The city is considering renewing its franchise agreement with the Oak Lawn-based Multimedia Cablevision now that the company has added some channels and agreed to work on building a local access studio at Batavia High School.
Among other changes cable television customers in Batavia will see is an immediate reduction by $2 in the monthly charge for basic service, Multimedia officials said last week.
“We are encouraged by their sensitivity to the economic and cultural needs of our community,” said Ald. Rory Weiler, who will lead negotiations with Multimedia as chairman of the City Council’s Judicial Service Committee.
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One of the channels being added to the basic service, beginning Oct. 1, is Black Entertainment Television. Prompted by some of its minority citizens, the city had lobbied as far back as 1992 to have BET added to Multimedia’s lineup.
But at the time, the cable company was hesitant to add any channels until new regulations for the industry were developed by the U.S. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission.
“I’m glad we stood up and asked for (BET),” said Rev. Truman Hazelwood, pastor of the Logan Street Baptist Church in Batavia. “I don’t think we would have gotten it otherwise.”
Multimedia’s 15-year franchise agreement with the city is set to expire in 1996. The Judicial Services Committee has scheduled a meeting Aug. 10 to discuss whether to continue negotiating with Multimedia or solicit bids from other cable companies.