Introduction to PCTV

Background Information

Pittsfield Community Television operates Public, Educational, and Governmental Access Television (“PEG Access”) seen only by cable TV viewers on three channels in the TimeWarner Cable service area, and serves people who live or work in the City of Pittsfield. 

Our Public Access channel is called “Access Pittsfield,” and is seen on channel 16.  “Pittsfield ETV,” the Education Access Channel, is on channel 17.  And our Governmental Access Channel, “Citylink,” can be found on channel 18. 

Pittsfield Community Television is an independent, not-for-profit charitable organization recognized under Internal Revenue Service code, section 501 (c)(3), and recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a charity exempt from state sales and income taxes.

Through a ten-year franchise agreement between TimeWarner Cable and the City of Pittsfield , we are funded by 5% of TimeWarner Cable’s revenues annually.  This funding is used for both operating expenses (salaries, utilities, rent, supplies, etc.) and for capital needs (purchase of equipment). 

We have a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of fifteen directors elected by the membership.  Directors’ terms are for three years.

We currently have six staff people:  an Executive Director; a Channel Coordinator for each of the three access channels; one Production Technician; and an Executive Assistant. 

The nature of access television is to enable people with little or no television production experience to create and cablecast original, local television programming.  One way PCTV accomplishes this goal is by training people in the use of production equipment and technique. 

Once trained, PCTV members are able to utilize the production facilities available at PCTV.  These include: a multi-camera television studio; a fully outfitted mobile production vehicle; two off-line editing suites; and portable video equipment which can be borrowed to create programming “on site.”

Mission Statement

The mission of Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV) is: To provide access to the medium of television and related technologies, including training, production facilities, and cablecast time, to public, educational, and governmental constituencies located in and/or serving the City of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and to provide the Pittsfield community with local television programming.