Public Access TV

• About every six months, they accept sign-ups for a workshops regarding submission of series on tape (See more on "series" below) and to learn to use their production studio.
• The studio in El Cajon is the only Cox Communications Public Access studio in the county. Previously, there was one in Oceanside, but it has been closed.
• More than 75% of the programs that are aired are religious in nature.
• There are three ways to get programs on the air.
  • Specials - video submitted by residents
    • Each will be aired 2 or three times, held for a month and can be resubmitted once every 6 months.
    • Programs that are not controversial can be re-aired at a later time to fill in dead air.
    • "Special" programs can be 28.5 minutes (1/2 hour) or 57 minutes (1 hour) in length, or any length.
    • Programs that are too long are aired at the "end of the day," 9pm on Monday, later on other days. There is no end on weekends.
    • Specials must be submitted on Betacam-SP tape with specific details like color bars, 30 seconds blank, program, then all blank to the end.
    • Programs cannot include specific times/dates because there is no guarantee when they will play.
    • Available to all county areas except unincorporated county, La Mesa, Oceanside, Lemon Grove. National City will expire this year. El Cajon/Santee residents CAN submit.
    • There is no requirement to attend any workshops to submit specials, just follow the guidelines.
  • Series - video submitted by producers who want a regular 1/2 hour time slot
    • Same as specials, but must be a regular show that can be repeated, and committed producer
    • Must submit at least six shows at one time to be allotted the time slot, and then produce one per week.
    • This would be great for an organization that has plenty of volunteers who want to have some time on the air.
    • Producers must sit through a workshop, the next one is May 5, 2009 sign-up and May 16, workshop (9a-2:30p).
  • Full Access Producers - authorized to use the cox Public Access studio to produce shows.
    • Limited to residents of San Diego, Santee, Chula Vista.
    • Producers must complete the workshop that relates to this issue. The next one as of this writing is Sept 22 sign up and Oct 2/3 workshop.
    • Much of this workshop is the same as for series.
    • The studio includes three professional cameras, mixing station, audio mixer, microphones, etc.
    • Typical production includes 10+ people:
      • Three camera operators
      • One floor manager - keeps control of studio, shows time left in the show.
      • One Producer who determines which camera shot to take and gives instructions to camera operators
      • One audio engineer who mixes the audio, plays background music, etc.
      • One titles operator, who inserts titles into the video as it is shot.
      • Host and one or more guests.
    • Studio production limited to residents of Santee, San Diego, Encinitas, Solana Beach.
    • Primary producer need not actually do the work, but must be on hand whenever the studio is used.

• Producer must 18 or over.
• Ok to interview candidates, but can't ask for donations. Vote for me is Okay.
• Can give away a limited number of items
• No direct payment for anything but expenses allowed.
• However, probably can have people join a "club" to get payment.
• Cannot give credit or acknowledgment to any person, business, enterprise, product or foundation for which economic consideration has been made. i.e. no commercials.
• Grants or other types of support can be made to individuals, groups, or entities to underwrite the cost of creating or producing the programs, and a nondescript "Patron's acknowledgment" may be placed at the beginning and at the end. No logos, jingles, etc. just block letters.
• Cox can inspect the budgets, sponsorship agreements and financial statements with regard to underwriting.
• No web sites, phone numbers, or addresses of guests. Must use common phone/website of sponsor.
• Main web site must not have commercial activity.
• Cox may require written scripts or transcripts of the program.

• Betacam SP tapes, either 30 min (small size), 60 or 90 min (large size) tapes with time base correction.
• Digital source material is no problem.
• Series Programs must be 1/2 hour or hour formats:
  • Between 27:00 and 28:30 (1/2 hour)
  • Between 57:00 and 58:30 (1 hour)
• Specials can be any length, and can use more than one tape.
• 60-75 seconds of color bars followed by 15-30 seconds of studio black, then program video.
• Tape after the program must be blank (studio black).
• All tapes must have a labels on box and tape with the following information:
  1. Title of the show
  2. Episode in a series, if appropriate.
  3. "Special" denoted if appropriate.
  4. Length of the program, to the second.
  5. Name and phone number of Public Access Producer or Organization
  6. Date that the show was completed.
• Drop off and pick up tapes at 1277 N. Cuyamaca St. in El Cajon.

All this is changing...

• Final_DIVCA_resolution_80254.pdf: DIVCA resolution is causing immense changes.

• The original argument was that cable operators are not required to support poor or needy areas.
• However, many contracts specify that they must, such as San Diego.
• Despite this being a key argument, it was dropped from the final law.

My notes from the May 16, 2009 training for Series Producers

• Initial submission -- Six Programs (six tapes)
  • Reviewed carefully for content
• Oceanside has own channel
• A bit of history -- San Diego was a perfect example of how cable TV started.
  • CA - Community Antenna
    • Originally set up an antenna on Cowles Mtn so El Cajon could get clear reception and LA Channels.
  • Early 60s - Backlash -- it was called "Pay TV"
    • Channel 8 led charge to stop cable.
    • FCC froze expansion of cable TV
  • Cox
    • was a school teacher in Ohio
    • Started buying papers to present Democratic viewpoint
    • Ran for governor
    • Was Democratic candidate for president, his running mate was FDR
    • 50s - started buying cable companies
    • Our area, pacific and mission cable
    • Became Cox in the 70s
    • Based in Atlanta now.
  • ABC originally mainly radio, reruns on TV
    • Across the border on Chnl 6 "shakey"
    • Moved to chnl 39 (UHF)
    • Crappy signal but could claim larger audience because of cable.
    • laws passed to avoid duplication of channel
    • People wanted LA News
  • Channel 4 added for local service
  • Activist group CVC was key to getting access for communities
• Public Access is a service of the community, not of Cox.
• There is a different agreement for each jurisdiction
• There used to be a 3rd big cable company, Dimension Cable.
  • purchased by Cox
  • had some prior obligations
• Public Access is on chnl 18 in that area -- same content.

Related media

• (M834) 2009-09-01 Understanding Community Media -- Kevin Howley, Sage Publications, $42.95 in Paperback; $89.95 in hardcover.
• (M795) 2008-12-11 AT&T and L.A. City Hall Quietly Lead a National Push to Silence the Little Guy -- Patrick Range Mc Donald, L.A. WEEKLY,
• (M660) 2008-10-20 A Question of power -- Stop the Sunrise Powerlink -- Diane Conklin Donna Tisdale, Citizens Oversight, Very important description of the ridiculous Sunrise Powerlink
• (M970) 2008 9/11 -- Blueprint for Truth -- Richard Gage, AIA, AE 911truth.org,
• (ZeitgeistTheMovie) 2007-06-25 Zeitgeist The Movie -- , Peter Joseph, Promoted by Citizens Oversight [ Screened 2007-09-16 at Rancho San Diego Library. Have DVD. ] Public Access TV
• (M810) 2007-02-20 9/11: The Myth and Reality -- David Ray Griffin, 9/11 TV.org, Theologian David Ray Griffin carefully reviews the official myth of events of 9/11. 90 min.
• (M987) 2007 Occupation 101 -- , TRIP’OL’II PRODUCTIONS,

Snapshots

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Time Warner Cable Coverage Map

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Coverage Map for COX Public Access TV

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Betacam-SP UVW-1800 Video tape recorder

Betacam-SP UVW-1800 Video tape recorder - back panel

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Color bars to be used at the beginning of the video

Notes regarding use of Sony UVW 1800 Betacam-SP Recorder

• Sony_UVW-1800_Betacam-SP_Recorder_Manual.pdf: Sony UVW-1800 Betacam-SP Recorder Manual
• 60 minute tapes actually about 64 minutes long.
• Poor color results from using PC to TV box and component outputs to component on on UVW-1800. Perhaps this is due to impedance mismatch.
• Better color results from using S-Video output, as this is a well-defined cable type.
• However, resolution and clarity still are somewhat poor going through the PC to TV box.
• Would be better to have a video card that outputs directly to S-Video to avoid the secondary conversion.
• Nebula has AGP Slot, purchased new video card to convert to S-Video.
• Created small converter box to generate sync pulse or recorder will not automatically sync.

Regarding Audio Levels:

There is a difference in signal levels between consumer electronics and pro.

If the equipment has RCAs out, that probably indicates consumer levels, which are far below pro levels (which I believe is 1v p-p)

The pro equipment may want pro-levels, so some kind of output gain may be required.

DO NOT make long runs of consumer-level, unbalanced RCA-type cables. Convert to balanced (at least) and pro-levels (preferably) as soon as possible, and stay balanced for as much as possible.

I remember some audio engineers affectionately refer to RCA leads as "arials" (or antennas) for their propensity to pick up hum and other interference!

Sources and references

• http://www.fmsystems-inc.com - lots of application specific electronics for audio and video work.