Who’s Watching What : Here’s a glimpse at what other people are paying for and receiving on cable TV.

A recent spate of federal regulations of cable television were supposed to bring what Congress calls “reasonable” rates to virtually all the 11,000 cable systems and 58 million subscribers nationwide.

These regulations were born of the 1992 cable bill, which Congress passed in response to rates that had risen dramatically since 1986.

But even with the new legislation, significant differences remain among the 18 cable systems in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Antelope and Conejo valleys. First, the regulations allow for rate variation depending on a given system’s number of subscribers and channels. Second, individual systems decide, to a great extent, how many and what types of channels compose their lineup.

So in the East Valley, subscribers pay $21.02 each month for United Artists’ 63 channels of basic and expanded service. In addition, they can choose from eight premium channels, such as HBO and Showtime, and six pay-per-view channels.

A few miles east in Burbank, Sammons subscribers pay $20.48 for 41 channels. They have five premium channels and one pay-per-view channel.

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Such differences can be traced to cost factors and to the channel capacity of a system’s hardware. Lineups are also determined by what the management thinks will be popular. Lost Hills Communications, a tiny Calabasas system, sent out flyers asking for subscriber input.

“There were a lot of people who liked science fiction, so we got the Sci-Fi Channel,” says Erwin Boychenko, the system’s vice president of finance. “There were a lot of people in the industry who liked cartoons. We got the Cartoon Network, too.”

The chart below offers a glimpse at the size and scope of programming on systems in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. All carry major and local broadcasters. They also carry MTV, CNN and other widely popular cable channels. However, only selected systems offer the less frequently seen channels. The chart lists eight such channels, ranging from Black Entertainment Television--with its music, comedy and sports--to the one-track Cartoon Network.

Another chart, on the facing page, lists each system’s cable rates before and after the federal regulations, which were instituted Sept. 1.

Researcher Cherie Saunders contributed to this article.

The 18 cable systems in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Antelope and Conejo Valleys

Cable Systems, Location, Number of Pay-Per- BET of subscribers Channels View Acton Cable Co. 40 6 Acton, 511 ATC Cablevision 50 6 Canyon Country, 21,400 CVI Cablevision 59 4 * San Fernando, 2,800 CVI Cablevision 59 4 * West Valley, 97,000 Calavision 62 0 Calabasas, 1,800 Capp’s TV Electronics 41 0 Lake Hughes, 345 Century Cable TV 48 1 Southwest Valley, 38,000 Falcon Cable TV 35 0 Agoura Hills, 1,300 Falcon Cable TV 48 2 Calabasas, 1,300 Hidden Hills Cable TV 48 0 Hidden Hills, 800 Jones Intercable 52 3 * Palmdale, Lancaster, 55,700 King Videocable 45 2 Santa Clarita Valley, 27,400 King Videocable 45 2 * Sunland, Tujunga, 30,000 Lost Hills Communications53 0 Calabasas, 1,200 Sammons 46 1 Glendale, Burbank, 74,100 Stevenson Ranch Cable TV 47 0 Antelope Valley, 1,000 United Artists Cable 71 6 * East Valley, 90,000 Ventura County Cablevision 51 2 Agoura Hills, Calabasas, 10,200

Cable Systems, Location, The Box of subscribers (Video Jukebox) Acton Cable Co. Acton, 511 ATC Cablevision ** Canyon Country, 21,400 CVI Cablevision San Fernando, 2,800 CVI Cablevision West Valley, 97,000 Calavision * Calabasas, 1,800 Capp’s TV Electronics Lake Hughes, 345 Century Cable TV Southwest Valley, 38,000 Falcon Cable TV Agoura Hills, 1,300 Falcon Cable TV Calabasas, 1,300 Hidden Hills Cable TV Hidden Hills, 800 Jones Intercable Palmdale, Lancaster, 55,700 King Videocable Santa Clarita Valley, 27,400 King Videocable Sunland, Tujunga, 30,000 Lost Hills Communications53 Calabasas, 1,200 Sammons * Glendale, Burbank, 74,100 Stevenson Ranch Cable TV Antelope Valley, 1,000 United Artists Cable * East Valley, 90,000 Ventura County Cablevision Agoura Hills, Calabasas, 10,200

* Offers “More Music” vidoe channel

Cable Systems, Location, Cartoon Court Encore of subscribers Network TV Acton Cable Co. * Acton, 511 ATC Cablevision * Canyon Country, 21,400 CVI Cablevision San Fernando, 2,800 CVI Cablevision West Valley, 97,000 Calavision * * $11.95 Calabasas, 1,800 Capp’s TV Electronics Lake Hughes, 345 Century Cable TV Southwest Valley, 38,000 Falcon Cable TV $2 Agoura Hills, 1,300 Falcon Cable TV Calabasas, 1,300 Hidden Hills Cable TV Hidden Hills, 800 Jones Intercable * Palmdale, Lancaster, 55,700 King Videocable 65 cents 65 cents Santa Clarita Valley, 27,400 King Videocable $1.58 $1.58 Sunland, Tujunga, 30,000 Lost Hills Communications * $5.95 Calabasas, 1,200 Sammons Glendale, Burbank, 74,100 Stevenson Ranch Cable TV * Antelope Valley, 1,000 United Artists Cable $1.67 East Valley, 90,000 Ventura County Cablevision Agoura Hills, Calabasas, 10,200

Cable Systems, Location, HBO Sci-Fi WGN and/ of subscribers (Spanish) Network or WOR Acton Cable Co. * WGN Acton, 511 ATC Cablevision Canyon Country, 21,400 CVI Cablevision ** WOR San Fernando, 2,800 CVI Cablevision ** WOR West Valley, 97,000 Calavision WOR Calabasas, 1,800 Capp’s TV Electronics * Lake Hughes, 345 Century Cable TV WOR Southwest Valley, 38,000 Falcon Cable TV Agoura Hills, 1,300 Falcon Cable TV * * Calabasas, 1,300 Hidden Hills Cable TV * Both Hidden Hills, 800 Jones Intercable Palmdale, Lancaster, 55,700 King Videocable 65 cents Santa Clarita Valley, 27,400 King Videocable $1.58 Sunland, Tujunga, 30,000 Lost Hills Communications * WGN Calabasas, 1,200 Sammons Glendale, Burbank, 74,100 Stevenson Ranch Cable TV * Both Antelope Valley, 1,000 United Artists Cable * WGN East Valley, 90,000 Ventura County Cablevision Agoura Hills, Calabasas, 10,200

** Part of a $5.25 3-channel package

BASIC (LOWEST-LEVEL SERVICE)

ATC Cablevision Before: $9.95 (12 channels) After: $12.95 (21 channels)

CVI Cablevision, City of San Fernando No separate basic.

CVI Cablevision, West Valley Before: $12.95 (21 channels) After: $10.28 (21 channels)

Calavision Before: $18.40 (24 channels) After: $19.70 (24 channels)

Century Cable TV Before: $16.30 (23 channels) After: $23.25 (31 channels)

Falcon Cable TV, Agoura Hills No separate basic. Falcon Cable TV, Calabasas Before: $24.44 (22 channels) After: $30.40 (34 channels)

Jones Intercable Before: $13.25 (28 channels) After: $12.06 (26 channels)

King Videocable, Santa Clarita Valley Before: $18.90 (16 channels) After: $12.90 (20 channels)

King Videocable, Sunland, Tujunga Before: $18.22 (24 channels) After: $12.89 (21 channels)

Lost Hills Communications Before: $18.75 (30 channels) After: $26.10 (39 channels)

Sammons Before: Offered no separate basic. After: $10.16 (24 channels)

Stevenson Ranch Cable TV Before: $9.95 (12 channels) After: $9.95 (12 channels)

United Artists Cable Before: $10 (25 channels) After: $9.83 (29 channels)

Ventura County Cablevision Before: $14.96 (20 channels) After: $10.72 (20 channels)

BASIC AND EXPANDED SERVICE (INCLUDING A LA CARTE WHERE APPLICABLE)

ATC Cablevision Before: $24.05 (36 channels) After: $25.30 (46 channels)

CVI Cablevision, City of San Fernando Before: $18.95 (48 channels) After: $18.95 (52 channels)

CVI Cablevision, West Valley Before: $26.15 (51 channels) After: $25.93 (52 channels)

Calavision Before: $33.40 (46 channels) After: $43.50 (54 channels)

Century Cable TV Before: $25.40 (36 channels) After: $29.55 (43 channels)

Falcon Cable TV, Agoura Hills Before: $23.09 (30 channels) After: $29.13 (30 channels)

Falcon Cable TV, Calabasas Before: $34.94 (38 channels) After: $39.37 (40 channels)

Jones Intercable Before: $20 (48 channels) After: $21.77 (47 channels)

King Videocable, Santa Clarita Valley Before: $28.50 (36 channels) After: $28.50 (37 channels)

King Videocable, Sunland, Tujunga Before: $22.53 (42 channels) After: $22.52 (40 channels)

Lost Hills Communications Before: $23.50 (45 channels) After: $30.79 (46 channels)

Sammons Before: $19.50 (39 channels) After: $20.48 (41 channels)

Stevenson Ranch Cable TV Before: $19.95 (43 channels) After: $20.94 (42 channels)

United Artists Cable Before: $19.40 (63 channels) After: $21.02 (63 channels)

Ventura County Cablevision Before: $23.65 (33 channels) After: $24.12 (45 channels)

BASIC AND EXPANDED SERVICE WITH 2 TVs, 2 COVERTER BOXES AND 2 REMOTE CONTROLS

ATC Cablevision Before: $34.55 After: $30.80

CVI Cablevision, City of San Fernando Before: $32.95 After: $26.31

CVI Cablevision, West Valley Before: $44.75 After: $34.79

Calavision Before: $52.90 After: $45.62

Century Cable TV Before: $44.55 After: $30.49

Falcon Cable TV, Agoura Hills Before: $37.99 After: $32.09

Falcon Cable TV, Calabasas Before: $50.94 After: $45.32

Jones Intercable Before: $41.25 After: $35.15

King Videocable, Santa Clarita Valley Before: $33.80 After: $29.77

King Videocable, Sunland, Tujunga Before: $34.64 After: $27.94

Lost Hills Communications Before: $48.95 After: $39.61

Sammons Before: $33.50 After: $26.48

Stevenson Ranch Cable TV Before: $27.45 After: $22.94

United Artists Cable Before: $29.25 After: $23.60

Ventura County Cablevision Before: $38.65 After: $29.82

ALL CHANNELS INCLUDING PREMIUMS SERVICES ON 2 TVs, 2 CONVERTER BOXES, & 2 REMOTE CONTROLS

ATC Cablevision Before: $63.90 (4 premiums) After: $56.85 (4 premiums)

CVI Cablevision, City of San Fernando Before: $97.95 (5 premiums) After: $79.20 (7 premiums)

CVI Cablevision, West Valley Before: $79.50 (6 premiums) After: $82.43 (7 premiums)

Calavision Before: $114.62 (8 premiums) After: $116.50 (8 premiums)

Century Cable TV Before: $136 (5 premiums) After: $126.20 (5 premiums)

Falcon Cable TV, Agoura Hills Before: $90.49 (5 premiums) After: $84.59 (5 premiums)

Falcon Cable TV, Calabasas Before: $177.44 (8 premiums) After: $171.87 (8 premiums)

Jones Intercable Before: $90.75 (5 premiums) After: $85.53 (5 premiums)

King Videocable, Santa Clarita Valley Before: $86.75 (5 premiums) After: $76.72 (5 premiums)

King Videocable, Sunland, Tujunga Before: $78.48 (5 premiums) After: $73.54 (5 premiums)

Lost Hills Communications Before: $97.40 (6 premiums) After: $108.51 (7 premiums)

Sammons Before: $70.70 (5 premiums) After: $63.68 (5 premiums)

Stevenson Ranch Cable TV Before: $63.45 (5 premiums) After: $56.94 (5 premiums)

United Artists Cable Before: $73.60 (7 premiums) After: $67.95 (8 premiums)

Ventura County Cablevision Before: $99.35 (6 premiums) After: $91.52 (6 premiums)

Note: Rates for local cable systems are not always directly comparable. Some rates include taxes and franchise fees while others do not. In some cases, rental of a converter box may be necessary to receive extended service. Acton Cable Co., Capp’s TV Electronics in Lake Hughes and Hidden Hills Cable TV are too small to be affected by the new federal regulations.