MediaSource loses city contract

06:32 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 14, 2005

By Doug Miller / 11 News

Click to watch Doug Miller's report from downtown Houston

Months of controversy abruptly ended at City Hall on Wednesday when Houston MediaSource lost a contract to run the city’s public access channel.

Houston Media Source

Videos like the one seen here caught the attention of some members of Houston City Council.

It is the first time Mayor Bill White has lost a City Council vote, but i t isn’t clear whether the vote means access is denied for Houston viewers.

Houston MediaSource carries shows made by independent producers, but racy videotapes caught the eyes of city council members, who have spent months looking at MediaSource's city contract.

Months of arguing have led to a tie-vote and no renewed contract for MediaSource.

"We were simply exercising our right to say, 'Hey, we're going to have quality programming. If we don't have quality programming, then we won't have it at all," said Councilwoman Addie Wiseman.

Mayor White was caught by surprise when Councilman M.J. Khan voted no.

"It's not the kind of thing, frankly, that I spent much attention on or stay up worrying at night," White said. "I think if people don't want to watch the public access channel they ought to turn it off. I don't think I've ever watched it."

One council member who missed today's meeting was believed to be on the mayor's side on this issue, so the mayor could just put the contract back on the agenda for another meeting.

Or, the access TV contract could be put out for bids, and an entirely different contractor could end up running the access TV operation.

MediaSource is still on the cable box, but no one seems to know for how long.

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How they voted:

For:
Mayor Bill White
Council members: Carol Mins Galloway, Mark Goldberg, Eda Edwards, Adrian Garcia, Carol Alvarado, Gordon Quan

Against:
Council members: Toni Lawrence, Addie Wiseman, M.J. Khan, Pam Holm, Mark Ellis, Shelly Sekula-Gibbs, Michael Berry

Absent:
Councilmember Ronald Green