City official looks to keep Seattle Channel program amid budget crunch

(The Center Square) – Seattle is looking for ways to save some programs that could fall prey to the city's right-sizing of its budget to meet revenue projections.

Seattle City Council Chair Sara Nelson is making it a priority to preserve funding for the city’s Seattle Channel, which faces nearly $2 million in cuts.

The city currently faces a $250 million deficit during the next budget cycle. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed budget includes 76 layoffs to help the city address the massive budget gap.

Out of those 76 layoffs, six positions stem from the Seattle Channel program. These positions include three video specialists, one information technology professional, and two strategic advisors.

The six position cuts will save the city $1.6 million, or less than 1% of the city’s $1.9 billion general fund.

The proposed 2025-2026 budget acknowledges that these cuts will result in Seattle Channel programming being reduced to only city council and mayor meetings and events.

Nelson said Seattle Channel programming is “a critical public service” that supports government transparency, the arts, and civic life in Seattle.

“In an age of media constriction, maintaining this programming is more important than ever,” Nelson said in a news release . “I believe there must be opportunities for less impactful adjustments, and we should start there.”

Seattle Channel is struggling because revenues to the Cable Television Franchise Fund from cable subscription fees continue to decline as fewer people use traditional cable television.

In 2023, the fund brought in $6.1 million to the city. In 2024, it’s estimated to have dropped to $5.5 million in 2024 and will continue to decrease to approximately $5.46 million in 2026.

The $1.6 million in cuts was deemed necessary by Harrell’s office in order to balance the Cable Television Franchise Fund.

The city also has franchise agreements with the cable television companies operating in Seattle. Under the current agreements, the city levies a 10% utility tax on the gross subscriber revenues of cable TV operators, which accounts for about 90% of the operators’ total revenue.

This franchise fee is deposited into the city’s Cable Television Franchise Fund. Cable TV utility revenues have dropped from $15 million in 2021 to an estimated $11.7 million this year.

In 2025 and 2026, the cable TV utility fund is estimated to collect $10.1 million and $9.4 million.

Nelson has not revealed her plan to preserve funding for the Seattle Channel. Amendments to the proposed 2025-2026 budget will be included in the balancing package that will be released on Oct. 30.