VI. Cablecasting Standards & Procedures

VI. Cablecasting Standards & Procedures

A.  BCTV primarily accepts the following media formats:

1.    DVD

2.    Mpeg2 Video File, submitted on a portable storage device or downloaded from an online file hosting site.

B. With permission of a staff member, BCTV also accepts the following media formats:

1.    Mini DV tape

2.    VHS tape

C.  Provision of blank media for production:

1.    Community producers must provide blank media for raw footage. Tapes and DVDs may be purchased from BCTV.  Because of the variable quality of DVDs, staff may recommend certain brands that are proven to work successfully with BCTV equipment.

2.    Tapes from BCTV productions remain the property of the station. A BCTV production is defined as one in which BCTV staff participate actively in any part of the production, in more than an advisory role.

3.    Community producers are responsible for their tapes/DVDs during production and post-production. BCTV is not responsible for tapes, DVDs or personal video equipment and possessions left at the facility.

D. Copies of finished programs

1.    Community producers are entitled to make up to two copies of their finished, edited program, offered at cost of the blank media. For additional copies, producers will pay the current BCTV rate for duplication. If any of the producer’s copies are sold, the producer must adhere to income guidelines as per rule XIIA.

2.    BCTV may request permission from the producer to keep a copy of the program for the archives.

E.  Requests for Cablecast:

1.    A Request for Cablecast and Statement of Compliance form must be filled out and signed prior to the program’s being cablecast.

2.    Completed tapes/DVDs must be submitted to a BCTV staff member for cataloging and scheduling by Wednesday 12 p.m. in order to be scheduled for cablecast the following week.

3.    All requests for channel time on BCTV will be processed on a fair and equitable basis. The cablecast form will be used for scheduling the program. Locally-produced programs will take precedence in scheduling over imported programming.

4.    Scheduled programs may be preempted for time-sensitive programs.

5.    Frequency of Scheduling:

BCTV will use the following table as a guideline for scheduling playback frequency, based on program length.  BCTV reserves the right to supercede scheduled programs for cablecasting of timely material. Additional playback times may be scheduled to compensate for such an occurrence.

6.    Programs produced outside BCTV may be cablecast on channel 8 or 10 if they meet the technical standards outlined below and legal standards specified in the Statement of Compliance on the back of the Request for Cablecast Form. These programs must be sponsored and submitted by a BCTV member.

F.  Series:

1.    Regularly scheduled series time slots will be allocated at the discretion of the Program Coordinator, provided ample time remains available for other community programming requests. Locally-produced series will be given precedence in scheduling.

2.    A series will be allocated a maximum of one year of play, after which reapplication will be required. Reapplication will be considered in the light of other scheduling demands.

3.    If a series producer regularly fails to have his or her program ready for scheduled cablecast, the time slot may be reassigned to other users.

G.  Technical Standards:

BCTV reserves the right to reject any program that does not meet minimum technical standards outlined below. While locally produced programs are not expected to look like they were produced for a commercial television network, tapes/DVDs which do not carry a stable signal over the cable system or which might damage BCTV equipment will not be cablecast.

1. DVD Standards:

Submitted DVDS must meet the following minimum standards:

a.    DVDs submitted with scratches and/or fingerprints cannot be cablecast.

b.    A DVD that does not play successfully in BCTV’s DVD decks after two attempts cannot be cablecast. A staff member will request a resubmittal of the program from the producer.

c.     Any program displaying a “skip” or lack of signal (“snow”) cannot be cablecast.

d.    Audio levels must be adequate.

e.    Programs submitted on a multi-title/track DVD must display the appropriate track/title number on the DVD label or the Cablecast Request Form.

f. DVDs with adhesive labels not designed for DVD use cannot be accepted.

g. DVDs must be labeled as follows:

1.    Program title.

2.    Run time of program to be aired, in HH:MM:SS format.

3.    If multi-track, Title or track number of program to be aired..

4.    Producer’s name.

2.      Digital File Standards:

Files submitted by portable storage device or via online file hosting sites must meet the following minimum standards:

a. Files must be 720 x 480 program stream mpeg2 files with mux rate no higher than 10 mbps.

b. 16:9 (widescreen) programs should be letterboxed for 4:3 playback to avoid distortion.

c. Normalize audio levels at -12 db.

H.  Program retention and return

1.    The submitted program or a copy will be kept at BCTV for at least four weeks for cablecast. BCTV reserves the right to show a program as many times as there is interest in the community.

2.    BCTV will request permission from the producer for the following:

a.    Duplication of program for distribution;

b.    Distribution of program to other cable access stations;

c.     Duplication of program for BCTV archives.

3.    When the Request for Cablecast form is submitted, producers have the following options regarding the return or disposition of their program once it has been cablecast:

a.    Pick up the program at the BCTV office within 60 days. If this option is indicated, BCTV will notify the producer when the program is available for pickup. It is the producer’s responsibility to pick up the program within 60 days of notification. Any program left at BCTV for longer than 60 days becomes the property of BCTV; after this period of time, BCTV retains the right to dispose of or recycle it.

b.    Ask BCTV to return the program by mail. If so, a self-addressed stamped envelope must be provided.

c.     Allow BCTV to dispose of the program.