Franklin TV: MASSachusetts MEDIA - Should we charge for streaming sports?

Sports – & Tech – & Us

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 03/29/2026

Mass communication became a reality with the rise of radio after The Great War. Since then, sports coverage and technology have enjoyed a long, mutually beneficial relationship. Radio brought us the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the booth announcer’s excitement. After WW 2 we embraced TV. We could hear and see the action unfolding – live – as it happened.

Note: A baseball game was first ‘televised’ as early as 1926 by Hollis Baird via an experimental, 32 line TV system– from Fenway Park. The fact that you couldn’t see the ball at that low image resolution? Hey, he tried.

The de facto formation of a sports & media complex brought more energy and money to major leagues and major networks. The tech march continued with color TV in the late fifties, and eventually HDTV in 1997. (Now you could see the hockey puck.)

Along the way instant replays became common, and these days, even mission critical in validating the play action. From the batter’s box to the 1st down line, inches matter. Now computer graphics underscore details of the play action. During half-time NFL coaches use video to analyze the opposing team’s play and make adjustments.

Today, the only significant regular programming that remains truly live is sports. Almost everything else is recorded in advance. We at Franklin.TV know the power of sports at the local level. School sports is becoming part of the sports & media complex with licensing deals between schools, regional, state and national distributors – and as local community TV studios, we are slowly being forced off the field. First, for the big season playoff games – and eventually, the day may arrive where we can no longer carry school sports.

Where money is involved, what we’ve offered for years – for free – for everyone – may be constrained to those who can afford to subscribe to streaming services. Our own sports streams remain free – for now. Viewers who drop cable and ‘cut the cord’ can see our games, but we see no revenue as our annual budget continues to erode. Should we charge for streaming sports?

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thanks for listening to wfpr●fm, 

and staying informed at Franklin●news. 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Franklin TV: Tri-County Trio!

Tri-County High & Senior Awards!

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 06/01/2025

Franklin TV: Tri-County Trio!

Recently, bit by bit, event by event, we and other local PEG facilities have been collaborating to provide more and better coverage for important regional events. Franklin.TV enjoys excellent ‘mutual aid’ working relationships with Liz Harkins and Dan Harlow at Wrentham’s Cable8, Peter Gay and Jared Ware at North TV, and Medway TV’s Amy Huff among others. In a world of ever-tighter funding that is slip-sliding in the opposite direction of inflation, it’s a matter of neighbor helping neighbor. 

Regional schools like Tri-County and King Philip need regional media support. Together, we all provide that. Combined, we are all much more than we are individually. The expanded multi-camera event coverage speaks for itself. Many hands make light work. A compelling reminder that none of us is as capable – and as powerful – as all of us.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching. 

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.

And staying informed at Franklin●news.

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin, MA; School Committee - Agenda for meeting April 29 at 7 PM

Franklin School Committee 

April 29, 2025   7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers 

Call to Order                 Mr. Callaghan

Announcements from the Chair

Pledge of Allegiance 

Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business

A. Review of Agenda

B. Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan

C. Payroll Mr. McNeill

D. FHS Student Representative Comments

E. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations

A. None

III. Discussion/Action Items

A. Elementary Report Cards

I recommend approval of the proposed changes to the Elementary Report Card as discussed.   

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568674/Discussion_Action_A_-_Elem._Report_Cards.pdf

B. Letter of Support

I recommend approval of the letter of support for an Act to Modernize Funding for Community Media Programming as discussed.  

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568677/Discussion_Action_B_-_Letter_of_Support.pdf

IV. Discussion Only Items

A. Campus Naming Discussion

V. Information Matters

A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

B. School Committee Liaison Reports

VI. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from your April 8, 2025 School Committee Meeting as detailed.

B.   Music Gift

I recommend the acceptance of $2,442.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for in-house enrichment as detailed.

C.   Scholarships

I recommend the acceptance of $7,000.00 for FHS Scholarships as follows:

● $1,500.00 Carol Mahar Scholarship

● $2,500.00 Digital Federal Credit Union

● $2,000.00 Class of 2025 Memorial Scholarship

● $750.00 Oskey Yearbook

● $250.00 Art NHS

D. American Heart Association Gift

I recommend the acceptance of $5,100.00 from the American Heart Association for the Kid’s Heart Challenge to be distributed as follows:

● Jefferson $1,000.00

● Keller $  700.00

● Kennedy $1,700.00

Franklin, MA; School Committee

● Oak St $1,200.00

● Parmenter $  500.00

 

VII. Citizen’s Comments

VIII. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

IX. Executive Session

A. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(2) to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel

X. Discussion/Action Item

A. Superintendent Contract

The Chair recommends approval of the successor contract for Lucas Giguere to serve as Superintendent of Schools, July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2031.

XI. Adjournment

Meeting agenda doc -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568671/SCAGENDA_4-29-25.pdf

Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/april-29%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/792078

School Committee Policy Subcommittee recommends consideration of "Horace Mann Campus" (audio)

FM #1423 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1423 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee Policy Subcmte meeting held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. All 3 members participated, Chair O’Sullivan, members Callaghan, McNeill.  Supt Giguere, Ops Director Boisvert, and Dr Rogers representing the Central Office.

Quick recap:

• Supt Giguere sets the stage with some background on how this topic has developed during the redistricting efforts first updated in Dec 2024, then in Jan 2025 to act on the notification to Police, Fire, and DESE on the temporary naming of the new schools operating in the buildings that remained operational in the District

• Some members of the community have misunderstood the delay in allowing the new middle school community to work to develop their identity “as the Schools doing away with Horace” which was not or ever the case, however

• Mercer - Horace Mann is a central source of civic pride and if you wrap the district around H Mann then the community will come along

• J Johnston with the story of H Keller and some of the not so good aspects of her background; Remington was president of Thompson Press and a 20 year SchCmte Member along with other committees in service of the community, definitely worthy of remembering. H Mann you know, he was all for total equality and public education, he wanted teachers trained for their position and not just someone who could do it

• Proposal for the 'campus' i.e. all of the complex including the High school to be designated as such to get ahead of the other conversations so that the Town business doesn't get distracted by this naming convention iitem

• Subcmte discussion on approval for the Central Office to move forward with the Horace Mann campus and potentially a committee to foster the honoring as it goes forward. So moved, passes 3-0 via roll call

• Transportation conundrum - previously a bus/busses included a stop on their routes to drop kiddos off at the Y, with the redistricting such could not easily be done; would likely require adding back a bus on a different slot and results in a cost estimated as low as 45K and as high as $85K. Discussion around options but none prevailed and the “conundrum” remained

• Given the timing (needing to close this session to get to the full committee meeting), the topic on a letter to support the alternative funding being discussed within the Legislature was mentioned briefly, Callaghan to add some stats from the Franklin TV deck presented earlier to the draft in hand and review further in another session

• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0 

The recording runs about 54 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1423-school-cmte-policy-subcmte-mtg-04-08-25/

 

 

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The meeting agenda can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082025-1668 

The Town Council memo as discussed -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CCDx8c4zn4ZVUr0EYQy1snpygRVLzxHO/view?usp=drive_link 

My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14gUGQ0N6s5bMiGwhbHegsRcxfkZUCirY/view?usp=drive_link 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

School Committee Policy Subcommittee recommends consideration of "Horace Mann Campus" (audio)

Franklin TV: Running the Numbers

The Prospective MA Streaming Media Bills

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 02/23/2025

There is pending Massachusetts legislation to help alleviate the rising financial losses that we as PEG studios are experiencing from cable cord-cutting. It would assess streaming media revenues with an ‘access’ fee to at least cover any existing shortfall from our '3-year max' historic revenue. (Per lines 73 to 94 of HD326) Our 3yr max during 2016-18 was 25% higher than today, and yes, we're still dropping. The annual rate setting language is IMHO troubling to me. There is no perfect language to cover all the arguments to be made regarding fair fees.

However, setting the streamer rate to match the cable access rate seems a logical place to start.

Example:

In 2012 we took in $600K for OpEx. (Operating Expenses) In 2017 it was $750K for OpEx. A 25% increase.

Now we're back to 2012 revenues – less than $600K OpEx and dropping. If we work with historical inflation numbers from 2012 to today, our 40% inflation adjusted income from 2012 to todayshould be $840K plus.

Note that there is also no provision for CapEx (Capital Expense) contributions from streamers for equipment upkeep. Cable's combined CapEx&OpEx for many of us is actually somewhere between 5.5% to 6%, all in.

Running the Numbers: (Assumption, 5% Stream assessment)

There are about 7 million MA residents and there are 33K residents in Franklin. That sets Franklin’s population at about 0.0047 of the statewide population.

Persons per Household (HH) 2019-2023: 2.45

MA Households, 2019-2023: 2,800,000

HH with internet 2019-2023: 91.8%

MA HH adjusted for Internet: 2,576,000

What do streaming services cost?

Netflix 8 with ads, or 18 up to 25 for premium Hulu 10/ads to 19

Prime 9 (streaming only)

Apple+ 10

Max         10/ads 17 21 prem

Disney+ 10/ads 16

Paramount+ 8/ads 13

Peacock 8/ads 14

ESPN 12

 

Key Takeaways:

21% of households pay for 2 streaming services.

24% of households (HH) pay for at least 3 additional streaming services. 25% spend more than $75 per month on streaming subscriptions.

10% have "no idea" how much they spend.

41% of respondents admit to using a family member's or friend's login to avoid paying for a service.

With 3 to 4 services the average HH spend is $45 to $50/mo.

The Projection:

2,576,000 HH x $45/mo x 12mo = $1,381,020,000/Yr.

$1,381,020,000 x 5% = $69,552,000 to MA PEG studios.

$69,552,000 x 0.0047 = $326,894.40 to Franklin.TV

If we combine this with $575,000.00 (our current OpEx) Our cable/stream total: $901,894.40

This total would also provide some embedded CapEx contribution. (Note: There is no factoring here for Gamers, (Twitch, etc.) or for CapEx.)

This also yields a simple rule-of-thumb:

Cable revenues at 5% are about $19 dollars per citizen/year.

Streaming fees of 5% = $10 dollars per citizen/year in an average community.

A 5% access assessment on streaming services is both equitable and affordable. Note that more viewers are also turning to our own streaming service to watch our school sports, civic events and government meetings – for free – in HDTV, which the cable company standard TV channels do not offer.

Pete Fasciano, Franklin.TV

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And staying informed at Franklin●news.

 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Town Council approves capital budget, new victualler license, gives final approval to sign bylaw changes & water/sewer connections for Franklin Ridge (audio)

FM #1376  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1376 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, February 5, 2025. 7 of the members participated in Council Chambers, 2 were absent (Chandler & Hamblen). 

Quick recap:

Fire Department - Promotions Captain Matthew Kelly & Lieutenant Jeffrey Ward

PUBLIC HEARINGS

     a. Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of September Drive and Countryside Lane and Drainage Lots Parcels A and B and Easements

     b. New Common Victualler Section 12 Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License and Approval of Karan Goswami as the Manager - Kaushik Restaurants Inc. d/b/a Mirchi Indian Cuisine

PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION - ALS/BLS Trends - EMS Battalion Chief Billy “Numbers” Blanchard, EMS Captain Laurie Kaye

Legislation for action (all votes passed with the same via roll call or voice vote 7-0-2 (2 absent)

•      Resolution 25-07: Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of September Drive and Countryside Lane and Drainage Lots Parcels A and B and Easements

•      Bylaw Amendment 25-924: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - First Reading

•      Resolution 25-10: Adoption of the 2025 Master Plan for the Town of Franklin  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report

•      Resolution 25-04: Capital Improvement Plan

•      Resolution 25-02: Statewide Opioid Settlement Fund Appropriation

•      Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-919: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185 Section 20 of the Code of the Town of Franklin - Signs (at C. 3.)

•      Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-920: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185 Section 20 of the Code of the Town of Franklin- Signs (at E.2.)

•      Bylaw Amendment 25-922: Amendment to Sewer System Map

•      Bylaw Amendment 25-923: Amendment to Water System Map

•      Resolution 25-08: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4

•      Resolution 25-09: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($50), Veterans’ ($2,550), & Recreation ($8,405)

Let’s listen to the meeting recording which runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes.  Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1357-master-plan-update-cmte-mtg-01-15-25/

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Franklin TV video is ready for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/4rx-pHX5q_Q?&t=161 

The Agenda doc and most materials released for this session ->   https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1546 

Fire Dept presentation on call volume leading to an increase in ambulance rates

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4402/Fire-EMS-Presentation-2525?bidId= 

My notes in one PDF file ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z9V6bpd4oFls9lbGgb1nzVoDhi8wu6cV/view?usp=drive_link 

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

from Fire Dept presentation on call volume