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TVTV stations public access
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Nicole Prehoda, executive director of TVTV, took over running the public access television station as the first paid employee at the end of July.
Before she accepted the position of executive director, she was the public affairs director of Planned Parenthood of Idaho.
“TVTV is a different kind of organization with the same kind of work,” she said.
Volunteers primarily run the television station, and Prehoda works with these volunteers, delegating responsibilities aiding the station’s operation.
She works to keep the office open to the public, and coordinates the technical staff to ensure programming is run every night.
“My main task is fundraising and making sure we are financially viable,” she said.
Funding for TVTV was originally established through cable franchise fees. Cable companies set aside funds for public access channels. TVTV applied for this funding, which was spent on capital expenses such as the facility and equipment.
Operational money is what Prehoda is working to fundraise. This includes funding for staff members, office equipment and utilities.
“I have to raise money to keep the station running,” she said.
Public access television reaches about 60,000 households on Cable channel 11.
To apply for programming, one is required to sign up and be a producer with the station.
“Usually, people have their own equipment,” she said. If they need to use our equipment, we require producers take classes to become certified to use TVTV equipment for programs,” she said.
TVTV has a studio on site, and producers can come in to utilize facilities and equipment, or are allowed to check out cameras taking them off site, she said.
TVTV also has editing suites to edit programs.
“After editing the programs, producers give their work to TVTV and request the preferred broadcasting time- slot, and do our best to get it in,” Prehoda said.
TVTV has 12 regular weekly programs. Prehoda mentioned the station signed over 300 producers and trained 150 people in classes.
In 1997, TVTV began as a group of volunteers. The group spent two years negotiating contracts with both ATT, and Boise City.
The first open house was held in October 2000, displaying a remodeled building. The station was thence on air Jan 12,2001.
“Part of the joy of TVTV is anyone can produce anything,” Prehoda said.
Of course producers cannot violate obscenity standards, and shows with adult content are run later in the evening.
“This is an opportunity for anyone to express themselves, or whatever views they have,” Prehoda said.
She encourages those who disagree with programming seen on TVTV to produce something to air as a response.
“One of our main missions is to provide a forum for public expression, and create an atmosphere to reflect the community,” said Prehoda.
Non-profit groups in the area are encouraged use station to get messages across, and Prehoda envisions TVTV becoming a forum of public discourse on public policy issues, “Although artistic expression is just as important as political expression,” she said she views the station in the role of building a community in the Treasure Valley.
She mentioned commercial television creating a passive viewer, but “with TVTV, we take an active role of creating television, and a tool of building our community.”
During the day, TVTV airs a bulletin board repeating the same messages. Regular programming begins at 5p.m., finishes at 11p.m., and the programming is thence echoed immediately following the first round.
Laura Wylde
