Community TV Development

The Pilot Week of Community Television in 2005 is seen as the launch pad for the long-term development of Community Television in Cork. However broadcasting for a week and broadcasting on a longer-term basis are two very different projects. For Community Television to really become established in Cork, adequate facilities need to be put in place regarding equipment, resources, training, supports etc. This can be achieved through the establishment of a Community Media and Television Centre which would consist of:

• A transmission centre which will look after signal distribution and scheduling and

• A Community Media Centre which will provide training, equipment, studios and production support for communities

The Community Media and Television centre will provide:

• Affordable training in video and television production in a range of areas from community video and television production to media literacy courses

• Affordable access to production and post-production facilities

• Free access to transmission for programmes produced and selected by the community

• The opportunity to participate in all areas of activity

The centre will be owned and controlled by the community and will operate on a not-for-profit basis. The main objective is that the ownership, strategic management and operational aspects of the Channel are open to participation by the community.

Community Production Groups

For Community Television to really flourish, community organisations need to be in a position to produce content on a regular basis. This may mean that different community organisations or interest groups would form community production units. These groups will either have their own production equipment or will hire it from the Community Media and Television Centre and will undergo training in community television production. Several groups in Cork have already purchased some equipment and have completed some training and productions with Frameworks. The aim would be for many more groups to follow this route and eventually for there to be several production units within Cork city and county, potentially developing their own community media centers.

Cork Community Television Working Group

A Cork Community Media Forum was established in Cork in 2003. This followed a presentation by Frameworks and others to the Cork Community Forum (developed through the Cork City Partnership) and a follow up Community Media Seminar held in Connolly Hall in May 2003. The purpose of the Cork Community Media Forum will be to develop an overall strategy for Community Media in Cork and it is comprised of three Working Groups (Community Television, Community Radio and Community Print/Internet).

Frameworks is a lead actor in the Community Television Working Group and is holding ongoing meetings to develop this group. The aim of the Community Television Working Group is to establish Community Television in Cork for the long term. If you or your organisation is interested in joining the Cork Community Television Working Group, please contact Frameworks.