Cork Community Television Pilot Week

Project Partner:
Frameworks Films

Date: 31 October - 6 November 2005

Project Description:
A Pilot Week of Cork Community Television was broadcast on Chorus Sports Channel, courtesy of Chorus, from 5pm to 8m each evening during the week of 31 October - 6 November 2005. This pilot week was compiled by Frameworks Films for Cork 2005, European Capital of Culture and intended to be the launch pad for the future development of Community Television in Cork.

The purpose of the pilot week was to provide information on what Community Television is and to showcase the type of programmes that can be made for Community TV. Some of the short documentary films produced for the linked Cork 2005 project, Cork WideScreen, were broadcast, along with programmes produced by other communities in Cork and from around the country. Highlights from some of the other Cork 2005 community-based projects were also shown.

Community Television is a relatively new concept in Ireland, although it exists in many other parts of the world. It is essentially an opening up of the airwaves to the community at large to both produce and broadcast alternative programming which celebrates diversity and in which all can participate. However Community Television is about much more than simply broadcasting programmes. It is a long-term development process that enables communities to access training, equipment and resources to make programmes and also to participate in the running of the channel itself. Community Television as described above does not exist yet in Cork and will require substantial funding for equipment, training and resources to make it happen. However the Pilot Week of Community Television could be the first step in making Community TV a reality in Cork.

Community Television is a also a tool for community development where geographical communities and communities of interest can make their own programmes on issues affecting their communities, as an outlet for their creativity and as a way of documenting their own history. Community TV differs from Local TV, and from Public Service TV, in that it is television made by the community for the community, it is not-for-profit and is owned and controlled by the community it serves. Community TV is legislated for in Ireland under the Broadcasting Act (2001).

Cork Community Television Pilot Week