A March 31 article in Crain’s Chicago Business interviews new CAN-TV Executive Director Darrious Hilmon and explains, “How CAN-TV is reaching new heights.” See the full article here.
Marshfield Broadcasting has left YouTube behind
Marshfield Broadcasting has left YouTube behind and along with it, concerns about losing its archive of programming due to YouTube’s copyright strike policies. “After one strike, we decided to stop taking the risk,” said David Ballerstein, Communications Specialist for the City of Marshfield.
Like many other media centers, Marshfield Broadcasting has a Video-On-Demand system that is embedded in its website. It works just like YouTube, but since it is managed in-house, Marshfield Broadcasting can police itself.
The TelVue system used by MarshfieldBroadcasting.com includes a tab that goes to Archive.org, where Marshfield will be storing its older programs, including its meeting coverage. The City of Marshfield has stopped posting new programming on its two YouTube channels. “We want our viewers to get used to going to our website for programming,” said Ballerstein.
Ballerstein is also excited about a new system that gives community producers more autonomy. The program schedule for Channel 989, the Community Channel, is now set by the producers themselves. “Our local producers not only produce their own shows, but they also upload their content to the TelVue System Hypercaster playback system using a login specifically designed for community producers. Then they choose from the available timeslots on the schedule where to put their shows.” Producers are required to turn in shows that fit into a 28:00 or 58:00 timeslot so that an animated program schedule and a PSA can be slotted in between community programs.
Cable access channels are permitted to play programs using music copyrighted by BMI and ASCAP, because they are covered under agreements struck between those groups and the cable industry association, NCTA. For example, cable access channels can air an ice-capades show that features skaters performing to pop music. However, when that program airs on YouTube, it can cause copyright violations. While media centers are conscious of this problem, sometimes programs slip through.
When YouTube decides that a user has violated a copyright, the user receives a warning. But if the user receives a strike, the content will be removed, and YouTube will bar the user from uploading videos for one week. If the user receives two strikes, they are prevented from uploading videos for two weeks. If a user receives three strikes within 90 days, the YouTube channel is permanently removed. See YouTube Policies here. https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802032?hl=en
The City of Marshfield also programs Marshfield Now on Charter Spectrum Channel 990 that is filled with features produced by Marshfield Broadcasting staff and Charter Spectrum Channel 991, the government access channel, scheduled primarily with meeting coverage.
