You are on Page 1 of Section 9

 

 

 ● Introduction & Index

 

 ● What is PR 

 

 ● Job Expectations        

 

 ● Types of Media

 

 ● Building Relationships      

 

 ● Media, Hams & FCC Rules 

 

 ● The Basic News Release      

 

 ● Interviews and Live 

 

 ● Making your own show 

 

 ● Easy P.R. 

 

 ● Public Service Events 

 

 ● Piggy-back to  Events 

 

 ● Pictures NOW!  

 

 ● P.R. Research Aids 

 

 ● Making Friends

 

 ● ARES^® PIO

 

 ● Final Exam Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Next Page

Section 9 - Making Your Own Show

 

 

Goals:

Learn how PIOs and PICs can produce and place Amateur Radio related content on their local cable television system and Internet.  These include placement on the Public, Educational and Governmental Access (PEG) Channels, Local Origination Channels or public service announcements on commercial cable networks, as well as understanding the basics of website options. 

 

 

Cable TV Opportunities for PIOs

 

 

 

Introduction to PEG Access Channels

 

Cable television systems used to be primarily locally owned and operated.  Today, however, like other media outlets, large media companies, such as Comcast or Cox, own most cable systems. These companies are called MSOs for Multiple System Operators.

 

A cable system is granted the right to operate in a specific area by a franchising authority such as a State Utility regulator or by either a single or group of municipalities.  Before trying to place or produce programming on a cable television system, it is a good idea to determine exactly who owns and operates your local cable, what areas they cover, and who are the local and/or regional contacts.  You may have to dig a bit for this contact information since most cable operations are now managed regionally and maintain only a small local staff.  Corporate and regional management information and contacts are usually also available on the MSO’s Web site.

 

The Public, Educational and Governmental Access or “PEG” Access Channels are the first place that you should look to place or run programming content about Amateur Radio.  PEG Channel requirements were first introduced in the FCC rules in 1972 and they are required for all cable operators.  The concept behind these regulations is that, with the abundance of channels on cable systems, the public should have guaranteed access to some of them for their own use.  PEG Channels must also be made available to all subscribers on the cable system as part of basic cable.  Cable access rules and regulations are subject to change.  The information in this section is current when it was produced.