Friday, March 24, 2006

The Problem with Public Access Television-Part 2

It has been almost 3 months since we posted on the issue of losing our public access channel in San Antonio, Texas. As of the last week of March 2006, the Public Access Channel is still off the air. After numerous meetings and phone calls with the City of San Antonio, public access producers, and media watchdog groups in Washington DC, we still have no public access channel to air our shows on.

The Public Access Producers were advised that the channel would be back up and running as soon as possible. That was at the end of December 2005. As soon as possible has turned out to be over 3 months as of now.

We have been left in the position of no longer having a studio to record at, staff to assist with editing, editing equipment and for that matter cameras to shoot video. We formerly had all that available per the contract the city had with Time Warner Cable prior to December 31st, 2005. The rug has been pulled out from under us.

We now also have to hustle to create/build a studio to shoot shows, raise money to buy camera equipment and editing software, and still having to wait for the City to get their act together to air shows, which so far has been at a snail's pace. It is just not at their top of the to do list. They state they are still waiting for the broadcasting equipment to come in. It has been a very disappointing 3 months.

Meanwhile we are in the process of setting up a small studio, and will need to purchase the camera and lighting equipment to resume shooting. We will continue to post the shows to the internet while we await the public access channel broadcasting to resume.

We all wish to continue the work that we do. We all feel that we are doing something worthwhile to change the options available to youth from the media they watch and listen to. If you would like to help, we welcome any donations from the public of money or equipment or advice for video production. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to assist. And remember, this is all probably coming to a city near you.

Patsy Robles,
Executive Producer for 411 Productions

To read an article in San Antonio Current from 2004 on The 411 Show, click on this link:
http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=12073486&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_id=484045&rfi=8

To view the article on the Public Access issue in the San Antonio Current Magazine, link below:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15796347&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_id=484045&rfi=8

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