Two years ago, almost to the day, our group
was given financial support and licensed by
the Village Board authorizing us to produce
original television programming that would
be in the public interest.
One year ago, almost to the day, the
Plainfield Television Group came before the
Village Board to renew our license. The
Village agreed, that indeed, we had operated
in the public interest and extended our
licenses and funding for a year.
At that time we highlighted the ambitious and
optimistic plans the Group had for 2008.
We happily can report that those plans and
goals have been met. We said we would
build and equip a television studio, and we
have built a television studio. Visitors from
other communities have told us we have one
of the most professional facilities in Will
country, an amazing feat considering our
less than state-of- the-art electronic
equipment.
We said we would expand our weekly
program and involve more Plainfield
residents; we now broadcast an expanded
2-½ hour program, which is shown three
times weekly.
Since August of last year our volunteers have
created more than 130 hours of original local
television that included interviews,
community events, discussions, information,
profiles, and opinion – an extraordinary
accomplishment for a volunteer group.
More than 200 community leaders, Plainfield
residents, people with something to say, and
Cub Scouts have passed through our doors.
We have become Plainfield’s television
soapbox – which is a classic definition of
public access television. We plan to
continue being just that.
On September 5 we will begin our fall
schedule of new broadcasts.
New to the schedule will be music offerings
by local talent, profiles of interesting
Plainfield women, expanded discussion and
opinion programming, conversations with
state and national office holders, and
extended coverage of both the November and
April election issues and candidates.
We have deepened our relationship with
many local organizations and institutions. We
encourage community participation. Groups
are coming to us with program ideas, a
contrast to the early years when it was the
other way around.
We now operate at our Bryant Broadcast
Center facility, which includes two production
stages, a conference room, an editing suite,
construction and storage space, a guest
reception area, parking, and a central
easy-to-find location. Program production is
done on a regular Saturday and Sunday
schedule when volunteers are usually
available.
There are exceptions: recently an individual
wished to reply to an editorial position, and
we altered our production schedule to enable
that person’s opinion to air at an appropriate
time. This caused our volunteer much
additional time-consuming work, but we feel
it was important for this resident to have an
opportunity to air his statement.
The Plainfield Television Group has acted
responsibly, frugally, and fulfilled all the
requirements of the last year’s agreement.
We used approximately 95% of our grant,
primarily purchasing equipment, as well as
building and equipping our studio.
We understand that our funding request of
$14,500 for this fiscal year has been
budgeted. Our budget represents
approximately 5% of the $260,000 franchise
fee the Village receives from cable operators.
The Group, therefore, is not supported by
taxpayers but rather by cable operator
franchise fees, which in many parts of the
country are entirely channeled to community
and public access television by law.
As required, we have submitted financial
reports and logs (see attachment), and have
periodically met with Village personnel and
kept them informed about our operation. Our
operation is and will continue to be
completely transparent.
We have received no direct complaints or
objections about our programming. We are
a public access channel and do not edit
opinion. We have extended invitations to
people we believe might be critics, but they
have universally refused to appear. We are
hopeful Village officials will appear on our
programs, accepting our standards of
independence.
Even with the addition of AT&T to the cable
scene, and the impact of digital
broadcasting, cable subscription in Plainfield
continues to be predictably flat. Many
residents are choosing to move to digital
satellite reception rather than cable.
Accordingly we have greatly expanded our
web site capacity, and will be placing more
program segments on the web. The web
site (PLAINFIELDTV.COM) has an especially
large Joliet audience, as residents of School
District 202 turn to us for information about
the district.
The Construction Cam has produced nearly
2500 sidewalk engineers as they watch the
progress of the Lockport Street
redevelopment. We have regular web
viewers living all across the country – Seattle
to New York, San Diego to Florida, Colorado,
Ohio, and Nebraska. The foreign audience
includes London, Paris, Helsinki, and
Barcelona.
We anticipate that next year may be one of
change for the group –- at our next license
renewal we may find it necessary to alter our
informal, hand-shake organizational plan
and move from an all volunteer based
program to a more sophisticated non-profit
organization which would give us an
opportunity to reward talent and staff.
Unlike many surrounding community
television operations, our volunteers give
their time, creativity, and talent freely. The
Plainfield Television Group represents
service to the community at its best. The
Group especially appreciates the comment
from one of Plainfield’s pillar organizations
…”the group is highly thought of.” Earning
the support and respect of the community is
motivation to continue.
The Plainfield Television Group feels we are
providing a unique public service and are
operating in the public interest, which is the
singular criterion on which we should be
measured.
We look forward to having our license and
funding extended for an additional year.
was given financial support and licensed by
the Village Board authorizing us to produce
original television programming that would
be in the public interest.
One year ago, almost to the day, the
Plainfield Television Group came before the
Village Board to renew our license. The
Village agreed, that indeed, we had operated
in the public interest and extended our
licenses and funding for a year.
At that time we highlighted the ambitious and
optimistic plans the Group had for 2008.
We happily can report that those plans and
goals have been met. We said we would
build and equip a television studio, and we
have built a television studio. Visitors from
other communities have told us we have one
of the most professional facilities in Will
country, an amazing feat considering our
less than state-of- the-art electronic
equipment.
We said we would expand our weekly
program and involve more Plainfield
residents; we now broadcast an expanded
2-½ hour program, which is shown three
times weekly.
Since August of last year our volunteers have
created more than 130 hours of original local
television that included interviews,
community events, discussions, information,
profiles, and opinion – an extraordinary
accomplishment for a volunteer group.
More than 200 community leaders, Plainfield
residents, people with something to say, and
Cub Scouts have passed through our doors.
We have become Plainfield’s television
soapbox – which is a classic definition of
public access television. We plan to
continue being just that.
On September 5 we will begin our fall
schedule of new broadcasts.
New to the schedule will be music offerings
by local talent, profiles of interesting
Plainfield women, expanded discussion and
opinion programming, conversations with
state and national office holders, and
extended coverage of both the November and
April election issues and candidates.
We have deepened our relationship with
many local organizations and institutions. We
encourage community participation. Groups
are coming to us with program ideas, a
contrast to the early years when it was the
other way around.
We now operate at our Bryant Broadcast
Center facility, which includes two production
stages, a conference room, an editing suite,
construction and storage space, a guest
reception area, parking, and a central
easy-to-find location. Program production is
done on a regular Saturday and Sunday
schedule when volunteers are usually
available.
There are exceptions: recently an individual
wished to reply to an editorial position, and
we altered our production schedule to enable
that person’s opinion to air at an appropriate
time. This caused our volunteer much
additional time-consuming work, but we feel
it was important for this resident to have an
opportunity to air his statement.
The Plainfield Television Group has acted
responsibly, frugally, and fulfilled all the
requirements of the last year’s agreement.
We used approximately 95% of our grant,
primarily purchasing equipment, as well as
building and equipping our studio.
We understand that our funding request of
$14,500 for this fiscal year has been
budgeted. Our budget represents
approximately 5% of the $260,000 franchise
fee the Village receives from cable operators.
The Group, therefore, is not supported by
taxpayers but rather by cable operator
franchise fees, which in many parts of the
country are entirely channeled to community
and public access television by law.
As required, we have submitted financial
reports and logs (see attachment), and have
periodically met with Village personnel and
kept them informed about our operation. Our
operation is and will continue to be
completely transparent.
We have received no direct complaints or
objections about our programming. We are
a public access channel and do not edit
opinion. We have extended invitations to
people we believe might be critics, but they
have universally refused to appear. We are
hopeful Village officials will appear on our
programs, accepting our standards of
independence.
Even with the addition of AT&T to the cable
scene, and the impact of digital
broadcasting, cable subscription in Plainfield
continues to be predictably flat. Many
residents are choosing to move to digital
satellite reception rather than cable.
Accordingly we have greatly expanded our
web site capacity, and will be placing more
program segments on the web. The web
site (PLAINFIELDTV.COM) has an especially
large Joliet audience, as residents of School
District 202 turn to us for information about
the district.
The Construction Cam has produced nearly
2500 sidewalk engineers as they watch the
progress of the Lockport Street
redevelopment. We have regular web
viewers living all across the country – Seattle
to New York, San Diego to Florida, Colorado,
Ohio, and Nebraska. The foreign audience
includes London, Paris, Helsinki, and
Barcelona.
We anticipate that next year may be one of
change for the group –- at our next license
renewal we may find it necessary to alter our
informal, hand-shake organizational plan
and move from an all volunteer based
program to a more sophisticated non-profit
organization which would give us an
opportunity to reward talent and staff.
Unlike many surrounding community
television operations, our volunteers give
their time, creativity, and talent freely. The
Plainfield Television Group represents
service to the community at its best. The
Group especially appreciates the comment
from one of Plainfield’s pillar organizations
…”the group is highly thought of.” Earning
the support and respect of the community is
motivation to continue.
The Plainfield Television Group feels we are
providing a unique public service and are
operating in the public interest, which is the
singular criterion on which we should be
measured.
We look forward to having our license and
funding extended for an additional year.
| The Plainfield Television Group Report to the Plainfield Village Board Jack Heimerdinger, Director August 25, 2008 |
Annually The Plainfield Television Group
presents to the Plainfield Village Board
a review of our previous year's operations.
The video and the text shown here
represent the 2008 presentation.
presents to the Plainfield Village Board
a review of our previous year's operations.
The video and the text shown here
represent the 2008 presentation.
14 minutes