Public Access TV vs Leased Access TV
Andrew asks: Brian, you mentioned doing a show of your own on public access television a while back – I didn’t catch the name of the show or what it was all about- can you elaborate? You also mentioned the show moving over to leased access. What is the difference? I’m trying to start a show of my own and would like to know what type of channel to put it on.
Answer: The show was called Jobmass Television – it ran every Sunday morning, noon and night from 2002-2004 until it hit the leased access channels in late 2004 into 2006.
Jobmass TV was a one of a kind career-based news magazine that was viewed by more than 100,000 cable subscribers in the Boston, Massachusetts area and surrounding cities and towns.
The program covered the ins and outs of the job search, tips on advancing an existing career and it took an inside look at area businesses, industry news, trends and career profiles from active professionals in the field. Each episode gave job seekers a deeper insight into advancing an existing career or what to expect when starting another.
Here’s a sample of the show intro:
http://media.thedvshow.com/promo/jobmass_open.flvBetween segments there were job listings from local staffing agencies and larger company profiles highlighting features, benefits and their working culture for potential employees. It was a popular show in Massachusetts and VERY lucrative. A staff of 7 (including myself) built the show to what it was until advertising funds simply ran out. It was more of a learning experience than an actual business. The website still exists as a job search engine but the show is now sitting in the archives.
Jobmass Television was forced into the leased access arena due to violating an important policy many public access television stations set in stone: NO COMMERCIAL CONTENT!
Public Access Channels
Hundreds of public access production facilities were launched in the 1970s after the Federal Communications established a mandate which required all cable systems in the top 100 U.S. television markets to provide three access-channels, one each for educational, local government, and public use.
These channels are used for broadcasting non-profit programming from various municipal institutions and local citizens who wish to produce community based programming as a volunteer who does not have the expectation to get paid or profit from the programming they produce.
Public access TV is more of an outlet for free speech than an outlet for commercial content.
Leased Access Channels
Leased access is when an individual organization or commercial entity “leases” a channel from the cable operator for a fee. Programming on leased access channels are funded by the sale of commercial advertising on the channel. If a program is not commercially viable however, it may not be shown.
Rates for leased access may vary depending on the area that you live in. These rates are usually inexpensive. A one hour block of airtime may cost $100 or less. Local producers can purchase available airtime for one day or for months at a time.
There are tons of opportunities for producers to broadcast their own television show using public access and leased access channels. The only difference may lie in what may be allowed and in what direction your show is going to go in.
I’m president of the national association of Leased Access Programmers and my firm, StogTv, uses and/or has used leased access on sites coast to coast. We operate sites where we produce our own content and have sites where other producers are ‘affiliates’ that produce and air their own content on local sites under agreements StogTv secures and does so under our insurance.
Now let me see if I can help clear up some confusion.
First Public Access, the supposedly FREE airtime is part of what are known as PEG channels (Public, Educational and Government) and only exists at cable sites where it has been made a condition of the franchise and what facilities and support are provided whether by the cable operator or not is dependent on what the franchising authority makes part of the local franchise agreement. Many franchising authorities DO NOT require any PEG channels. In my home state of Mississippi only one cable system has a Public Access channel and only a couple more have Government or Education channels.
Leased access is a creature of Congress and all cable sites are required by law to ‘set aside’ a percentage of activated channels for use by programmers unaffiliated with the local cable management. Let me repeat…ALL cable sites are required to make available airtime for leased access at rates set by FCC.
While Public Access is primarily unfettered as to content, with some restrictions on the time of day some content can be aired, leased access is absolutely free from any degree of editorial control by the cable site. FCC does allow cable sites to refuse to air any ‘lewd or obscene’ content. FCC also permits cable sites to require LAPers (leased access programmers) to carry expensive ‘media perils’ insurance.
There is yet another channel often in use at sites and this is any ‘local origination’ channel the cable operator cares to operate and they often sell feature length time. However in contrast to leased access where the site is prohibited from interfering with content, that in LO channels is only what the site wants to accept.
StogTv has developed a program where affiliates can have ‘live TV’ shows via our use of IPTV technology. Chances are ‘live’ shows are not available on LO channels and may or may not be on Public Access.
As pointed out in the article and comments, Public Access is NOT supposed to contain any commercials, even with the type sponsorship allowable under some Public TV stations. The two are distinct and separate entities. Public TV is broadcast under FCC while Public Access is a cable channel under the local franchise agreement.
Actually a proper business plan will permit producers to make modest profits or better via using leased access. Just like the national cable networks and television these producers compete with, a show that commands enough viewers can be very profitable.
Information on leased access is available by simply putting “leased access” in Google.
Charlie Stogner; stogtv@gmail.com
Great article. I had a show idea about 4 years ago and just did it on Public Access and now I am looking to move it into Leased Access. I have a fan base and a small following. I love doing it. Go to http://www.rarawithlaura.com and check it out. Thanks for posting this information because people should know about this stuff. Especially if it has always been a dream to have a TV Show as it was in my case.
RA! RA!
LauRA Sheridan
I concur with Brian and the information he has shared here. I wish to offer further clarity on this subject if I can. I am making available a one page discussion called, “My business on TV?” which was written with the business-owning potential sponsor in mind. It tells part of the story.
I don’t mean to convey that I am some sort of expert on this subject. Far from it. My experience has presented me the opportunity to wade through these murky waters, and I am happy to share what understanding has come of it. If you have a correction or addition to make to this discussion, I welcome it. Please get in touch with me and I will add it to these notes.
I have found that there is pervasive confusion regarding matters of Public Access verses Commercial Television. Even some community television managers I have met seemed confused about the finer points. I believe much of this confusion stems from the use of key words that go vaguely defined – words like, “commercial”, “advertising”, “ads”, “sponsorship”. Adding a bit to the confusion for someone looking at this for the first time is the fact that PBS, known as public television, has been modifying their restrictions on advertising and allowing their sponsors rather liberal recognition on air. No doubt you have noticed sponsoring companies putting more and more “information” on their sponsor’s recognition in shows in recent years. To put it bluntly, community television is the most restrictive, commercial television the most liberal, and PBS falls in between.
As a citizen exercising your right to free speech in our modern society, government and cable TV operators, working with volunteer leaders in many communities have made available television channels for “free” use. That “free” use sometimes involves small fees, particularly if you are from out of the area. Sometimes they have created a physical television station for your use as well. The local station usually manages the use of the community channels. These stations usually provide basic training classes on the use of their gear, at the end of which, you will be declared a “producer”. You may either borrow or rent the station’s equipment or use their studio – all for the production of your show. I have found that every station has its own rules and regulations regarding how to use their facilities and equipment, what costs may be involved, and the limitations they impose. But fundamentally, you should be able to submit a show for airing on the community stations for free, subsequent to rules regarding obscenity, racism, etc – and advertising. Access to the community airways are not to be sold.
As a producer, you may very well want or need to be compensated for the production of your program. The community television industry recognizes that financial compensation facilitates the production of programs, and therefore, free speech. You are allowed to secure sponsoring businesses who may give you money to help you produce your show. In return, it is appropriate, indeed prudent, for the show to share with the public who their sponsors are, and to thank their sponsors publicly for making the show possible. As a producer, you may do that by including an “ad” of sorts on your show. There are strict limitations on the content and the placement of your sponsor’s ad and those limitations vary somewhat from station to station. Inquire of the stations you wish to use so that you may follow their rules. Generally, those rules require that the ad not be longer than 30 seconds, be placed at the beginning or end of the show – but not in the middle. They may contain a name, logo, tag line, phone number, location, and web site address. But some stations may restrict some of these items. They may not contain info about “sales”, pricing, limited-time offers, or other typical features of “commercials”. Oh, and we prefer you not call it an “ad”, but a “sponsorship recognition” or “sponsorship”.
As for the financial side of this discussion, you should be clear that you are not selling “sponsorship recognitions”, ads, or appearances as a guest on the show. You can not sell air time- it is the public’s airways. You are providing recognition to sponsors for as many shows as they care to contribute to. Their contributions, or sponsorships, are to support the show overall. Sponsorship dollars can help to defray the cost of transportation, equipment, even salaries. Sponsorship money can not be used to generate a profit over-and-above operating expenses – if you are airing the show on community television. Is your salary part of operating expenses? Of course it is! But be forewarned that very few, if any, TV shows on community television ever come close to covering all of their operating expenses.
Want to make a living and a profit?
Then you want to enter the world of commercial television. And the first rung on that ladder is “Leased Access”. You lease the time from a cable television station to air your show. There are fewer restrictions on advertising, and you are welcome to make all the money you can – for a price. For here you have to pay for your air time. Costs can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars per showing. It varies with the marketplace and the size of your audience. You are selling ad space, or air time, to your advertisers. The ads can be long or short. You can place the ads during the program as well as at the beginning or end. They can contain prices, sales, and specials. You can charge what you want and make a profit, if you are able to.
So what is best for your show?
I am an advocate for starting out by producing your first show on community television. For most people costs are a major consideration and usually cash is in short supply. Community television provides the lowest-cost way to bring your ideas to “market”. Further, you may find that both the material support and emotional support you get from your local community station to be a real help up. During this time you can begin to build your following of fans, get known in your local business community, and in your industry. You can practice, building your skills and developing your style. In time, coupled with internet marketing and social media, you will create a reputation for yourself and your show. And who knows, before you have to “go commercial”, your show may be recognized by industry leaders and you may, if you are good at what you do, and lucky, get an offer from a commercial television executive, or a corporate VP of Marketing to provide a major sponsorship.
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