BCTV Logo -- Click to enlarge


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.

Wanted: Underwriters for station
An all volunteer public access channel has considerably fewer expenses than a broadcaster, but even our modest operation has operating expenses. Whether it is paying our electric or phone bills, or maintenance on our equipment, we are funded through the generosity of local individuals and businesses. At this point we do not have "memberships" like public TV, though we are exploring various avenues of funding. Presently we do offer station underwriting. Underwriters may underwrite our programming for as little as a month or up to a year, and the costs vary from $90-$200 a month depending on the length of commitment. In exchange the station will place 3, 20 second announcement within our local programming blocks each day. Those messages reach about 2000 cable subscribers in the Belfast/Searsport area. We work with the underwriter to place their message adjacent to programming appealing to their target audience. Besides supporting our station, underwriters benefit by reaching a local audience with the power of television. Similar to public television, our underwriting guidelines do not permit some things that you see on commercial TV. There are no prices mentioned, no direct calls to action and no comparative language such as the best pizza in town, however it is still possible to create an effective message for a business within those restrictions. If you would like to learn more about underwriting opportunities, please feel free to contact Ned Lightner at 207-323-2430 or nlightner@verizon.net

Summer Productions at BCTV
Whether its Mark and Tim having fun with tourists, or "Somewhere in Waldo County" doing a program about Aquaculture, this is the season when its good to wind up your video cameras and get outside and create some shows. As for me, I am cranking up another season of gardening shows. This coming week I head down to one of my favorite restaurants, "Primo" in Owls head. They have perhaps the ultimate "kitchen gardens" and hopefully we'll get some cooking tips along with gardening ideas. For those of you who don't have a video camera, thanks to the Maine Community Foundation, BCTV has a camera we can lend you. Just get in touch with me (Ned Lghtner) and I can get you checked out and making TV. I can be reached via email at nlightner @verizon.net or by phone at 207-323-2430.