HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #66 - Discussion ItemCITY OF MtAI DIQTR I CT 4
INTER -OFFICE I COMMISSIONER REGALADO
Donald Warshaw DATE
M 4, 1999 FILE .
City Manager SUBJECT
Discussion Item
°aOtit RENCES:
Tomas Regalado ko
Commissioner ENCLOSURES:
Please place an item on the agenda of the City Commission meeting to be held on April
27; 1999. This item is in reference to discussion and possible legislative action relative to
programming on NET Channel 9.
Cc: Agenda Office
A.-
W, .:r Foeman,
ON Clerk
City of Miami
Office of Media Relations
Channel Net 9
May 11, 1999
L39
Brief Baclig_round History of Channel Net 9
• In 1992, Miami Net 9, a 24-hour, seven days a week, municipal access channel
was designated on Miami TCI's subscriber cable television system.*
• The purpose of this channel was to identify, explain and promote the use of City
services and to encourage interaction between City Government and its citizens.
Information is to be direct non -editorial concerning the operations and
deliberations of City Government.*
• The channel would provide a basic level of programming which relied upon a
simple "Bulletin Board" format featuring graphic/text information alternating
with Public Service Announcements.*
-Coverage of meetings of the City Commission
-Tape delayed cable casting of live progranun. 9
-Programs produced with resources of department, agencies and offices
of the City
-Outside source programs appropriate to the guidelines of the channel
-Text/graphic Bulletin Board
* Administrative Policy for Channel Net 9, Resolution No. 92-413
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Slide Presentation
Com,Darison between Channel Net 9 & F.I.U. Studio
Facilities
Present Status of Channel 9
This presentation is a quick comparison between FIU and Channel Net 9 studio
facilities and a status report on Channel 9.
The reason we have done this comparison with FIU studios is because we have
recently done production work at their studios, on an occasional basis, for some of
our programming.
Slide #1
FIU
• Exterior view of FIU studios facilities located at the North Campus on Biscayne
Boulevard
Slide #2
_ Channel Net 9
• Exterior view of location of our facilities, Fire Training Academy in Coconut
Grove
Slide #3
FIU
• Typical studio environment
-Describe lighting equipment
-Racks and diversity of lighting equipment
-Note different sets: cyclorama, Chroma key background
-Professional staff: 3 camera people and floor manager
Slide #4
Channel Net 9
• Our studio configuration
-Lack of space
-Lack of lighting equipment; portable; of inadequate size
-Loose cabling
-One of our video cameras for studio work
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Slide #5
FIU
• Young lady controlling the Lighting Board
Slide #6
Channel Net 9
• No Lighting Panel. Lights strung by wire ties, no rack equipment to move the
lights
-Patches of foam type material to reduce echo, no proper insulation
Slide #7
FIU
• Studio facilities Control Room at FIU
-Only for production work
-Amount of staff working
-TelePrompTer
-Camera swithcher
-Character generator
-Program producer (lady standing)
-Director sitting behind, using proper headsets
Slide #S
Channel Net 9
• Our production facility
-Not as sophisticated
Multipurpose facility: production, editing and duplication. These functions
should be separated. In our set-up we can only do one at a time:.
-Charactergenerator
-10 VCR's --only 6 are operational
Slide #9
FIU
• Switcher at FIU- multiple camera switcher and special effects generator
Slide #10
Channel Net 9
• Our production switcher on left bottom quadrant of picture
-Next to the Audio Board
-Switcher came from Police Dept., bought in 80's
-Right top quadrant of the frame there is an old 3/4' Sony VCR donated by a
citizen. This unit was repaired and is the only one in our facility that is
operational. Built around 1984.
-Audio mixer, the unit on top, borrowed from Police Dept., is used to mix
audio that comes from the studio --very basic
Slide #11
FIU
• FIU's PC based character generator -bulletin board facility
Slide #12
Channel Net 9
• Our character generator and bulletin board equipment
-Uses a Commodore Amiga computer
-Purchased between `91-' 92
-Manufacturer out of business for the past 5 years
-No replacement parts
-Software antiquated
-No Spell Checker
-2 units like this in the city -at studio and inside Control Room at City Hall
-If one of these unit -fails there will be no bulletin board
Slide #13
Channel Net 9
• Gym located at Fire Training Center located on 6th floor above the Channel 9
studios
-Noise of weight throwing and people working out resonates in studio
-Either stops programming or must do takes between weight drops
�_. Slide #14
Channel Net 9
• Our typical field work camera equipment
-Purchased in 1.994. Two (2) of these units
-Not of professional quality, prosumer use --for an advanced amateur use
-Not of broadcast quality
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Slide #15
Channel Net 9
• Modulator
-This unit permits the conversion of video information to cable signal
-Back-up modulator unit
-One of GSA employees, Raul Cuevas, found this unit in the middle of the
street and brought it to us to see if we could use it. With a little fiddling we
made it work.
-Probably discarded by someone who considered it outdated
-During the last hurricane scare we took this modulator to the
Emergency Center and used it to transmit emergency information to the
Bulletin Board
Slide #16
Channel Net 9
• Lapel Microphones
-Circa 1980's
-Came from Police Department
-Used to have three (3), now only (2) microphones
-Taped to keep them running
Slide #17
Channel Net 9
• Routing switcher
-Brought from Police
-Switches signals between editing equipment and live production
-Jams up because of age
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Slide #18
(Channel Net 9
• Storage Room
-Not an optical illusion
-We have stopped storing for fear of units collapsing
-Needs to be replaced with proper shelving
Slide #19
FIU
We are not asking for a similar facility but to have a studio with proper lighting,
background, proper audio
Slide #20
FIU
v We are not asking for a Control Room of this caliber or as many staff persons
but we need to replace and enhance our equipment to produce quality work. We
need:
-Adequate lighting
-Adequate sound
-Adequate production capabilities
-Adequate staff
The staff at Channel Net 9 and Media Relations is enthusiastic to meet the challenge
of bringing about changes is our programming. We are working with the
Administration and the Budget Department to produce the changes that we need in
order to meet the requests made by this Commission, and offer a programming all of
our citizens can feel proud of.
On a final note, this quote is from the late great artist Orson Welles:
"A painter needs a brush, a writer needs a pen, and a filmmaker needs an army. "
RE
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Miami -Dade County
Government Channel 34
A conversation with Don Patchen, Studio Manager of Channel 34 revealed the
following facts:
• An annual budget of $1.1 million dollars
• A state of the arts Chyron character generator of broadcast quality as found in
studios of commercial stations like CBS, NBC or Univision.
• Thirteen (13) full time staff including:
1 Station Manager
3 Producers
2 Editors
1.5 Engineer
$150,000 in recurring funds annually for the purchase of new equipment
Neither the Mayor nor County Commissioners have programs on the County
channel. Ocassionally they do guest appearances on programs.
City of Tampa rnou.293,290)
(CTTVI Cable Access Channel
A conversation with Mindy Snyder, CTTV Operations Manager gave us the
following facts:
• Established 14 years ago
• Annual budget of $800,000
• An annual operations budget of $400,000
• CTTV Channel is fully funded through the collection of the 5% franchise fee.
No taxpayers money is used.
• Yearly funding for new equipment of $20,000 (Last year the channel received an
additional $1005000 for enhancements)
• Four (4) studio cameras-BetaCam video format
• One (1) mobile truck with live capabilities
• One (1) recently purchased character generator, FX-Deko. (They just got rid of
the old Amiga character generator.)
• Produce an average of.fifteen (15) monthly programs
Staffing:
1 Operations (station) Manager
5 Production staff (write, edit, shoot)
1 Engineer
1 Clerical/assistant
The Mayor is the only elected official in the City of Tampa that tapes a monthly
program called "The Mayor's Hour".
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1V,
City of Coral Gables( Pon. 41, 624)
Channel 18-Gables Citv Network
A conversation with Joe Keefe, General Manager for Channel 18, provided the
following information:
• Operational budget of $400,000
• An additional allocation for this fiscal year of $500,000 to purchase a second
remote mobile unit estimated at $420,000
• Four (4) Chyron character generators estimated at $4,000 ea.
• Recently purchased non -linear editing equipment costing $35,000
• Channel is fully funded from franchise revenues (except Gen. Manager salary)
• New contract includes a $2,000,000 additional revenue over 15 years. 1/2 a
million yearly for Capital Improvements
Staffine:
2 full time positions -General Manager and Station Manager
14 part time positions covering all aspects of production
Neither the Mayor nor the Commissioners have programs on this channel. -
Sometimes, they are invited to programs as guests.
0
i 9
City of Clearwater (Pop. 102,974)
R
C View 15 Channel
A converstion with Carrie Beame, Supervisor for the Channel C View 15
revealed the following:
Channel was established five years ago
An annual budget of $250,000
Budget for operations of $100,000
Partially funded from the franchise fee and general fund
Have capabilities fo live productions
Channel produces 4 live shows every month. Cablecast 8 live meetings and 4 taped
TV shows
Staf ine:
1 Supervisor
5 Production Specialists (write, edit, shoot)
1 Intern
Mayor and Commissioners have a live call -in show taped monthly. Officials are
rotated to accomodate everyone.
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7
On July 1998, the Office of Community Information was renamed the Office of
Media Relations. Jorge Luis Hernandez was appointed Director of Media
Relations. Channel Net 9 became a part of this office.
Channel Net 9 never had an independent budget. Equipment found in Channel Net
9 has either come from other departments or bought with the funds from other
departments.
The members of the Office of Media Relations and Channel Net 9 have concluded
these are the most pressing needs to ensure quality work is produced in our studio
facility:
• Basic lighting
• Microphones
• Character generator
• Insulation-Soudproofing
• Cyclorama
• Two (2) professional video cameras for outside field work
• Light belts
• Batteries
• Additional staff
The Office of Media Relations and Channel Net 9 are fully committed to
providing the City of Miami and its citizens with the best informational,
educational and promotional channel.
In order to accomplish this endeavor, we respecfully request your support.
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