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Council adopts updated BCTV/WBNH underwriting policy to raise non-tax revenue
Summary
The Town Council approved an amended underwriting policy for BCTV/WBNH that allows limited annual underwriting/sponsorship packages (initial example: five slots at $5,000) to supplement franchise-fee revenues; the board plans to launch sales in 2025 and retain board discretion over underwriter selection.
The Bedford Town Council on Oct. 9 adopted an update to the BCTV/WBNH policy that allows the station to offer underwriting (noncommercial sponsorship) packages to local businesses and organizations to bolster revenue as cable subscriptions decline.
Bill Jennings and other BCTV board members described a pilot pricing and product structure intended to limit the number of annual underwriters so the station’s programming does not appear overloaded with sponsor mentions. Jennings said early field testing produced strong feedback and that the recommended approach is to launch with a small set of underwriting slots and expand as demand warrants. “We are going out to raise money, to underwrite what we see,” Jennings said; the board proposed an initial offering of five underwriting slots at $5,000 each and said it would not launch collection until 2025.
Councilor Michael Strand moved to adopt the updated policies; Councilor Bill Carter seconded and the motion passed by voice vote. The policy gives the BCTV board discretion over which underwriters to accept and includes housekeeping updates such as channel number changes. The board emphasized that underwriting revenues supplement franchise-fee funds and are not tax dollars.
Officials said the station will come back with detailed packaging and a schedule for outreach once the council’s fee schedule and policy are in place.
