Durham city officials are hoping residents will want to watch their local government in action—for 24 hours every day.
City managers are planning to broadcast a non-stop television channel, which will feature educational programs and live coverage of important local government meetings.
The channel, temporarily called “Government TV,” will replace Channel 8, Durham’s current public-access station on which local residents produce amateur shows.
Assistant City Manager Theodore Voorhees said the city is expecting to launch the channel within 30 to 90 days.
Durham recently spent about $40,000 to buy equipment for the station. The funds were used to buy two cameras and an editing system. Government TV will also make use of Channel 8’s existing facilities.
“We are in the process of finding an operation manager,” said Beverly Thompson, the city’s public affairs manager, who is currently interviewing candidates for the position. Thompson said the initial budget to launch the station is $90,000.
Government TV will air programs about city-life, government services and public service announcements, Thompson said.
Voorhees said he expects to see live and taped broadcasts of City Council meetings, commissioners’ meetings, annual speeches on the state of the city and coverage of downtown development.
The new channel will also include information on how to “get things done,” such as how to conserve water and recycle, Thompson said.
“It is going to feature… what the city is doing,” she said.
The city also wants to air more vivid shows on life in Durham. Officials are trying to figure out format options and programs they will put on air.
“We might also put some programs for kids,” Thompson said.
It is unclear whether Duke students will have the chance to watch Government TV.
Eddie Hull, executive director of Residence Life and Housing Services, said no one has contacted him about the new channel.
In order to add a channel to the University cable lineup, RLHS has to receive a request from the University and talk to students about the necessity of accommodating the channel in question.
David Menzies, manager of news and information for the Office of Information Technology, said he has not received any requests regarding Government TV to date.
Since Channel 8 is being replaced, the city is hoping to find a new outlet for programs currently on the station.
Voorhees said the city is negotiating a new franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable that would allow for the public-access programs on Channel 8 to resurface on a different channel.
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