What do we mean by
"Community Television"?
1. Public Access: Residents of a Community have access to equipment to
produce a program to share with their neighbors over the local public access
channel. Community television access channels may also feature programs produced
by the schools and government programs (live coverage of council meetings etc.)
These are called Educational access and Governmental access respectively.
Ideally each of these functions - Public, Educational, and Governmental access -
has it's own channel. In this way, the community knows where to look for
different types of programming.
2. Local Origination: The cable company creates local programming
largely developing the ideas for the programs and producing them with their own
staff. The programs are shown on a local cable channel for subscribers of the
community. Programming is supported by commercial advertising on these channels.
3. Leased Access: An individual, non-profit organization or business
who leases a channel from the cable operator and provides community information.
Programming is supported by commercial advertising on these channels.
4. Nonprofit Community Television: Over 65,000 homes in the greater
Portland area are served by a unique nonprofit community television channel
called TV4, The Community Television Network. Members include non-profit
agencies, individuals and businesses who use the channel for education and
outreach.
5. Broadcast Community Television: Community television programming
that is televised over an FCC approved UHF broadcast channel by a non-profit
organization. Channel operation may be commercial or non-commercial and is
typically supported by underwriting or direct donations.