LAKEPORT >> Familiar to most living in Lake County, Public Education & Government TV, also known as PEG TV, has the ability to create in print and online but one county supervisor thinks it is time to have live television.
“But we have a big idea,” District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said at Tuesday’s city council meeting. “Today is the day of video and we want to create live news broadcasting,” he said. “And we’re trying to get more people interested in what’s happening here.” He went on they will do whatever they can to begin, a once-a-month TV broadcast. “We’d highlight the Lakeport City Council … the school boards- whoever wants to let everybody know what’s happening and transform the public so, they’ll get more engaged with public affairs … And we have the money for it.”
Sabatier was in council chambers to present the annual report of PEG TV as its representative, one of his multiple committee assignments on the BOS. His intent was to present a plan to City Manager Kevin Ingram for funding for the fiscal year 2025/26.. PEG’s operating budget is based on revenue they receive from Lakeport, Clearlake and Lake County. Their contract with the county is for $17,000 and their revenues currently are at $52,000, the same as two years ago.
“We’re hoping to increase it … in fact PEG TV got hired to video the Tattoo Convention (this summer) in Ukiah,” Sabatier said. “City of Clearlake provided $2,000, the County of Lake $15,000…. (Some) $10,000 was the original contract to video the Municipal Advisory Councils, but there’s seven of them now so, they added another $7,000.” Sabatier went on to explain the operating budget and expenses. To start there is $28,000 stipend paid to PEG Station Manager Thomas DeWalt. Then $4,800 fee for Station Assistant Manager Dianne Blue. PEG does pay out $10,000 in-kind contribution to Clearlake, but they get it right back for use of Clearlake’s broadcast studio, as well as the insurance premium the city pays and the audit they perform and PEG’s financials they monitor.
PEG also has a separate capital budget, which goes through MediaCom services. For every single billing MediaCom collects from its subscribers, a one percent passthrough is then contributed to PEG. “We received $48,000, but we are seeing a slow decrease in the number of subscribers to MediaCom, who’ve switched to Starlink,” Sabatier said. “But many are hanging on to MediaCom since it offers service in places hard to reach, but PEG still gets the pass through whether it’s internet or cable.”
Using the pass through funds, PEG has purchased about $32,000 of communications gear; cameras, lights and computers. “Yet we have a reserve of $300,000, but we are excited to start using those funds,” Sabatier said. “There is always more work coming in and we’re in a good situation.” The supervisor added that PEG is supporting local civic events. “We have an amazing sound system we use for summer events and concerts, but they do come with a fee- and we’ve provided sound systems for a variety of musical programs. We also provide videography at $40 per hour. And we’ll bring whatever equipment is needed to film, edit and provide a client with a copy, and put it on our website and on PEG TV.”
And soon they will purchase equipment to video Kingdom Games. Kingdom Games LLC opened its doors in Ukiah on October 1, 2019. The store had been originally based in Lakeport, where it had been called Gameshop before being purchased by Brandon Costner in 2015. The hope for opening a Ukiah location had come immediately. A large focus that Kingdom Games has is being involved with the community and supporting other local gaming stores like Sword and Board.
. A big benefit of having different store locations between Ukiah and Lakeport is that they can keep a specific inventory located where there is a demand that won’t interfere with other local businesses. “There are not a whole lot of entertainment options around here, every year we lose something like the bowling alley or the skating rink. It’s really important to have a fun and safe environment for all ages in the community,” shares Tony Pearce, a partner with Costner at Kingdom Games. The store is planning to begin hosting weekly gaming tournaments. The idea is to welcome all ages and alternate video games, mixing some older and newer games.
Along with regular tournament competition, PEG hopes they consider TV exposure. “We’ll put together podcasts for them, they’ll take care of the furniture and building stuff,” Sabatier said. “And PEG provides all the equipment and training. PEG hopes to get free content in return, and we’ll put that up on our website and PEG TV.” For future activities they hope to increase their operating budget and continue to highlight events.”
However, there was never a connection link established between PEG and Lakeport Council Chambers. “But we’d like to broadcast live the council meetings every Tuesday at 6 p.m.,” Sabatier said. As with Kingdom Games, which is set up as a podcast system, PEG hopes to produce programs originating at the radio Sation KPFZ.
“So, programmers at KPFZ who desire to record video, we want to give them the opportunity to create podcasts” Sabatier added. “We know KPFZ does broadcast emergencies and it’d be nice to connect the public radio station live during a disaster event and watch it on Channel 8 at the same time,” Sabatier concluded.
The PEG presentation was for information only and no action was taken by the council.
