Sun Prairie unveils a new cable TV channel called KSUN Life for original community programming

The Sun Prairie Media Center (SPMC) unveiled a new video channel on TDS and on all SPMC’s streaming platforms on September 1, 2023. The channel, called KSUN Life, will focus on original programming created by SPMC’s diverse stable of community producers. Programs featured on the new channel will include Talk of the Town, Reel Reviews, Weekly Chat, Marc Carstens Sports, Roundabout Sun Prairie, and many others.

Although sports will not be the sole focus of the new channel, the origin of KSUN Life began way back when it was revealed that the Sun Prairie Area School District would have a new high school and new high school athletic teams. “The immediate concern was how we were going to air two live football games happening simultaneously,” remembered SPMC Director Jeff Robbins. “That’s when talk of adding a second channel began.”  Most weeks during the 2022-2023 school year, the SPMC aired the home team’s game on KSUN and the away football game on KIDS-4. SPMC staff knew that wasn’t a long-term solution. “We really don’t like using KIDS-4 to show non-KIDS-4 programming,” said Robbins. “KIDS-4 is a unique channel devoted to programming created by kids and we don’t like to compromise why that channel was created over forty years ago.” 

Now when there are competing football games, typically the Sun Prairie game at home will be on KSUN Now while the Sun Prairie team on the road will be featured on KSUN Life.

The name of the current KSUN channel has been changed to KSUN Now and its focus will shift to live programming (and reruns of live shows) and episodic news and information programs that are non-opinionated in nature like Sun Prairie News and Inside Your City. KSUN Now will carry sports, city meetings, and school board meetings. Coverage of church services, which is very popular on KSUN, will stay put as a Sunday staple on the same channel it has always been on, even though the name of the KSUN channel is now KSUN Now.

The new additional channel, KSUN Life, will be viewable in HD on TDS cable channel 985 and as an HD stream on sunprariemediacenter.com, and on SPMC Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV channels.

Access to on-demand programming will not change and will continue to be available online, on the app, and on all SPMC’s streaming platforms.  KSUN Life will also be available on the SPMC’s mobile app.  The app is in the process of being upgraded and will launch any day now.

Jimmie Duncan editing an original program at the Sun Prairie media Center.

“We are very excited about the launch of this new channel,” said Robbins. “This growth reflects the growth of Sun Prairie and its school district and reflects the large amount of original programming created at and for the Sun Prairie Media Center.”

Anyone interested in supporting the Sun Prairie Media Center financially or by producing original programming is encouraged to contact the SPMC at staff@sunprairiemediacenter.com or by calling 608-837-4193.

Comcast promoting “cable service” in new areas of Wisconsin that is actually an OTT streaming service

If you’ve been puzzled by calls from Comcast Xfinity asking you to sign up for a triple play that includes “cable,” internet, and phone service, you’re not alone.  According to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), which is the agency responsible for licensing video service providers, Comcast has not expanded its cable television service territory in the state.  Instead, what customers are being sold is a streaming service that rides on broadband.

“It’s important for potential customers to know what they are signing up for,” said Wisconsin Community Media Executive Director Mary Cardona, “because municipalities cannot collect any fees from the revenue generated from this cable-like service because it is offered on broadband.  If you switch from Charter Spectrum or TDS for example, it will reduce the income municipalities receive from video service provider (VSP) fees.”  This income is relied upon by many municipalities to fund local media centers that cover local government, schools, and community activities.

VSP fees are going down steadily as a source of income for municipalities as cable subscribership numbers wane.  About 40% of households in areas of Wisconsin served by cable television companies currently subscribe, according to numbers obtained from DFI.

Wisconsin budget includes good news for funding state and local level non-profit media

The 2023-2025 Wisconsin biennial budget was enacted as Act 19 on July 5, 2023 with two pieces of good news for coverage of local communities and state government.

Municipalities across Wisconsin will once again be able to apply for state aid to replace the revenue lost when the legislature lowered the fees video service providers (VSPs) pay.  The allocation means more than $10 million to municipalities each year.  In addition, the state legislature voted to create a matching grant for the creation of the Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow Endowment for WisconsinEye.  The grant will match up to $10 million raised by WisconsinEye from private sources during the upcoming budget period (2023-2025). 

Municipal clerks must apply for the state aid every year in August.  The aid replaces the funding lost from a 1-point reduction in the fees municipalities are allowed to collect from revenue generated from cable television service (but not phone or broadband).  In Wisconsin, the maximum fee is now 4%, although many municipalities collect less.  “The retention of this state aid is critically important for the funding of local media access centers across the state that provide local coverage of our schools, city government, and communities,” said WCM Executive Director Mary Cardona.  “We are very thankful that funds are being set aside each biennium to ensure municipalities are made whole.”

WisconsinEye President and CEO Jon Henkes voiced how grateful he was to the legislature and in particular Joint Finance members Senator Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) and Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) for the support.  “Since our first broadcast in 2007, we have worked to provide open, unfiltered access to state government for the citizens of Wisconsin. This endowment fund will allow WisconsinEye to have a solid foundation upon which we will greatly expand that mission.”