Comcast MetroBeat TV

Project Description:
MetroBeat Television is a collaborative project of the Government Affairs Division of Comcast and 26 municipal access television stations (Channel 8s) in the Greater Denver Metropolitan Area. The project was designed to explore new potential uses of cable technologies that would meet the unique needs of local communities beyond the current existing models and increase the value of community programming to television viewers.

A unique aspect of MetroBeat TV is that it is viewer-designed programming. Viewers throughout the metro Denver area submit story ideas and topics for future shows through the www.metrobeat.tv Web site. This process supports the grassroots nature of the project.

Programs:
MetroBeat TV consists of a series of three individual 30-minute television programs that are shown back-to-back in a single program block that is aired simultaneously, twice a week, on 26 cable municipal access stations (Channel 8s) in the Greater Metro Denver region. The programs air on Thursday nights from 7:30-9 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

New installments are produced and aired each month. These programs are:

Student Voices, which gives teenagers a chance to speak out about issues like school violence, teen sex, government, school testing, student rights, teen driving and school nutrition that is coordinated with the national Student Voices project.
Metrobeat Magazine highlights the events, attractions, people and places that make our communities special.
People to Watch shines a spotlight on both well-known and little-known movers and shakers in the community.

Project Funding:
Metro Beat TV is a free service to Comcast subscribers in the greater Metro Denver Area. MetroBeat TV management, design and production are funded by Comcast; individual municipal access stations in the Denver area contribute to the creative concepts and contribute resources.

Web Site:
www.MetroBeat.tv

Community Involvement:
Aside from the staff and directors of the many Denver Metro government access stations who have been active, contributing partners in this collaborative project, we also benefit from the support and advisement we receive from the 15 community representatives who participate in the project’s Content Review Group.

This group was formed to help the project partners review and prioritize the many content suggestions for upcoming MetroBeat programs that are regularly submitted by viewers to the MetroBeat.TV Web site. The group also identifies and validates program content suggestions received through other means, and generally acts as a program advisory group for MetroBeat to Comcast and its production team.

Membership of the group is comprised of citizens, and individuals from organizations and companies, that are credibly recognized as representative of the Metro Denver community through their reputation and accomplishments. Representation on the group includes: