HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7889 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO. 7889
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February 7, 1995
V11.1a. To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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�4NT3 Subject: Community Video Programming Training Program, Studio 46
Background
In 1981,the City of Fort Worth awarded a cable franchise to the Sammons Corp. In addition
to providing a specified level of cable service, the agreement require'd Sammons to provide
local programming. A component of the local programming package was the construction of
a "central cable studio." When the City and Sammons of Fort Worth renegotiated limited
points of the franchise agreement in 1988, the cable studio had not been constructed. In the
re-negotiated franchise, Sammons was relieved from its community programming
responsibility when it agreed to turn over five channels to the City. The city became
responsible for the programming, with a $1 per subscriber, per month fee paying the costs.
Because the central cable studio was considered an essential facility, the City released
Sammons from its committment to construction of a central studio. Instead, the City agreed
to allow Sammons to contribute $1 million to the City for construction of a studio.
Proposal
In 1993, the City elected to construct the central cable studio as a part of the Central Library
Expansion at a cost of $1.8 million for both construction and equipment. The funding
included the$1 million contributed by Sammons for the studio and $800,000 in reserve funds
accumulated by the City Cable Office from the $1 per month subscriber fee.
On January 13, 1995, the City Cable Office occupied the new studio facilities at 401 East
Second Street. The facility includes a main production studio, with a master control. The
main studio will be used primarily by cable staff to produce Municipal Channel 07 and
Community Channel 45 programming. A second "community studio" is also part of the
facility. The community studio is a fully-equipped facility with a master control and video
edit cue. The studio also houses the Cable administrtive offices.
The community studio fulfills a long-standing desire to enable citizens to produce their own
programs for Open Channel 46. For the City, the additional production capability will result
in expanded and diversified programming on the Open Channel. However, the video
production equipment is somewhat complex.
The City Cable Programming Advisory Committee and the Cable staff reviewed other cities
with citizen production programs, as well as local need. As a result, the citizen advisory
panel and staff are proposing creation of the "Studio 46 Program."
Studio 46 essentially is a program to first teach citizens how to use the community studio
equipment to produce their own shows and, second, to use the studio to produce programs.
Initially, training will be provided by a video professional hired on a freelance basis by the
City. Discussions are underway with area colleges and universities to operate the training
program at the city studios.
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7889
February 7, 1995
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 3
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�;,_M,57 Subject: Community Video Programming Training Program, Studio 46
Studio 46, as proposed, will operate as a membership program. A proposed annual
membership fee will entitle Studio 46 members to 20 hours of studio time annually, special
events usage of Studio 46 facilities, a roster of qualified Studio 46 technical production
assistants,professional cable staff assistance and participation in the annual Studio 46 event
coordinated by the advisory committee.
Studio 46 members who require additional studio time will be able to rent the facilities at
"below market price".
To use the community studio, citizens must complete a basic video course. Citizens who
already are proficient in video can "test out" and automatically become certified.
Studio 46 members who desire to become more proficient can elect to take additional video
courses that will be offered:
*Producing(Directing
*Audio/Character Generator Operation
*Editing
*CamCorder Camera Operation
The Community Programming Advisory Committee and staff is recommending a 3-tier course
fee system:
Category 1--Fort Worth residents who are students or senior citizens age 60 or above.
Category H--All other Fort Worth residents.
Category III--Non-Fort Worth residents.
The "below the market" fee concept recommended by the advisory committee is designed to
recover only the out-of-pocket costs of providing training.
Based on this, the Community Programming Advisory Committee and staff recommends the
following fee structure:
Service Senior/Student Fort Worth Non-Fort Worth
Resident Resident Resident
Membership $35 $58 $140
(Cable Subscriber)
$70
(Non-Cable
Subscriber)
Basic Course $ 5 $10 $50
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER— FORT WORTH.,TEXAS
11111. .........__...._.........
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7889
GNgHTEf}Fo February 7, 1585
, ,> To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page s of s
%FX�AIZ Subject: Community Video Programming Program, Studio 46
Producing/ $20 $25 $50
Directing
Audio/Character $20 $25 $50
Generator
Editing $20 $25 $50
CamCorder $15 $20 $50
Studio Use Rate
Additional Editing $10 $15 $75
Facility Use per hour per hour per hour
Additional Control $10 $15 $85
per hour per hour per hour
The$58 membership fee for Fort Worth cable subscribers recognizes that these members pay
the $1 a month subscriber fee.
9 Because the City Cable Studio is excellent, centrally located and one of the few full-service
production facilities in Tarrant County, it is anticipated that the private sector will want to
rent the studio for production work. The Cable Programming Advisory Committee and staff
agree that until the Studio 46 program is fully implemented and until the City Cable
production staff can determine what its use demands will be, the studio should not be leased
to the private sector. If a demand does develop, the advisory committee and staff will devise
a recommendation to bring to Council.
Recommendation
To enable as many citizens as possible to take advantage of the new community studio, the
Cable Programming Advisory Committee and staff recommends City Council approve creation
of the Studio 46 Program and the "below market fee" concept. Unless otherwise directed,
staff will prepare an M&C for Council consideration.
Bob Terrell v
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER —— -- FORT WORTH,TEXAS