Technical Requirements for videotapes to be played on Government Access Channel 15

 
  • The PEGASYS staff must authorize playback of tapes on the Government Access Channel.
  • Tapes may not be shown on both public and government access channels.
  • The program producer must be identified on every program shown on the Government Access Channel.
  • Tapes must be SVHS or VHS.
  • Tapes must be standard play or extended play. (2 or 6 hour speed for a 120 minute tape)
  • Tapes must be timed accurately, plus or minus a second, and cued to five seconds before the start of the program.
  • Tapes do not need a countdown or pre-countdown slate, but where more than one program is recorded on one tape, a slate is recommended between each program, and explicit instructions should be included.
  • Any program length is allowed, up to five hours. Longer programs are allowed, but will require a little extra planning. Please give at least 3 weeks notice when submitting a longer program.
  • Playback is normally done using a timer, with nobody monitoring playback. If you have special playback needs, such as tapes requiring tracking, color, brightness or audio correction, or additional titling, contact the PEGASYS facility to correct tape problems before submitting them for playback.
  • We reserve the right to refuse to play tapes observed to be dirty, defective or having extremely poor sound or picture quality.
  • Please use good quality tape stock rather than store brand or generic videotape. Some poorly made tapes will not play on our machines. Typically, any tape manufactured by an audio tape, adhesive tape or film company will be acceptable. It is usually not necessary to buy the most expensive grade of tape from these companies.
  • We are not responsible for any damage to tapes caused by our playback equipment.
  • To schedule the date and time of playback, please submit the tape as early as possible, or there may be a limited choice of timeslots available. Tapes are typically played back three times a day, for at least two days.
  • If tapes are not cued or labeled properly, unexpected portions of the tape could be cablecast. Please make sure that if the tape has been used before it contains only material suitable for Governmental Access television. (Remember that the program producer is responsible for program content.)
  • We will return tapes if pre-addressed and postage paid envelopes are supplied.

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    Check the Channel 15 schedule
    Go to the Tompkins County homepage


     

    Time Warner Cable's "PEGASYS" is Tompkins County's  Public, Educational, and Governmental Access SYStem.
    They are located at 612 W. Green St., in Ithaca, N.Y.
    Call them at 607-272-7272.