Early 1970's: A private TV service was arranged by Sugarloaf to accommodate condominium and home development in the immediate area of "the mountain". A coaxial cable was installed from the top of the mountain, owned by Sugarloaf.
1974: Somerset Telephone Co. was hired by Sugarloaf to maintain "cable TV service".
1978: Sugarloaf (Chip Carey) was given studio TV equipment from Emerson College. For six months a message board was installed in studio (basement closet) space provided by Sugarloaf in the old Baselodge.
1979: Nadene McLeod hired as station supervisor by Chip Carey with Trail & Weather report recorded daily during winter, the "Wheel" & limited programming (ski movies & Inn Room feature movies).
From its origin to current operation, WSKI's trail & weather conditions were & are the #1 reason why people tune in to watch WSKI-TV. Additional local programming included Sugarloaf Management Memo, the Competition Series & other pre-recorded productions. Financing was primarily from Sugarloaf with additional limited local business sponsorships.
Closed circuit cable station WSKI operated on Channel 11 until approx. 1985 when it was shifted to Channel 17. It was non-FCC regulated as a CCTV, not a broadcasting station, therefore not subjected to register with FCC for the call letters "WSKI" due to no use of public airwaves.
March 1986: Sugarloaf's filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection resulted in the termination of operation of WSKI.
Early autumn 1986: McLeod & Jeff Dumais (employed at WSKI since 1982) signed a contract with Sugarloaf to assume independent operation of WSKI as Snowfields Productions for a return to programming for the winter 1986-87.
Snowfields' goal was and remains: To create a local resort television station serving the greater Sugarloaf region, which is the #1 source of information & entertainment for guests and residents, by giving the information they want / need to know to ensure they have an experience that is better because of that information, while enjoying recreational activities and outdoor adventures in the greater Sugarloaf region.
Sept. 1986: Memorandum of Understanding between Sugarloaf and Somerset Telephone Co. Somerset construct cable TV facilities; Sugarloaf pay monthly rent to Somerset; and Somerset responsible for maintenance.
Prior to Dec. 1, 1987: Fees collected by Sugarloaf.
Dec. 1, 1987: Longfellow solely responsible for all maintenance and Longfellow collects cable fees. Around this time, coverage was expanded off mountain to the Towns of Kingfield, Carrabassett Valley, and Stratton.
Dec.21, 1987: Somerset assigns to Longfellow and Sugarloaf consents.
Feb. 1988: Franchise Agreement between Longfellow Cable TV and Town (10 yrs. with 10 yr. renewal option) provided that "At the request of a majority of subscribers, the Grantee (Longfellow) shall set aside one channel within Grantee's system which shall be dedicated to public access services".
April 1988: Sept. 86' agreement between Sugarloaf and Somerset (now Longfellow) terminated; established certain additional terms of agreement regarding their on-going relationship and "recognition of continued and future provision of quality cable TV facilities is an important and valuable promotional and marketing feature for Sugarloaf as a four-season recreation facility and they desire to provide such a cable facility to Sugarloaf's patrons". Longfellow also agreed to: "include in the Sugarloaf system a feed of the Public Access Channel serving the Town of CV if and when such channel is established for the Town of CV".
91-92' (approximately): Longfellow sold to Frontier Vision (owned by Stanley Morgan Fame).
96' (approximately): Frontier sold to Adelphia.
Nov. 13th, 2001: Franchise Agreement between Town and Adelphia (10-yr. agreement). Town allowed up to two PEG channels; WSKI was labeled as one of those at that time by Adelphia despite full awareness that it had been operating since 1979 as a commercial station. As the #1 rated station in the local market, Adelphia wished to continue to carry WSKI as it was/is a key to selling cable subscriptions in the area, whereas the competition did/does not offer WSKI from TV Satellite Dish receivers.
The Town of Carrabassett Valley has never operated a Public Access Channel. The Town of Carrabassett Valley has had a PEG channel reserved should they choose to use it. (See Feb. & April 1988 notes above). The Town has never voted to use this PEG channel.
1995-2007: Arbitron & ten years of Nielsen ratings consistently show WSKI is the most watched channel in our market.
Jan. 2007: Adelphia sold to Time Warner and Snowfields Productions invited Time Warner to visit and see the successful operation of a local station that is #1 in the market year after year. (PEG channels never receive such ratings, consistently.)
The question has been raised why the cable company lists channel 17 as the Town's PEG channel in the Franchise agreement. This is an issue that has been addressed by the Town with Time Warner, the current operator of the Town's Cable Franchise Agreement. Time Warner is fully aware that WSKI is a commercially operated channel, and is not operating as the Town's Public Access Channel.
It is premature to speculate on the outcome, but Time Warner is presently in preliminary discussions with WSKI to continue to operate on Channel 17 with options such as a Local Origination station of value to the cable company due to its long record of #1 ratings & public demand since 1979, or a full priced Leased Access channel which could dramatically increase operational costs and threaten the effectiveness for local businesses and the overall viability of WSKI as a result.
Time Warner has also stated that they will provide another channel for the Town, as per the franchise agreement, should the residents vote in the future to operate a Public Access Channel.
The Carrabassett Selectmen recognize that there has been a lot of interest both for and against the Town operating a Public Access Channel. PEG channels range from strictly providing Government information in a message board form, to complete Public Access as defined by the first amendment. There are different levels of cost, liabilities and issues associated with different forms of PEG Channels.
The Selectmen are appointing a committee to research and compile information regarding PEG channels so it may be presented to the Town for their comment and input. It is anticipated that the committee will be able to meet regularly to compile all the information needed in a timely matter for presentation to the Town at a Public Hearing.
