Charm TV budget held flat as office plans Penn North headquarters, adds closed-caption funding

Maya Gilmore, director of the mayor's Office of Cable and Communications, told the Baltimore City Council that her office’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget preserves current funding levels while adding $30,000 for closed captioning and advancing plans for a new Charm TV headquarters in the Penn North neighborhood.

The budget presentation, delivered during a council hearing, outlined three top priorities for FY26: opening and operationalizing a new Charm TV facility in Councilman Torrance’s district, leading the renegotiation and renewal of Baltimore’s cable franchise agreement, and stabilizing the city’s livestreaming and multistreaming capabilities, Gilmore said. "Access to information is power," Gilmore said, describing the office’s shift toward multimedia production and expanded citywide support.

The $30,000 allocation is designated to cover closed captioning for programming aired on Charm TV. Gilmore also said the office is monitoring guidance from the Federal Communications Commission on descriptive video services for people who are blind or visually impaired. The presentation stated the office’s overall position count decreased because funding for a media producer director role was removed; Gilmore said one position was eliminated and two vacancies remain unfunded but that the office plans to fill positions this year.

Council members pressed Gilmore on whether the office could maintain or improve services with a largely flat budget. "We do make our best effort at fulfilling all of those requests," Gilmore said, describing higher demand from other agencies as the office’s visibility and workload have expanded. She confirmed the office operates with a vendor-controlled livestream platform rather than through YouTube, citing prior concerns about ads and interruptions, and said the office is exploring how to integrate third-party platforms into a new accessible website scheduled to launch in July.

Gilmore described the Penn North facility as a "transformational investment" that will provide production space, community-driven facilities and training opportunities. The office said it plans to host interns and youth workers and already maintains internship pipelines with Morgan State University and the University of Baltimore. Gilmore said the office manages two assets, including the Engage Network (the public-access channel), and that the Baltimore City Public Schools channel has been restored and is being redesigned.

On franchise negotiations, Gilmore said the effort is being carried out "in close partnership with the Baltimore City Law Department, the Baltimore Office of Information and Technology, and our outside counsel" to ensure infrastructure, consumer protections and revenue provisions are aligned with the current communications landscape. She described work on multistreaming to support simultaneous government hearings and improve closed-caption integration.

Council members raised a clerical concern in the budget book: a line on page 421 that listed an "assistant sheriff" position under the office. Ben Brosh, deputy budget director, said that entry appears to be a typo and staff will provide a corrected list of positions with the erroneous item removed.

No formal motions, votes or budget decisions occurred during the presentation. Council members generally commended the office’s work on accessibility — including closed captioning and American Sign Language services — and urged filling vacant positions and pursuing community partnerships, such as with Baltimore City Community College. Gilmore said the office will continue finalizing fixtures and finishes for the Penn North site, pursue the franchise renewal, stabilize livestreaming and launch the new website in July.

The presentation and questions concluded without a recorded council action; the council meeting resumed later with other items on its agenda.