With updates in technology and resources to local cable access
channels, community television now presents a more appealing
picture to San Benito County residents, who can be a part of the
shows in addition to watching them.
With updates in technology and resources to local cable access channels, community television now presents a more appealing picture to San Benito County residents, who can be a part of the shows in addition to watching them.
Community Media Access Partnership, based at Gavilan College, launched channels 18, 19 and 20 Jan. 10 to join the already existing Channel 17. Since then, CMAP officials say the community’s response has been positive.
“This is the only place you’re going to see local programming, where community issues are dealt with and talked about,” said CMAP Executive Director Suzanne St. John.
CMAP was founded after city councils in Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan Bautista negotiated a contract with Charter Communications two years ago and the cities expressed a desire for community programming and upgraded technology. Charter invested $700,000 in start-up funds for the non-profit organization, which is funded through the cities and cable subscriber fees, St. John said.
“Even though our physical location is in Gilroy, our services extend to Hollister and San Juan residents,” she said.
CMAP has stepped up its efforts to find people to host television shows. Hollister resident J.J. Vogel and founder of the WATCHDOG group is planning a live, call-in talk show called “Hollister on the Spot” on channel 20, which exclusively airs live shows from residents.
St. John said CMAP exercises no editorial control over channel 20, so anyone submitting program material must fill out a form of understanding that they are liable for the content. Contact information for a show’s producer is required to be shown sometime during the program, she said.
San Benito County residents can view public meetings from their own home on CMAP with better audio and feature graphics, St. John said. While CMAP currently airs Hollister City Council meetings on Channel 17, it is planning to broadcast more public meetings on channel 17, which exclusively airs meetings and announcements. Earlier this month, CMAP installed at the Council chambers two remote-controlled cameras and a remote-controlled telecast.
The San Juan Bautista City Council recently approved taping of its meetings as well, which she said will further increase community access to government in action.
“Our goal is to expand programming and access to information,” St. John said.
Channel 18 is called Gav-TV, for which Gavilan Community College students and campus groups create programs. Channel 19 broadcasts educational programs targeting students in kindergarten through 12th grade. School district meetings can also be aired on channel 19 or 17. All four channels require programming 24 hours per day, seven days per week. For programming information, go to the CMAP Web site at www.mycmap.org.
“We’re thrilled with the placement we got. It has to be part of the basic cable package,” St. John said.
All four channels being at one end of the TV dial, she said, allows viewers to surf through those channels more often, and it helps that the channels are grouped. In comparison, St. John said the public access channels in parts of Manhattan are 28 and 52.
“Who can remember that?” she said.
CMAP’s prize possession is its I-Net system, St. John said, which allows live broadcasts from 50 locations in Hollister, San Juan and Gilroy. Last year, CMAP broadcast from the Hollister Independence Rally and the Gilroy Garlic Festival. She expects the same coverage this year, about four hours per day during the events.
CMAP is looking for on-air talent to host the events or produce and host a TV show. Already, there is “The Femur Show” produced by two teenagers whom St. John described as “Tom Greens of Gilroy.”
CMAP is airing different community-produced shows from surrounding areas to give people ideas for their own show. Those interested can attend station orientations and production workshops, which are offered on the first Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on the third Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
CMAP charges a $50 annual membership fee; cable subscribers get a $10 discount. It also offers various equipment that can be checked out by community residents at no charge. There is no cost to broadcast a show.
“I’m thrilled. Usually there are a lot more residents and not a lot of interest,” St. John said. “We’re cranking out a lot of programming.”
For more information, go to www.mycmap.org or call (408) 846-4983.
