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Monday, February 7, 2011

CMTV Programming 2010 Summary & Ways To Become A First Rate TV Station

CMTV Programming 2010 Summary &
Ways To Become A First Rate Public & Government Access TV Station



CMTV Mission
1. “To build and strengthen community through digital media”
2. CMTV is to furnish non-profit and non-commercial broadcast services, 
and to provide programming to 
diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups.
3. CMTV's programming emphasizes non-corporate and neglected perspectives and 
discussions on important local, national and global issues, 
reflecting values of peace, social, economic and environmental justice, human rights, 
democracy, multiculturalism, freedom of expression and social change.
4. CMTV's arts, cultural, and music programming 
covers a wide spectrum of expression, from traditional to experimental and 
reflects the diverse cultures it serves.


Programming Type Categories Based On CMTV Mission
For 2010 programs the 1. building and strengthening community category had 24% of the hours and 35% of the times aired. 2. Diverse Community and 3. Issue Programming each had less the 10% of the hours and times aired. These percentages can be improved considerably over this year. 4. Arts continues to be way out of proportion to all other categories - 55% hours, 42% times aired. In fact one program series. Artist Showcase (over 8hours each day) accounted for most of this disproportion. It would be useful to air Diverse Community and Issue programing considerably more hours each day and air Artist Showcase considerably less. There is plenty of diverse and issue programming readily available. CMTV would benefit considerably from more diverse programming.


http://betterspokane.com/images/CMTVPctCtgs.png


Series Program Types
The four areas of CMTV’s mission are separated into further Series Program Types - that should have at least 5% of the hours or times aired to be considered for a type. Those with less than 5% can be placed in a more general category with others. Each of the 4 areas should have at least 3 types even if the % is less than 5 percent - to show where positive increases can be made. Each program aired on CMTV is assigned a Series Program Type. These reports are made from this information. There are a few series that need to have their type updated so they don’t fall in the Unassigned Type.

The need for additional hours of programming in Diversity and Issues is even more apparent when the types are viewed. The single series, Artist Showcase, disproportion to all other categories is even more striking.

CMTV has yet, since September, to put up the free programming that comes with the Democracy Now - Free Speech feed. These programs would be very helpful in both the Diverse Communities and Issue areas.

1 Building & Strengthening Community
  • Religion, Faith, Spirituality 3%, 4%
  • Positive Change               6%, 13%
  • Resolving Issues            13%, 16%
  • Nature                             0%,   2%
  • History - Heritage             0%,  1%
2 Diverse Communities
  • Diversity News      3%, 3%
  • Diversity Activities 0%, 0%
  • Multicultural          2%, 1%
3 Issues
  • Issues - Spokane               3%, 4%
  • Issues - State, Regional, National   4%, 4%
  • Issues - Global                 0%, 0%

4 Arts, Culture, Music, Literature, Stories
  • Artist Showcase      48%, 33%
  • Art General              6%,   7%
  • Children                  1%,   1%
  • Literature, Poetry, Stories 1%,1%
5 Government
  • Government - Local  1%, 0%
6 Unassigned
  • UN ASSIGNED  7%, 9%


http://betterspokane.com/images/CMTVPgmHours.png


http://betterspokane.com/images/CMTVPgmAirs.png

Additional Ways For CMTV To Become A First Rate Public & Government Access TV Station

  • Increase the amount of fresh programming aired each week. It has been less than 7% of the past years. There may be requirements that fresh programming be much higher than this. More importantly, considerably more fresh programming - in line with CMTV’s mission - can provide much better viewing opportunities for CMTV’s viewers.

  • Put up the additional programming from the Free Speech feed, that has been available since September - and other free programs in the Diverse Community and Issues areas.

  • Put up the early morning Democracy Now feed, that has been available since September.

  • Create a part time staff position for the daily station programming operations routine tasks - 1.) schedule and enter programs for the next week using the ProTrack application, 2.) Flip programs that are ready to flip (all editing, sound adjustment is complete) and place the programs on the hard drive to go to KSPS - not DVD ingesting for this person - DVDs are not routine and require another skill set, plus they take considerable time that this person can better spend focused on the daily routine tasks 3.) Fill out the ingest for for CMTV and take care of all the other programming book keeping 4.) download programs for broadcast, Only these routine tasks, no phone answering, go for this and that - just simply keep the station broadcasting the programs each and every week. This is a position for someone who enjoys doing the same routine each day - students, work study etc and others who are not able to show up each day simply do not work out. Entry level computer skills are needed for this position - not full Final Cut Pro skills and other film production skills - this is clerical type work. Rob has plenty of better things to do than these routine tasks. It is simply a waste of his time and talents to do this. And if Rob is out or working on other projects the daily station operations are simply neglected - programs submitted are not aired within a week of submission, and it can be weeks before they are aired, poor scheduling choices are made for the weekly programs. When this position is in place considerably better weekly scheduling can be made - providing a much better service to the viewers. Plus Rob will be better able to focus on making good use of his time and talents. Imagine what he can do when freed up from hours each week doing these routine daily operations tasks. When this person is in place and has mastered this routine over a few months - the delivery of program for broadcast can considerably increase the stature of CMTV with the viewing audience.

  • Create another part time position, to 1.) ingest DVDs, and 2.) make these and other programs ready to flip using Final Cut Pro. This is for people that want to learn Final Cut Pro, and create programs. Work study, students, people with changing weekly schedules can do this when ever they have time. These functions are separate from the daily operations person and require different skills and interests. Again Rob spends considerable time doing this and it is an utter waste of his time and talents. When this function is being done on a regular basis the amount of fresh programming aired each week can increase considerably.

  • Make an in house temporary studio that community members can reserve to produce community shows. Until CMTV has access to a full studio, the current cameras and space can be used by community members to make a program to air as produced live - without significant edits or adjustments. Make this service available a couple times a week to get started. This would be a great way to get more community programming with the current staff and equipment. Advertise this community service and see what comes up. Better yet, seek out diverse and underserved communities to make use of this service.

  • Make a basic monthly email newsletter, not a pdf that can cause spam and other hassles. There are people that are interested in what CMTV can do. Use the newsletter to let them know what is going on and what to expect for the coming month. Encourage people to subscribe to the newsletter and provide specific ways people can help with CMTV programming among other things.

  • Increase the diversity of Arts programing, especially music.

  • It would be good to have a General Managers 2010 Annual CMTV Station Report. This report could speak to viewers about the programming accomplishments in 2010 and more importantly programming expectations for 2011.

  • Keep the CMTV mission statement where everyone sees it and understands what CMTV is about. The more people understand what CMTV is about the more viewers and more programmers.
CMTV Mission
1. “To build and strengthen community through digital media”

2. CMTV is to furnish non-profit and non-commercial broadcast services, and to provide programming to diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups.


3. CMTV's programming emphasizes non-corporate and neglected perspectives and 
discussions on important local, national and global issues, 
reflecting values of peace, social, economic and environmental justice, human rights, 
democracy, multiculturalism, freedom of expression and social change.


4. CMTV's arts, cultural, and music programming covers a wide spectrum of expression, from traditional to experimental and reflects the diverse cultures it serves.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Former FCC Commissioner - Preserving the People's PEG Channels

PEG access channels allow citizens to see their local governments and leaders at work. They are also places where young and older people can learn to use and produce media. At a time when we see the major media companies are becoming increasingly consolidated — with the cable behemoth Comcast about to absorb NBC/Universal — it is refreshing to see the people's channels in action.

PEG channels, however, are at risk nationwide.
deliver PEG channels in a format inferior to that by which it delivers other channels

require congressional action, and the require FCC action.

pass H.R. 3745, the Community Access Preservation (CAP) Act.

requesting that the FCC rule that PEG channels be treated and delivered in the same manner as local commercial broadcast channels.
The FCC's failure to act, now going on almost two years, is an abdication of its obligation to ensure that the public and the public interest are served first.
+++

Preserving the People's Channels

By Gloria Tristani, former Federal Communications Commission commissioner. Originally published in the Midland (Michigan) Daily News.
http://www.pegmedia.org/index.php?q=node/1816

Public, Educational, and Governamental (PEG) channels throughout Michigan have long delivered diverse community and local programming over cable and other video networks. These channels owe their existence to the franchise agreements that municipalities negotiate with video providers in exchange for allowing the providers to use the public rights-of-way. PEG access channels empower individuals and groups to use the media to educate and enrich their communities. It is television by the people and for the people. In Midland last summer the access channel, MCTV Network, together with the fire department produced a popular video on fireworks safety which is now used by many government agencies including FEMA. MCTV has also partnered with community agencies such as United Way by producing Cancer Services, which programming has touched many lives.

MCTV and other PEG access channels allow citizens to see their local governments and leaders at work. They are also places where young and older people can learn to use and produce media. At a time when we see the major media companies are becoming increasingly consolidated — with the cable behemoth Comcast about to absorb NBC/Universal — it is refreshing to see the people's channels in action.

PEG channels, however, are at risk nationwide. In 2006 Michigan passed the Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act which established a statewide uniform franchising agreement eliminating local control and eroding PEG funding sources. A number of other states followed suit and in Washington, D.C., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) further chipped away at local control. While state and federal actions may have been aimed to spur competition among video providers they failed to produce the intended results and instead were detrimental to PEG channels and to consumers. The combined state and federal actions undercut PEG funding and limited local governments' ability to require video providers to create new PEG channels.

State and federal action and inaction have also allowed new video providers, such as AT&T with its U-verse product, to deliver PEG channels in a format inferior to that by which it delivers other channels. AT&T makes finding and accessing PEG channels difficult. The channels have been moved to the upper tier — 99 — and the viewer must negotiate through a series of time consuming menus to reach the PEG channels. AT&T further delivers the PEG channels in a resolution that is of a lower quality to that in which it delivers the local commercial channels.

Citizens and viewers who value community media should be concerned but they should know that they can change the PEG picture. From my vantage as a former FCC commissioner I would suggest two federal avenues to pursue to ensure the vibrancy of PEG. One avenue requires congressional action, and the other requires FCC action. Congress should pass H.R. 3745, the Community Access Preservation (CAP) Act. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and cosponsored by 30 other members, would among other things permit PEG funding fees to be used for any purpose including for operating expenses; ensure that video operators deliver PEG channels to subscribers without additional charges and at the same level of quality as they deliver local commercial television channels; require that the FCC investigate and report to Congress on the impact of state franchising laws; and, in certain circumstances, restore PEG funding to historical support levels.

While there may not be time left to pass the CAP Act this year passing it should be a priority for the next Congress and particularly if as expected, the Congress tackles rewriting the communications act. Passing federal legislation to preserve and strengthen the people's channels is a bipartisan issue which should be embraced by representatives of all political parties; and Michiganders should demand that their representatives in Congress get fully on board.
Citizens and viewers should also demand that the FCC take action to preserve and strengthen PEG. As it stands the FCC has been sitting on a Petition filed in January 2009 requesting that the FCC rule that PEG channels be treated and delivered in the same manner as local commercial broadcast channels. The Petition is aimed at redressing AT&T's discriminatory treatment of PEG channels, but an FCC ruling would send a clear message to all video providers that PEG channels must be treated fairly. The FCC's failure to act, now going on almost two years, is an abdication of its obligation to ensure that the public and the public interest are served first.

Despite the obstacles, PEG channels continue to serve their local communities and provide unique opportunities to average Americans to produce programming of shows that look like Americans. It is a powerful idea that part of the media should exist directly in the hands of the public. Congress and the FCC need to do their part in preserving this bastion of American democracy.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Updating CMTV Program Types For Better 2010 Annual Summary

An update of the program codes can significantly improve the 2010 Annual Report.
There are currently 14 program types and only two had more than 10% of
the airing - hours for 2010 programs.
4 were not used at all. Another 7 had less than 3%.
Over 47% percent of the programs did not have a program type, the were unassigned.

Once the new program codes are entered and the series program type codes
are updated the 2010 Annual Report can be redone using the new program codes which
will be much more useful for everyone.

The current program type codes are:
Unassigned, All Bets Off, Arts, Best of Worlds, Com. Services, Economy, Environment, Generations, Health, Home Room, Performing Arts, Practicalities, Recreation, Religion/Faith, Traditions.
Of these only the following codes were used for the programs aired in 2010, the code is followed by the % of airings for the code:
All Bets Off 1%, Arts 33%, Best of Worlds .3%, Com Services 5%, Economy 1%, Environment 6%, Health 3%, Performing Arts 2%, Presentations 1%, Religion/Faith 2%.

What is the type 'Com. Services' for?

It does not appear that the current active type codes are representative of the programming.
Nor do they reflect the CMTV mission and purpose.

The initial possible program types below has 14 categories that cover all programming and all the main intents of the CMTV mission statement.

These are possible initial categories to consider that may be significantly more useful than the current set.
This initial set can be used to see how it works for 2010 and adjustments can be made as needed.
Below are some of the considerations that can be taken into account when choosing programming types.

Rob can use this initial set and come up with a list to use to test on 2010's programs and adjustments can be made once the new types are used on 2010.

This list is made based on the discussion below, using the mission statement as the over arching criteria.
Doing this can significantly help CMTV better nurture its solid foundational ideas.

Once Rob comes is satisfied with an initial set,
I'd be happy to make the ProTrack adjustments for the program series.
It should take less than a few hours. Or this set can be used and we can see what it shows and move on from there.
It certainly will show much more than the current programs types and it will be much simple to update once the
initial program types are in place.

Once this update is done a much better picture of what CMTV is actually broadcasting will be readily available.

Initial Program Types

GovV - Government Access TV - Spokane Valley City Government Broadcasts
EDU - Educational Access TV prefix - this can be kept in place for the programming from Educational Insitutions, especially if CMTV anticipates providing this service in the future. Currently there is considerable 'free' programming available from Educational channels for PEG station broadcast that I encourage CMTV to add to their regular programming. Also local people can submit these programs as community endorsed programs which is currently being done. This will make CMTV a full PEG TV station instead of just a P with some G programming. The EDU prefix can be added to the public access categories below so the program categories are the same for both Public Access and EDU Access.

Public Access Categories - the Public of PEG stations.
Keep in mind these broad categories can then be used to sort out finer details within each program type.

The green text is directly from CMTV's mission and purpose and is used for the 4 major categories of program types.
The actual program types are in bold black.

non-corporate and neglected perspectives - this part of the mission statement covers all CMTV programming and thus does not need a unique type.

1. build and strengthen community in the Spokane region
This is a positive category. For the more divisive issues - they fall into major category #3 Local, national and global issues.
1a. Religion/Faith/Spirituality - this category is for the various services and practices related to religion/faith/spirituality - Catholic mass is a mainstay since the beginning of CMTV.

Activities by religious/faith/spiritual groups and people nurturing people and or nature can be placed in an appropriate category outside of this category. Most if not all Brethren Voices falls well into many other diverse categories.

At this point it would be good to add some more diverse programming here.

1b. Activist - Individuals and groups working for positive social and environmental change

values of peace, social, economic and environmental justice, human rights,
democracy,  freedom of expression and social change
1c. Resolving issues in positive, nurturing ways (this includes - peace, social, economic, environmental justice, human rights, democracy, freedom of expression and social change. Perhaps other words can be found for this category. It is doubtful that there is enough programming to make any one of these category to be significant compared to other major categories. This category can also include children, local food, health, nature, gardening, Bioneers, lifestyle, some Link TV shows, interviews.
1d. ?
Perhaps there is another grouping that can be made from the categories about that would have significant airings - hours.
This can also be sorted out after the initial update is made.

2. diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups, multiculturalism,
2a. Diverse Community News
The Real Powwow Trail (1 hr)
Northwest Indian News (.5 hr/mo)

2b. Diverse Community Programming - All other non-news 'Diverse' programming.
It would be very useful to add addition programming to this category.
2c. Multiculturalism

3. local, national and global issues
3a. Local Spokane Issues
- There should be several programs that fit this category...
3b. State, Regional and National Issues
- It would be great to find programming that covers this category well. There probably is 'free' programming that cover
3c. Global Issues, Global Perspectives, People, Places, Nature throughout the world ...
- It is appropriate for Democracy Now to be in this category - even though it also covers national issues. It's perspective is global in nature.
World exploration, adventure, travel, places and people, programs go here. Link TV has 'free' programs that well fit this category.


4. arts, cultural, and music programming
a wide spectrum of expression
reflects the diverse cultures

It is clear that this category in particular is not to be dominated by one type of art, cultural or music programming.
Appropriate categories need to be selected here and programming made available for them.

There is plenty of 'free' programming available that reflects a wide spectrum of expression and diverse cultures.

4a - Artist Showcase - this has been the main music for many months and is probably the highest percentage of airs and hours of all other program types.
4b - Classical Arts - at this point there has been little if any classical arts programming - this is free, readily available and requires no programming - like Democracy now. It is available in 8hr segments 24/7. I recommend this be considered, certainly until other programming becomes available.
4c - Diverse Arts - this is a category that can be nurtured over 2011. This can include story telling and all other arts that are not showcase or classical.



What the types can be used to do is to identify the actual top 15 or so types of programming that represent a majority of the programming hours with a fairly even distribution among the types for this new year 2011. In other words for 15 categories it would be good if each category had about 7% of the airings - play hours. If one or two categories have most of the airing and play hours the other categories will not be as visible.

Since the showcase programs are a higher percentage than any other category they should be in their own separate category so the other categories are more useful.
Categories that would be nice to have but have less than 1% of the airings - hours can be aggregated in other categories until they have significant airing - hours.

It would also be useful if at least some of the types were for the current and expected future weekly programming times reserved for specific programming types.
Rob what are the current schedule reserved slots expected for 2011.

Certainly each of the PEG (Public, Education, Government TV access) categories can be recognized. Government certainly should have at least one category for each Government entity that CMTV broadcasts for. The GOV prefix can be used for these program types.
GovV - Government Spokane Valley City is one. If there are others add them in.

EDU - The E in PEG is mostly done by the other channels - Gonzaga, EWU, CC, WSU, UW. There are several program playing now from University and there are other programs freely available that can fit this category. If CMTV is interested in being available for EDU programming it would be good to make use of this category at some time if not now.
Rob what do you recommend. The EDU prefix can be used for these programming types.

Public Access - The P in PEG is a large majority of the programming hours. These are the programs that need to be more evening distributed among the programming types. Again - Showcase can have it's own category and the rest can be balanced.

Certainly ALL the categories of the CMTV Mission - Purpose can be in the programming types.
The CMTV Mission - Purpose is here:
Mission Link

Broadcast spot:

CMTV Mission
“To build and strengthen community through digital media”

CMTV is to furnish non-profit and non-commercial broadcast services,
and to provide programming to
diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups.

CMTV's programming emphasizes non-corporate and neglected perspectives and
discussions on important local, national and global issues,
reflecting values of peace, social, economic and environmental justice, human rights,
democracy, multiculturalism, freedom of expression and social change.


CMTV's arts, cultural, and music programming
covers a wide spectrum of expression, from traditional to experimental and
reflects the diverse cultures it serves.



Here are some of the possible program types that have been discussed before:
See this Program Type link for the details.
Some of the programs CMTV airs are listed in the various categories.
Additional programs could be added to these categories to better sort out which categories are appropriate for the active program types.

Categories From CMTV Mission - Purpose
Strengthening Community
Diverse Communities
>Local Programming? or DVD?
The Real Powwow Trail (1 hr)
Northwest Indian News (.5 hr/mo)
Unserved - Underserved Groups
Non-corporate
Neglected perspectives
>Satellite Feed Live
Democracy Now! (5hrs/wk)
>Local Programming
- Better Spokane Interviews (10hrs/yr)
>Internet Download, DVDs
- Meet America (DVD's 10? hrs/yr
)
Local Issues
National Issues
Global Issues
>Internet Download, DVDs
- Link TV (downloads - at least 5 hours per wk can be downloaded)

Peace
Social Justice
Economic Justice
Environmental Justice
>Internet Download, DVDs
- Bioneers (DVDs - 20? hours per year)
Human Rights
Democracy
Multiculturalism
Freedom of Expression
Social Change
Arts
>Local Programming
- CMTV Artist Showcase (12/hours a day - 80hrs/week - how much of this is repeats???)
Culture
Music

>Satellite Feed Live
Classic Arts Show Case (8hrs/wk)
Wide Spectrum of Expression
Traditional
Experimental
Diverse Cultures

Additional Categories - Suggested And With Current Programming
Programs from local schools and colleges
Local news
Music from around the world

>Internet Download, DVDs
- Link TV (downloads - at least 5 hours per wk can be downloaded)

Dramas
Classical
Weird Variety Stuff
Teenagers making cool stuff
Gardening
>Local Programming
Nature
>Local Programming
Wellness - Body Mind Spirit
>Local Programming
- Jazzercise (?hr/wk)
Religious
>Local Programming (Sunday 4hrs + others throughout the week)
Food
>Local Programming
- P.E.A.C.H. Classes
Travel - Adventure
>Local Programming
- Right to Risk Grand Canyon Movie (1 hr)

From these here are some aggregate categories to start with - and test with 2010 programming to see how well they work and what adjustments will work better.

CMTV Mission Statement - Periodic Broadcast & Bylaw Statement

Here is the text for a 60 second spot for periodic broadcast that lets the viewing audience know what CMTV is about.
The video is of a recent sunrise with a meadowlark's call in the background. The text scrolls from bottom to top across the screen.

Hopefully other spots are made with the mission and purpose presented to CMTV's audience.


The text for the spot is listed below followed by the original text of the current bylaws.

Hopefully over time there are plenty more spots presenting CMTV to the viewing audience so audience understands what CMTV is all about. Right now I doubt the audience has a clear understanding of what CMTV is about.

It would also be useful to put this text prominently on the website and refer to it periodically.

===


Broadcast spot:

CMTV Mission
“To build and strengthen community through digital media”

CMTV is to furnish non-profit and non-commercial broadcast services, and to provide programming to diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups.

CMTV's programming emphasizes non-corporate and neglected perspectives and discussions on important local, national and global issues, reflecting values of peace, social, economic and environmental justice, human rights, democracy, multiculturalism, freedom of expression and social change.

CMTV's arts, cultural, and music programming covers a wide spectrum of expression, from traditional to experimental and reflects the diverse cultures it serves.




Original Text:
Community-Minded TV (here-in referred to as “CMTV”) is a community access TV station, whose mission is:  “To build and strengthen community through digital media”

CMTV is organized as a private, non-governmental corporation under the laws of the State of Washington to furnish non-profit and non-commercial broadcast services, and to provide programming to diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups. The Organization's programming emphasizes non-corporate and neglected perspectives and discussions on important local, national and global issues, reflecting values of peace, social, economic and environmental justice, human rights, democracy, multiculturalism, freedom of expression and social change. The Organization's arts, cultural, and music programming covers a wide spectrum of expression, from traditional to experimental and reflects the diverse cultures it serves.