Reporting – CBS 6 WTVR-TV Sticks With Erroneous Report

Television station CBS 6 WTVR-TV reported that a city official said the city was obligated to build a studio. The city official denied making the statement. WTVR-TV maintains their report is accurate because of language in the ordinance.

There are two problems with this. First, WTVR-TV is wrong to cite a person as the source of a statement found in a document. Second, WTVR-TV is wrong that the statement is in the ordinance. The statement is in a non-binding “intracity correspondence.” Neither the ordinance nor the franchise agreement specify that the city must build a studio.

September 15, 2011. Wallace says the rest of the city’s cut of the cable bills is in a special account, banking on the day they can fulfill another obligation spelled out in the ordinance: building a new city studio for the PEG channels. As it is, the government cable-access channel operates in two offices and camera routing room the size of a broom closet. –wtvr

September 21, 2011.
The CBS6 news report was done in error and is misleading, as I never stated that the City was required by ordinance to build a television studio. –Michael Wallace.

September 21, 2011.
To: Hayes, Stephen
Stephen Hayes
General Manager
WTVR-TV/DT — CBS 6 News

Dear Mr. Hayes,

Mr. Wallace claims that a news report from your station was inaccurate. Do you agree?

September 26, 2011.
The Richmond City Ordinance on this matter (No. 2007- 32-44), states, in part, on page # 2 of the introduction:

O&R Request
February 9, 2007
Page 2 of 2

FISCAL IMPACT/COST: Additional special fund revenues consisting of a onetime payment of $100,000 plus recurring payments amounting to 1.5% of quarterly gross revenues less franchise fees will be received once the agreement is finalized. These funds will be used to establish a new City television studio and support Public, Educational, and Government programming.

Mark Holmberg’s recent report reflects this information.

We believe our reporting on this matter is accurate.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Bill Anderson
News Director
CBS 6 WTVR-TV
Richmond, VA
804-254-3638

Cable Franchise Agreement.

[LFA: Local Franchising Authority (City of Richmond).]

1. DEFINITIONS. 1.24. PEG: Public, Educational, and Governmental.

6.2.1. Franchisee shall provide an Initial Grant and a PEG Capital Fee as set forth in this Section 6.2 to the LFA to be used for PEG and institutional network capital expenses as determined by the LFA (collectively, the “PEG Grants.”).