#Production for profit?
14 messages in this thread
S.O.S!! I'm a freelance writer doing a series for Video Toaster User
magazine on small business opportunities with the toaster. One of the
stories I'm working on involves program production for local cable
access channels. The Cable Act of 1992 appears to open up some real
avenues for profit here. Is anyone out there looking into this
opportunity? According to the new law, we're not just talking
non-profit Wayne and Garth stuff — you can actually lease time and
sell ads, or use your programming to sell a product or service. I'm
just having a hard time finding anyone who can tell me whether they've
looked into this, and what their experiences have been. Let me know
if you're out there!! Thanks, Allen Edmonds
I don't think that the public is informed of this. The cable TV
company here hasn't had inquiries. They have a Toaster setup and a
Matrox unit.
Could you elaborate on this, or at least point me where I could find
some more info? I haven't heard about this (wonder why not :), and
would like some more info.
This concept has actually been around for quite some time. The 1984 Act
required cable systems with more than 36 channels to set aside a certain
percentage of those channels for lease to programmers (leased commercial
access, as opposed to community or public access, as I originally described
it). No. 1, many cable systems that I'm familiar with have 36 or less channels,
and no. 2, there weren't enough safety valves to prevent cable companies from
setting exorbitant rates or making unreasonable demands. The 92 Act attempted
to solve some of these problems by assigning rate-setting and oversight power
to the FCC (we'll see how THAT works). This is described in Section 7 of the
Senate version of the Act, the version that eventually passed.
Allen
Allen,
Even more fascinating. Where can I get more information about this?
Jonathan
Stay tuned. You may have missed my original message. I'm doing a story for
Video Toaster User on this subject, and I was looking in the forum for anyone
who might be doing it. At this point, you probably know as much as I do, i.e.,
Congress is forcing open the doorway, and the possibilities seem to range from
Cable Classifieds to independent program production whereby you go out and sell
spots to finance the venture. It may not be as simple as I'm making it sound
(things rarely are), but that's what I aim to find out. The story is
tentatively slated for May or June, I believe.
Allen
… and shortly after it passed, they increased my rates to comply with
the rates in the law, and took all the radio stations off the cable so the
second outlet that I was paying for became useless – unless I want to
spend another 7 bucks a month for a box to decode the digitized radio
dignals back to analog for my radio… Thanks Washington, for looking out
for me AGAIN!
wmc – via Autopilot!
Of course. "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you." <G>
naw, you have to get the quote right. Jim Wright, "We're goin' to
he'p you." <g>.
No, from Jim the quote was "We're goin' to he'p ourselves." <G> He seems
to have he'ped himself to quite a bit. . .
-Karl Speaking from the Rubble.
Karl,
ah! You could hear what he was mumbling when he said that. Guess I
need a hearing aid <g>.
"You do trust me, don't you? Of course you do."
— "To Play the King" (BBC)
In my area the community access channel is governed byt the city
council (who somwhow 'owns' it as part of the local cable company
licensing deal). They do not permit users to make money on it. It
supposed to be available for free expression of the community who
would otherwise lack access to mass media to disemminate thier
views. At least that is the myth that is pedalled here…
The idea behind public or community access is not for profit. An
access production facility might be willing to lease Toaster gear or
hire a Toaster expert to produce bumpers or whatever, but more likely
it'd buy the gear and let the amateur producers do with it what they
can.
You may instead be thinking of leased access, which is for profit. I
know of small production outfits that tried to make money producing
local programming and commercials to be seen on leased access
channels. One of 'em used a Toaster setup. This was several years
ago! I've lost track of all this stuff, though.
You're right, I misstated it. It's called leased commercial access, and it's
covered in Section 7 of the 92 Cable Act. Thanks!
Allen