Public Access Programming Archives: Do they exist?

[tsenzee]

Specifically, I'm hoping to find a copy of an old 1990s public access show that was aired in the Los Angeles area (Santa Monica, actually) from what was a Century Cable studio and transmission center, but is now Time Warner. TW, of course, eliminated all of its 14 L.A. area public access studios years ago. I'm trying to find out if they kept the archives, destroyed them or possibly, passed them on to another party for archiving. My hopes are slim, given Time Warner's disdain for the defunct public access days.

Thanks in advance, Thom

 

[SatelliteAV]

To clarify, Cable Access is produced by the cable company and the company owned the product. Public Access is typically a non profit organization that trains the public to produce programming and does not own the production project.

Usually public access programs were archived for a specific time. MCTV in Gresham, Oregon kept the programming for 6 months after the air date. The producer was offered to buy the master tape or dub to VHS then the tapes would be bulk erased and reused for a new project.

If the show was Cable Access, I would guess that the shows do not exist unless the original producer kept a copy pr someone rescued the masters when the channel was eliminated or ownership changed. You might try and track down the program producer. They would likely know if a copy exists.

 

[Mr Tony]

I agree
I worked at a cable access channel about 18-19 years ago and that was usually the rule

anything we got from someone that wasnt the master we kept for about 4-5 months then erased it and reused the tape
masters it depended on who did them. We had a couple local churches who wouold keep the "master" for 2 months then he went over it with a newer show.
The only master I think thats left from my time is the country music program we did. I have a few of the original tapes (the actual tapes we used to record the intros/outros for each months show) and a few masters (SVHS which luckily I have a machine that will still play them)

 

[Dave Norwoods]

hello i was a cable access producer for 6 years in los angeles and i am in touch with a lot of the producers. we own and still have our original copies. I have 250 of them. I was realy dedicated into it.. IF YOU want a copy just contact me through face book or
travelindave.com. It was a great time. I have classic stuff and it is all documented hollywood captured, cheers