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.   

Oshkosh Media covers events honoring local first responders, remembering veterans

Attendees to the dedication of the Wall of Honor get a first look at the tribute housed in the Oshkosh Fire Department.

On December 7, the Oshkosh Fire Department dedicated its new Wall of Honor that pays tribute to both past and active members of the department who were/are veterans. Oshkosh Media, the city’s community media center, was there to record the touching ceremony. Some of those honored date back to the American Civil War. The wall also honors members of the department who died in the line of duty, and the 343 firefighters who perished in the 9/11 attacks in New York. “The Oshkosh Fire Department is profoundly grateful that our citizens, and especially local veteran’s groups, feel that it is a worthy and meaningful tribute to those who have served our country and community for generations to be acknowledged and remembered in this special way,” said Oshkosh Fire Department  Battalion Chief Andrew Jaeger. “We intend to have this Honor Wall be a visual reminder that our core value of service is the one of the foundational concepts for why we exist, and will continue to serve our citizens and visitors.” Click here to watch coverage of the event.

 On the same day, Oshkosh Media was on hand to capture a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony hosted by the local AMVETS that marked the 81st anniversary of the attack on the American naval base in Hawaii. More than 200 Wisconsinites were present on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor. 56 people from our state were killed, including three who called Oshkosh home. 2,403 American service members and civilians were killed in the attack. The ceremony’s featured speaker was Wayne Amborn, a Vietnam War veteran whose father survived the attack on Pearl Harbor.   "The events at Pearl Harbor struck the American soul back in 1941. It's day that we as a nation cannot forget, especially because three area Sailors perished that day,” said Lt. Col. Mike Hert (Army, retired). “We were blessed to have the Oshkosh Media team to record the local Pearl Harbor Day ceremony. This ensured that some citizens still had the ability to observe the service and ensure those memories would be still be embraced in the year 2022. Thus passing along the stories of valor and sacrifice to the current generation. Many said that after December 7, 1941, that we as a country can never forget, we truly are fortunate to have the OM team actively engaged with the Veterans community to ensure that sacred loss of life is bonded to our very fabric." Click here to watch coverage of the event.

Stoughton WSTO’s “Shop Local” promos hit just before the holidays

WSTO’s Derek Westby talks with Ingrid McMasters of Spry Whimsy, a fiber arts store in Stoughton. Click to see the full 3 minute promo!

WSTO TV has produced several “Shop Local” promos for downtown businesses just in time for the holidays as a result of its new partnership with the Stoughton Downtown Merchants Association (SDMA).  

The collaboration began a few months ago when Derek Westby, Senior Network Administrator for the City of Stoughton who oversees WSTO TV, approached the SDMA about producing a television show featuring local businesses.  “Then three weeks ago, Spencer Meier [WSTO Media Manager] and I met with Joanne Grassman from the Stoughton Downtown Merchants Association to talk about the idea of using WSTO to help make short ‘pop-in’ promos for shopping local for the holidays.” 

With such a short turn around, WSTO TV decided to produce three generic ‘Shop local in Downtown Stoughton, Wisconsin’ promos and then went on to produce 16 individual store promos so far -- with a few more in the works.  “It has been a great partnership between these businesses and WSTO TV,” reported Westby.  “It has been a lot of work to create all of these promos in such a short time,” said Meier, “but in doing so we have met many new people and learned about the many interesting businesses that are located in our downtown.  It has been very rewarding to see the community’s response to our work.”

“It has been a long time since we’ve featured our downtown. It has changed a lot over the past several years and it feels right to highlight it again,” Meier continued. 

WSTO TV posted all of the videos to their Facebook page and YouTube as well as broadcasting them on their cable channels.  The videos are also on-demand on their Roku and AppleTV apps.