, general interior, structural fixes were our responsibility. Giving a number ... is tough because it was fairly different year to year. Some years we only had to spend $1,000 (others) $6,000."

Today's rent at the mall is $1,125, for the station's main space and equipment storage area combined; no water or landscaping fees.

"Employment, utilities, subscriptions, rental, gear, those types of expenses, come to about $158,000," Cordner said. "That doesn't include an increase in pay  ... there is no health insurance."

PPMtv's personnel are paid between 40% and 60% less than most equivalent positions, Cordner added.

The station plans to propose a change in city policy and offer a number of funding possibilities.

"We're not necessarily going in with an exact number but with the idea of changing the policy," Cordner said. "Then, after that, we would discuss the proposed budget we have, ... based on what the station can offer the community if we're offered a certain number of dollars."

The station is asking for community support to demonstrate the value of PPMtv's service, as it heads into the council meeting.

If we lose it, "(we'd) lose programming created for the community, by the community," Mason said.

In its recent appeal ( change.org/save-ppmtv ) the station noted the funding level restricts a "significant opportunity for community outreach, creative endeavors and local news reporting."

Current Portsmouth-centric programming includes the bi-weekly "Minute with the Mayor," and  "Portsmouth Newsroom," and  "Clipper News" both returning in September, in addition to covering major city events.

It offers health, education, arts, local sports, religious, talk and diversity programming, and classes and workshops in media production.

It's worked with numerous area nonprofits, including the Players' Ring, Black Heritage Trail, True Tales Live and Strawbery Banke Museum, offering space, PSAs and video assistance.

The television station's YouTube channel has 14,200 subscribers, and averages 30,000 to 35,000 views monthly, noted Webb, the studio manager.

"The bottom line is that all of this hinges on a City Council policy that is changeable," Webb said. "We're really hoping that the current council is willing to re-assess this incredibly outdated policy that was decided before any of us were part of the conversation."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: PPMtv says it will close without more money from Portsmouth; seeks more of franchise fee