Public Access/Cable TV (page 2)

With public distribution of your video skills finally within reach, it's time to work on ideas possessing audience appeal. Maybe you can recycle some past video project that you did into a broadcast program. Recital or play videos could become a local talent showcase series. Be sure to obtain the proper copyright releases on any copyrighted material including plays, music, etc. If you shoot weddings, maybe a weekly wedding show, sponsored by area bridal shops, will gain interest. Or, if you've shot a bundle of seemingly useless "around-the-town" type stuff - parades, parks, cityscapes, and the like - local merchants and government may look favorably on a "home town tourist's guide" much like those run in big city hotels. For those developing new shows, again, the sky's the limit as long as you observe applicable broadcasting ethics.

Finally, if public and leased access channels are unavailable, don't forget that other options exist to distribute your work. Low Power Television Stations (LPTV) sometimes operate much like leased access stations. Airtime may be available for purchase from the station, with the producer retaining commercial time during the show. Individual LPTV stations and some multi-station networks are scattered throughout the nation; they exist on the upper bands of the broadcast signal. Another avenue to distribution is reality TV. The popularity of these shows means they are always looking for footage. Scan the content of the programs currently airing to determine if you have or can shoot footage that fits their needs. Along the same lines, local news programs also provide a channel of distribution. Any footage of natural disasters or one-of-a-kind events, that you have exclusive footage of, may find its way onto the evening news.
With some planning, research and a little ingenuity, there's no reason why your video project could not be "on the air." After all, getting your video broadcast to an audience outside of your living room is the final goal of any distribution effort. Additionally, it can be a gratifying and even profitable experience for a semi-professional video producer.

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