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BCTV Cable Channel 2
Belfast -- Searsport

Belfast Community TV’s mission is to reflect and strengthen the unique spirit and character of Belfast, Maine in order to enrich the lives of residents and visitors in the Midcoast region by fostering communication, free speech, artistic expression as well as creating opportunities through television and other electronic media.

BCTV-2 Program Director’s Report, June 28, 2007, 2007

Equipment and Facilities We have finally developed our training manuals so that we will be able to offer some workshops on using our video camera. We have been giving some one on one informal training to individuals and that has ben a good approach for now, but it will be good to offer a classs to the public. We have not set a date for classes yet.

We purchased a second satellite receiver funded by local people interested interested in having Democracy Now ! shown on our channel. The program is airing from noon until 1PM on the channel as of June 27th.

We have had our first 90 degree days and so far we have been able to keep the BCTV offices cool enough to work in so I am optimistic that we will be able to operate without air conditioners. We have not received our first electricity bill, but clearly it would be great if we did not have the cost of air conditioning.

Programming: Several new programs have been airing on the station. I have produced the Summer video guide which airs daily on the station. It is a video that is targeted to visitors to the area about things to do and places to visit in the area. It is revised monthly in order to include timely events.
The Mark and Tim show is a funny new location interview show produced by Mark Kuzio. The show premieres Tuesday at 7:30 pm and receives several additional showings each week. They plan to produce two shows a month.
We are also airing a 13 minute program promoting Arts in the Park which takes place on July 7 and 8.
Karen Saum produces a twelve minute program of an open house of Michael Shell which includes an entertaining rap. We have begun airing programming on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Jerry klaimon is producing Community announcements which run between programs. He has produced a couple promos to encourage people to send him announcements.
We also have produced a promo that explains how folks are able to access our program schedule by going to our blog. Thanks to Karen Saum for her wonderful voice talent for the spot.
We do need to look at underwriting support. Presently we do not have a development person and we are therefore lacking underwriting support.
I recently attended the summer meeting of the Community Television association of Maine. I volunteered to be involved in developing community TV archives which will be stored at New England Historic film. I believe there may be some interesting Maine produced programs that I may come across, that we may be able to show on the channel.
I did get a chance to meet some folks from Lincoln County Community TV. I even got an interesting documentary that was produced by a Boothbay resident about a volunteer effort by some Mainers to assist in home reconstruction in New Orleans. It is called “Promises were made” and will air several times next week.
Nancy Sossman is sending our weekly schedule to our local papers, and I anticipate that our schedules will be appearing in the papers shortly.

Respectfully submitted by:
Ned Lightner