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Home My WebLink AboutItem 8.7 CableTVProgramPEGChannel ~ .\. . . . CITY CLERK File # [2J[Q]0122J-[2][QJ AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: (October 21,1997) SUBJECT: Report On Proposed Cable Television Programming Priorities For nrO~blic, Education, Government (pEG) Channels ~rrepared By: Paul S. Rankin, Assistant City Manager) EXIllBITS ATTACHED: CTV Outline of Preliminary Principles For Operating Three Community Channels 1. RECOMMENDATION: 17 r.K Review the proposed principles and direct Staff to communicate any { \'J' desired changes to the CTV Board of Directors, and confirm the \ designation of the shared Channel, which TCI may utilize for leased access when it is not used by the cities. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: In Fiscal Year 1997/98 the City of Dublin is providing $24,611 towards the operation of Community Television (CTV). In addition $10,440 is budgeted to provide for the taping and broadcast of City Council meetings, which are a contract service provided by CTV. DESCRIPTION: In early 1996, TCI acquired from Viacom the franchise cable television operation serving the City of Dublin. The City granted a change of control subject to an agreement entered into by TCl. TCI agreed that upon completion of the Dublin Upgrade (not later than December 31, 1997), that a total of three PEG Channels would be made available. The Agreement also allows the TCI to place leased access programming on one of the channels in accordance with Federal laws. The four cities were to determine the shared channel to be used for leased access. The leased access is to occur only during time slots when the cities are not utilizing the channel. In order to plan for and organize the PEG schedule, the CTV Board has developed a general outline for the use of the new channels. This report provides a general overview of the potential type of programming to be carried on each of the PEG channels. Types of Programming Currently Carried On PEG Channel 30 The City of Dublin in cooperation with Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon jointly finance a major portion of the operation of the Tri-Valley Community TV (CTV). This non-profit entity produces and broadcasts a variety of community service programs. In addition the City of Dublin contracts with CTV to produce Dublin programming including the televising of City Council meetings and Video Newsletter production. CTV efforts are also supplemented by Community Service Programming provided by TCl. TCI has an obligation in the Franchise Agreement to produce a certain level of Community Service Programs. In the past TCI has produced tapes of High School graduations, Chamber of Commerce Meetings, etc. TCI has also supported the coordination of the "Public Access" programming. Public Access programming includes tapes presented by members of the public for broadcast (in recent years this has included information presented by individuals, groups, as well as produced religious programs distributed by area churches and others). ------------------------------------------------------------------- COPIES TO:Darla Stevens, Exec Dir Tn-Valley Community TV Claudia McCormick,Dublin Rep To CTV Edy Coleman, Dublin Rep To CTV Tom Baker, TCI General Manager Q ~ ITEM NO. ---'l.1...l- G:Cabletvl Cnclliv/AGCHNLD.doc PEG Channel Assignments On Upgraded System Prior to the completion of the cable system upgrade, all PEG programming is occurring on Channel 30. · ,,~ With the completion of the upgrade the cities will have access to Channels 30, 69, 70. The new channels 69 and 70 are already in place in the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton. The upgrade will result in the stations being available to parts of the City of Dublin beginning November 1st and City-wide January 1st. . CTV Proposed Priorities For Each PEG Channel The CTV Executive Director has advised that the Board of Directors has conceptually reviewed the attached general format intended to focus the content to be shown on each of the channels. The CTV Executive Director has suggested that Channel 30 be reserved predominantly for produced Government Access shows (i.e. 580/680 News, Mayors Report, Media Roundtable, Video Newsletters, etc.) Channel 70 would focus on other Government Access Programs (i.e. City Council meetings, etc.); as well as overflow and/or repeat performances of programs carried on Channel 30, and Community Service Programs produced by TCl. Channel 69 would focus on Education Programming; and other Public Access programming. It has been suggested that this channel also serve as the designated shared lease access channel. Depending on the quantity of programs there may eventually be a need to use this channel for overflow and conflict situations, involving the broadcast of Government Access programs. The preliminary policy suggests that Channel 69 would serve as the initial channel selected for overflow of Government Access programming. For example, in the event that all four cities were to broadcast City Council Meetings live, there will be conflicts. The cities of Dublin and Pleasanton meet on the same night and there would be conflicts between Livermore and San Ramon in the event that a Monday holiday caused both meetings to occur on a Tuesday. The other option is to use Channel 30 as the initial channel for the Government Access overflow / conflicts and Channel 69 would be a secondary back-up. In the event that other governmental bodies look at utilizing cable TV the potential for conflicts will increase. City Staff Recommendation To Use Channel 30 For Government Access Overflow Staff believes that Channel 30 is already well established as the primary alternative channel assignment for government access programming and would be best suited as the initial channel for overflow situations. These programs are already airing on this channel and capacity should not be a problem. This recommendation does not overlook the desire of CTV to primarily use Channel 30, for programs produced to be broadcast in a short time frame. Staff anticipates that this would continue to be the primary focus. . The recommendation is based on the fact that the cities have fffiancially supported the operation of Channel 30 since its inception and it has gained a reputation as a Government Access Channel. The reputation of CTV programming is a focus on government activities and public affairs. Viewers are already used to seeing this type of programming on Channel 30 and it seems natural to continue to utilize the channel in this fashion. Staff would also recommend that in the case where a conflict requires the use of two stations, that the two cities randomly determine which City will be regularly scheduled on which channel. This general principle is not intended to preclude Government Access programming on Channel 69. As the number and types of programs increase it may become inevitable that overflow will be carried on this channel as well. Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) Review the General Principles prepared by CTV and provide direction as to any desired changes. 2) Confirm the use of Channel 69 as the shared leased access channel. It is important to note that in its current form this CTV document is only a general guide. CTV will need . to develop more specific policies and procedures regarding administering the broadcast schedules and priorities in the case of conflicts. Once developed it is anticipated that the City Council would review the proposed operating policies. -;J.- '. . . . PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES FOR SERVING, OPERATING, SCHEDULING THREE COMMUNITY CHANNELS These channels are required, overseen, and were sought by, the four cities of the Tri-Valley, to serve the public at large, and the public sector in general. Public Access operations responsibilities remain with the cable operator. Air times and scheduled time slots on all three channels should be treated by the committee as one large resource with which to meet public needs and public sector needs that may continuously change. Turf and territory conflicts are to be avoided, and flexibility should be maintained in order to best serve the general public and local viewers, and the public sector. Prime time scheduling problems can be greatly decreased by channels having the optional ability to cablecast to discreet communities simultaneously, i.e., a city council meeting on live in Pleasanton, and a School Board meeting on live in Dublin...simultaneously on the same channel. It will be attractive and more understandable to viewers to think of one of the channels as "mostly" short-form and in the style of CNN or KQED, and another channel "mostly" long form (with lengthy public meetings) and in the style of C-SPAN and KQED. Viewers will respond well to packaging channels with a certain style, and cross-promoting channels as heavily as possible. But even this approach should not be rigid....so that public sector needs are truly met with all three channels. CTV produces Public Service general community service programming, and it also facilitates production for Government and for Education as needed, at lowest possible cost. CTV's community service programming is linked on the same channel with the community service programming produced by Jim Burt and the cable company as required by the cities' Franchise Agreement. These two production sources form the basis for the community service channel, with programming also coming from Government and Education. -1-- . " It's hard to see the general flow of programming from the attached, but basically the three channels can be used as follows: . Channel 70 1. Govemment Access Programming (defined as content initiated and defined by Govemment) 2. Community Service Programming that is produced by CTV or by TCI, as needed 3. Public Service programming from a wid~ variety of sources 4. Training (Fire? Police?) 5. Notices Channel 69 1. Education Access (defi,ned as programming initiated and defined by Education) including Instructional Television, School Board Meetings 2. Public Access 3. Religious Access . 4. Leased Access 5. Overflow Govemment Access needs Channel 30 1. Community Service programming by CTV 2. Govemment Access Overflow needs 3. Community Service programming by TCI 4. Public Service Programs from a wide variety of sources 3chanp#5.wri . -:J,- " Channel 30 . CTV Programming 580/680 News Mayors Report Valley Forum (includes Candidates Forums, Voter Education, and LIVE city Call-lns) Media Roundtable Fresh Take (City) Video Newsletter Conversations Everything Local Home-Wise EBAl I TCAl Wrap Pleasanton Business Today Cowboy Country Club Valley Gardener Livermore Schools Online . Your Schools ROP Productions Byline AAUW Let's Talk Sports (Fugitive Watch)* Regional Events and Performances TCl - Community Service Programs Voter Education Candidates on location (some taped by CTV) Chamber Luncheons Parades (some taped by CTV) First-run DARE Graduations (a few taped by CTV) First-run High School Graduations (about half taped by CTV) Regional Events and Performances 3chanp#4 . ~.3- . , '. Channel 70 . Pleasanton City Council Meeting San Ramon City Council Meeting Dublin City Council Meeting City Video Newsletters Agenda Notices (Text) Mayors Report Valley Forums (Live Call-Ins) Planning Commission Meetings . Mr. Funnelhead (Clean Water Info) (Produced by CCTV) Public Infonnation Tapes as selected from many sources Voter Education Candidates Programs by CTV I TCI 3chanp2 . Lj- CHANNEL 69 . School District Menus Livermore Schools Online ( Produced in part by CTV) Voter Education (School-Related) Produced by CTV Mr. Funnelhead (Clean Water Info) (produced by Contra CostaTV) Valley Christian Center Amador Valley Baptist Church Message of Islam Your Schools (Pleas. School Dist.) (produced by CTV) Center Street (for youth) (half-hour national program supplied by Mormon Church) Computer Currents (Public Access, produced in ?Fremont?) Education Showcase ( Cable national program promoting Discovery, A&E, etc.) Port Beat - program produced by the Port of Oakland Contra Costa Health & Medicine (Program produced by CC County) . BaHai' Information Short Cut Cook (public access, produced in Concord) Fathers are People Too (Public Access) Celebrate Life (Public Access) Fitness Fax (Public Access) Bay Area Country Videos Music Videos Public Access Tom Anderson Oil Painting - Public Access Dance Recitals, Performances, public access Mormon Conference TCI Community Service Programs High School Graduations ( Produced by both CTV & TCI ) Dare Graduations Most produced by TCl, a few by CTV Voter Education - School Related . Parades (If School-related?) 3chanp.wri c ___ .../