Denver Community Television, better known as DCTV, lives on the fringes of television and, sometimes, good taste.
It’s a bizarre mix of local politics, nudity, naughty language and spiritual programming.
Known informally as “public access” television, DCTV is where the people go to air their views, and isn’t that what the “public” in public access is for?
But time and money are running out on DCTV. The Denver City Council and management at DCTV are butting heads over the latter’s budgetary habits. Like, spending too much.
City funding for a public-access channel – $500,000 annually – was part of the deal. That contract ran out last year. To keep the channel on the air, the city fronted DCTV $115,000 for operating expenses and $150,000 for equipment.
A divorce is imminent.
John McBride, chairman of the DCTV board, is blunt. “Very clearly, I don’t want their money and they don’t want us,” he says. “Contractually, we’re obligated to them until the end of the year. I’m trying to get us to be self-sufficient.”
Be careful what you wish for.
Charlie Brown, the often outspoken councilman, is leading the charge to lop off DCTV’s funding. “The point is, they’ve known that the Comcast contract was coming to an end,” he says. “We warned them. We told them.”
On top of that, he finds the channel’s programming distasteful. “This alleged comedian was advocating using an illegal substance, and urging others to do the same, and the taxpayers are paying for it!”
Even council president Elbra Wedgeworth, a supporter of the people’s station, is out of patience. “They’ve gotten themselves in a hole,” she says. “We just can’t (fund them). They have to get their act together. They’re basically shooting themselves.”
McBride is looking to finance programming with corporate support, a la PBS. “Right now, we’re the red-headed stepchild. They have their channel (Channel 8), and that’s fine. We’re here for everybody else.”
Around the dial
It’s a great day for a marriage: KALC 105.9-FM personalities Howie and Wendy get hitched this morning in the station’s studio. It’s a triple ceremony with listeners Seana and Brent and Amber and Seth joining the fun … The high-speed danger of aluminum bats in high school baseball is explored on “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel” (8 tonight, HBO) … One-time KOA g.m. Mick Schafbuch battling cancer. “I’m going to beat this thing,” he vows. … Community College of Denver a focus of “Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk,” a critical look at educational priorities (9 p.m. Thursday), KRMA-Channel 6). … The Denver Press Club interview with Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford airing all month on Channel 8 … Quotable: “It’s going to die.” – Charlie Brown.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
