Partnering with independent cable operators to level the playing field

1. Partnering with independent cable operators to level the playing field

2. Programming contracts represent the single largest expense to video providers. Are you risking overpayment by paying from the invoices you receive? Are programmers accurately keeping track of new launches or changes in service levels? Do you know when contracts are expiring? Do you have an at-a-glance snapshot of your channel lineups and the associated costs?

3. Organization is THE KEY to controlling programming costs. Keep the details of your channel lineups and programming costs at your fingertips. Have a central repository for all channel lineup changes. Facilitate cross departmental communication with a document that all organization layers can reference.

4. Leverage Cable Consulting offers independent cable operators THE KEY. Once you experience organization and control, you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

5. What is The Key? • The Key is a database that brings together and centralizes the following information in one handy location: • Rates for each network • Contract expiration dates • Notations of any auto-renewal clauses • Contracted rates for future years • DMA designation • Network family groupings • Service levels • Channel lineups and much more.  • Keep the information most important to your single largest expense organized and at your fingertips! 

6. THE KEY isa cross departmental tool for your company. • C-Level, Board of Directors, Upper Management: • Executive summaries of programming costs and increases available by lineup, by tier • Accounting: • Monthly programming accruals • Accurate payment detail • Programming based on vouchers you generate rather than inaccurate invoices • Annual financial audit • Negotiating audits by programmers • Budgeting programming expenses • Plan future rate increases • Legal/Programming: • Record of contract expirations • Notification of auto-renewal contracts • Plan for timing of contract negotiations • Marketing: • Plan and project rate increases • Know actual programming costs before planning promotional pricing • Central repository for accurate channel lineups • Quantify the full extent of your relationship with programming partners • Headend Engineers: • Easily accessible record of what networks are carried in each headend for use with future channel additions, satellite or equipment changes • At-a-glance record of bandwidth capacity by lineup • Billing: • Confirm accuracy of packaging and billing codes and reference monthly for updates

7. Sample of The Key Programming Database – part 1 Your lineups, service levels and what they cost – at a glance!

8. Sample of The Key Programming Database – part 2 Quick access to rates for future years making budgeting and rate increase planning a snap!

9. The Key • Leverage Cable Consulting will provide initial set-up and organization of The Key after a thorough review of your contracts and channel lineups. • Two Options: • Leverage will deliver The Key to you for your ongoing use and you maintain it going forward. • 2. For a small monthly fee, Leverage will update The Key each month with new rates, channel lineup changes, current monthly subscribers by service level and will also coordinate your monthly programming payments, subscriber reporting and programming accruals.

10. Subscriber updates are easy with The Key Your part in maintaining The Key is to simply enter subscriber counts for each channel lineup by service level each month on the Subscriber Data Sheet. Leverage takes care of all the other updates. The portion of The Key containing the channel lineup detail is linked to this Subscriber Datasheet and each network will automatically update with the correct number of subscribers.

11. The Leverage programming payment process using The Key Our unique automation process will update the NCTC as well as direct payment programming vendors with current subscriber counts and lineup information.  Leverage will provide you with a monthly programming accrual.You will also receive monthly payment vouchers for processing payments.  Simply hand these to your accounting group to cut the check and mail - Leverage will take care of the rest.   Direct payment programming vendors will receive an automated email report that will include payment remittance advice.  Let us empower your decision-making with timely and accurate financial information. 

12. Sample payment voucher Provide the vouchers to your accounting department and they will use this to pay direct programming payments based on your subscribers and lineups rather than depending on programmer invoices that are notoriously incorrect.

13. Sample electronic payment back-up provided via email to programmers • Reduce programmer confusion about how to apply your payments. Leverage will send Excel-based electronic payment back-up each month to programmers. You may also customize the email message going out to programmers each month. • Want to notify them about a headend consolidation or other company news? Include it easily in your monthly email! • Questions about payments are directed to Leverage so your team can focus on other responsibilities and be more productive.

14. The Key makes your life easier. Work smarter, not harder. The Key minimizes payment errors and audit risks. The Key makes budgeting faster and more accurate. The Key creates a common platform that is useful to accounting, operations, marketing and senior level executives. The Key keeps the details on your single largest cost for video service at your fingertips. The Key is a very affordable solution and usually pays for itself by identifying overpayments. If you don’t have The Key….you don’t know what you’re missing. Get The Key today!

15. Monthly payment service available for as low as $500 / month. Contact us today for a customized estimate. (314) 200-9225 thekey@leverageccableconsulting.com Visit us on the web at www.leveragecableconsulting.com Partnering with independent cable operators to level the playing field