March 14, 1995
SF State's broadcasting and electronic communication arts department's 14-year free access to San Francisco, courtesy of Viacom Cable, appears to be over.
Since March 11, 1981, Viacom has provided BECA with a single cable television channel, Channel 49, and access for the campus radio station, KSFS, to broadcast in San Francisco. BECA professor Val Sakovich said the loss of the contract wasn't a surprise because it originally expired four years ago and Viacom extended it until May 31, 1995.
Most programming on Channel 49 does not come from SF State. BECA produces about eight hours of television programming a week, said Ron Compesi, chair of the BECA department. Broadcasting of intercollegiate athletics makes up the lion's share, followed by the student produced television center news and programs developed by the advanced video production class. Viacom fills the rest of Channel 49Õs 198 hours of programming mostly with international shows.
This fall, BECA will continue to broadcast both television and radio programming on the campus cable network, Compesi said. Meanwhile, SF State plans to search out other channels for broadcast. City College of San Francisco broadcasts on Channel 52, ViacomÕs federally mandated educational access channel.
"It's my understanding that we have the right to access Channel 52 with City College," Compesi said.
However, Compesi pointed out that before the contract with Viacom, the department had been broadcasting to the campus community since its inception in 1946. The residence halls and some other buildings on campus are wired for this local network.
"If we donÕt have access to the city, we'll pursue other avenues," he said. In addition to campus cable and Channel 52, Compesi said SF State plans to pursue access on other broadcast channels like KTVUÕs Channel 2 and public broadcasting channels. The greatest effect may be on the radio station.
KSFS currently broadcasts six hours a day, from 4 to 10 p.m. and has plans to expand its schedule in the future, Compesi said.
The radio signal travels down the same cable line as the television signal, said Rick Houlberg, a BECA professor. So by next fall, KSFS must find another way to send its signal to Viacom, or it will be relegated to being a campus-only station again. Houlberg is confident that SF State will find a way to continue its cable radio broadcast to the rest of San Francisco.
Viacom Vice President Jonathan Marx said SF State made no request to extend the contract beyond this May.
At press time, SF State's audio/video director was unavailable for comment.