Public's place on TV

GAINING TV ACCESS

The procedure for submitting a video or a bulletin board item for Channel 5 is simple. Forms are available at City Hall or at the city's Web site, www.cityofcapegirardeau.org.

Whoever submits must be a resident of Cape Girardeau or the organization that wants to appear must be located in Cape Girardeau.

Cable channel offers residents broadcasting opportunities

By Sam Blackwell ~ Southeast Missourian

If you've always wanted to be on TV, you might be surprised how easy it can be.

As long as Cape Girardeau's guidelines are met for submitting a video or film, almost anything goes on public access Channel 5.

Though most of the channel's programming aims at delivering information, the channel has broadcast home videos, such as a performance by someone's child.

These are the rules: The film or video cannot solicit funds, goods or services for compensation. It cannot contain advertising material promoting the sale of products or services. It cannot be a game of chance or advertise a game of chance. And It cannot contain obscene material or advocate criminal acts.

How about a birthday party?

"I don't' see why you couldn't do it," says Tracy Glenn, the city's public information officer.

Glenn remembers denying applicants who wanted to put a show on Channel 5 only a few times. In one case, Southeast Missouri State University wanted to air basketball coach Gary Garner's program but could not because it included advertisements the university did not want to delete. Another time, someone wanted to put on a show advertising a line of product.

"One of the main rules of the channel is that the message and content cannot directly solicit goods, funds or services," Glenn says.

For that reason, she won't allow a ticket price to appear on bulletin board items connected with fund raising.

But Glenn doesn't have the final say. If she denies a request to air a video, the appeal goes to the city's Cable Television Committee.

No filming

One thing the city won't do is film a show for anyone.

Some programs are provided by public agencies, such as the fire department. The city also airs a few shows produced by other sources, including "Ask the Doctor," sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County Medical Society, and some legislative shows. Ron Duff Video Productions produces the shows and also films Cape Girardeau City Council meetings for live broadcast under a contract with Charter Communications.

As part of an operating agreement, Charter Communications also pays Cape Girardeau $30,000 a year toward the cost of running Channel 5. Five percent of cable bills residents pay also go into the city's general fund.

Most of the programming on Channel 5 consists of bulletin-board announcements of upcoming events, but the city is planning to increase production of informational shows. Glenn already is host for a program called "City Source," in which she interviews city officials about events or projects.

A new program being planned is "City Beat," a weekly 10-minute news show to include information about street closings and other current events.

A third program is still in the planning stage.

Jackson, Mo., uses 20 percent of the broadcast time on Channel 5 under an agreement with the city of Cape Girardeau. Jackson uses only the bulletin board function and cannot air videos.

Getting upgrades

Glenn said the city is upgrading its equipment so that someone doesn't have to be there pushing buttons on a VCR whenever a video is scheduled to run. An automated programming system will enable videos to be started and stopped by a computer.

The Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center will produce "City Source" and "City Beat" for the city under a contract that pays the CTC $20,000 annually over the next four years. Cape Girardeau also gave the center $50,000 to help it acquire some of the expensive equipment necessary to make the shows.

"We couldn't build a studio for that," Glenn said.

The CTC currently has two professional studio cameras, three field cameras, eight computer-based editing systems and professional lighting, an estimated $125,000 worth of equipment.

The CTC recently went on the air itself with Channel 23, an educational access channel operated by students. Randy McWilson, who is in charge of the broadcasting classes at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, says the channel's programming schedule is just emerging.

Channel 23, which began broadcasting only May 9, has started a talk show, "Heartland Heartbeat," to be hosted by students and possibly McWilson.

"We will talk to people in the community who are making things happen," he said.

Initial interview subjects have been Mayor Jay Knudtson and Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the Area Wide United Way.

Channel 23 will take over broadcasts of Central High School football games from Channel 5 and probably will tape board of education meetings, McWilson said. But bigger plans exist.

"We'd like to get where the football games are live," McWilson said. He is working on establishing a fiber optic connection that would enable events to be broadcast from the high school live.

"A lot has to happen, but it's a real possibility," he said.

Once Central High School moves in next door in the fall, a Central High news program will be easier to do, McWilson said.

Today, McWilson and Stratton Tingle, a college student home for the summer, will begin shooting a fireworks safety video that will be aired on both Channel 5 and Channel 23.

The city has responsibility for Channel 23 but the Career and Technology Center is in charge of it's operation.

"We are not in their business," Glenn said.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182