School District to Take Over City’s Public Access Television Channel

Funding for the station will continue to be provided by the City of Corvallis, with additional grant money available for equipment upgrades and educational uses.

Photo Courtsey: www.bhtafe.edu.au

(CORVALLIS) - In a move to increase 'access' to Corvallis' public access television channel, the City of Corvallis has transferred management of the station to the Corvallis School District 509J.

Corvallis Community Television, CCTV 29, provides residents the opportunity to broadcast video productions and promote community events to television viewers.

According to Brian Flannery, who will coordinate the station's programming and operations for the school district, the change will have many benefits including education for students, greater access for the general public and improved programming.

"The city was excited about the opportunity for kids to be involved and for more people in general to have access to learning about broadcasting, editing and producing shows," says Flannery. "We will provide all the services the city did, but begin to offer editing lessons and equipment usage for people in Corvallis down the road."

Flannery says the equipment for preparing video for broadcast has been moved from the city's Public Works building to his office, which is located at Corvallis High School.

The actual cable uplink function -- necessary to broadcast shows onto the airwaves -- will remain housed at the City this year. Flannery will transport programming from CHS to Public Works until the operational hub is moved at a later date.

Flannery says the benefit to students interested in broadcasting, video production and other related careers is significant.

"I'm working closely with the video teachers from CHS and Crescent Valley," says Flannery.

"Don Jepsen-Minyard at CV already has some great programming we can use for the station and his video classes will continue to participate in production. And Chris Becerra at CHS has plans to create a digital media program, which will include the production of a video yearbook. The new equipment will be a great resource for his students."

Local channel 28, which is dedicated to educational programming and has been managed by the school district in the past, has been inoperative for the past year and a half.

Flannery says with the equipment and knowledge that will be gained by maintaining Channel 29, plans to resurrect Channel 28 are in progress.

While Flannery is excited that students will be able to use equipment to produce and edit video and submit some programming for Channel 29, he is quick to point out that the station is a resource for all Corvallis residents.

Flannery says that he hopes to expand the variety of programming on Channel 29 in order to increase viewership.

Rules for submitting programming remain unchanged: videos must be produced by a Corvallis resident or an organization based in the city, or sponsored by a Corvallis resident or organization.

Producers or sponsors are also required to sign an agreement taking full responsibility for the content of the program and for resolving any complaints received from the public.