Is there an audience for hyper-local community television programming?
The answer is yes, says the producer and founder of Tri-Cities Community Television.
Last week, Geoff Scott made a pitch before the Canadian Radio-television and Communication Commission for a share of funds cable channels, such as Shaw, collect for community access programming.
CRTC is looking at alternatives for divvying up $151 million collected annually.
One idea being touted is reallocating some of the money to commercial television stations to offset their declining revenues and ensure local television news stations can continue to operate.
But Scott who flew to Gatineau, Quebec last week to speak at the hearings, wants to make sure that community groups that produce local programs aren't kept out of the debate by large corporations that have been making their pitches for a piece of the pie.
"I'm hoping at the very least they would find it of value to investigate the potential of community media once again," Scott says.
Scott and his volunteers produce about 40 hours a year of community programming, including ArtsConnect and Tri-Cities Magazine with about $30,000 collected from the three cities, and membership fees. Telus also provided a matching $30,000 grant to run workshops to train new volunteers in video production.
The shows air on Shaw's Channel 4, and Tri-Cities Community Television has a YouTube channel.
While media consumers are deluged by a variety of traditional and new media, Scott believes there is still an audience for programs about the Tri-Cities. People like to watch themselves on TV and enjoy seeing highlights from Canada Day festivities, and arts and cultural shows, he said, and with more funds could do an even better job.
"We've been making it on a shoestring budget, anything would help."
Shows currently available ono Shaw's channel 4 are: Tri-Cities Magazine, which airs Wednesday 8:30 p.m. Thursday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at 11:30 p.m. and ArtsConnect which airs Wednesdays at noon, Thursdays at 3:30 p.m., and Sunday at midnight.
A new program called Tri-Cities Mosaic is expected to air sometime this year.
Meanwhile, comments are being accepted until Feb. 16, visit http://crtc.gc.ca
