I have been Program Manager since November 2001, when my predecessor Kiersten Coon moved to Chicago. I have been involved with Public Access Television in a number of cities since 1985. I believe Public Access Television plays an important role in our modern democracy. Corporations produce commercial television. Their views differ from the views of many citizens. Public Access television does not have to sell products to draw big audiences, so it is okay for producers to make shows for a minority of viewers.
What does the Program Manager do?
My primary duty is to put together the program schedule.
How does a producer start a series?
When a producer wants to start a series, they fill out a “Channel Time Request Form” and we find an available weekly time slot.
What if someone wants to do just one show?
We call single, non-series tapes “Standalone programs.” A producer fills out a Standalone form and I schedule their tape to run in any available time slot. Programming is scheduled on a first come, first served basis.
What other work do you do?
I update the “Bulletin Board” that runs when there are no programs playing. I also take digital still pictures around Minneapolis for little montages to play behind the “Up Next” lists that run between programs.
I also schedule the shifts that cablecasters work. They actually play the tapes on cable and adjust the video and audio levels. MTN has a really good group of cablecasters who make the programs look and sound as good as possible.
Another part of my job is bringing the tapes back and forth to our playback facility at our old MTN building on Lyndale and Plymouth. Our policy is for producers to call me two days before coming to pick them up.
What formats can you submit shows in?
We can play regular VHS, SVHS, ¾” (U-Matic) and all types of DV (DVCAM, Mini DV and DVC-Pro). The DV formats are the latest and have the best quality. We are phasing out ¾” tape because the decks are no longer being made and will be harder to service.
Is there anything else you would like to say to Monitor readers?
Please write the actual running time of your programs on your labels. Please have at least a minute of black at the end of your programs. And, most importantly, keep bringing in shows!