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Home My WebLink AboutR-1997-027 YCTV Programming Technical Standards / Cable TV• • RESOLUTION NO. R-97- 27 A RESOLUTION adopting new YCTV Programming Technical Standards and amending Section 6.7 of the YCTV Operating Policies and Procedures to include these standards. WHEREAS, in December, 1996, the City Council directed the Cable Communications Division to develop new technical standards to be applied to all public access programming requested for airing on YCTV, cable channel 9; and WHEREAS, the YCTV Programming Technical Standardsare intended to ensure the highest quality programming is delivered to viewers of YCTV; and WHEREAS, the YCTV Programming Technical Standards have been developed through extensive research of other such standards adopted by numerous Public Access centers throughout the United States; and WHEREAS, the Cable Communications Division staff compiled technical standards from other Public Access centers and independently developed technical standards specifically applicable to YCTV programming; and WHEREAS, the YCTV Programming Technical Standards will be applied to all Public Access programming, whether produced using YCTV facilities. or "imported", on a content -neutral basis; and WHEREAS, in January, 1997, both the Cable Advisory Committeezand the Council Cable Committee reviewed and recommended the YCTV Programming Technical Standards attached hereto be adopted; and WHEREAS, the City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City of Yakima to adopt the attached YCTV Programming Technical Standards, now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The attached and incorporated YCTV Programming Technical Standards are hereby adopted and Section 6.7 of the YCTV Operating Policies and Procedures is hereby amended to include these standards. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this lath day of February , 997. ATTEST: Ilklres Cr1pm City Clerk nn Buchanan, Mayor YCTV PROGRAMMING TECHNICAL STANDARDS In order to ensure high quality transmission, all programs requested for air on YCTV are reviewed for compliance with certain content - neutral technical standards. These standards encourage optimum video and audio levels, unbroken sync and appropriate identification of programs. The YCTV programming technical standards are applied to all programming requested for air whether produced using YCTV facilities and equipment or imported from outside production facilities. Programs are reviewed for compliance with these standards prior to inclusion in the YCTV schedule. The required technical standards for YCTV programming are: 1.) Tape head ends (for programs produced using YCTV facilities and equipment) must include 30 seconds of NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) calibration color bars and tone, program identification slate, YCTV logo, a 5 second countdown and 60 frames of black before the program begins. 2.) Tape head ends (for "imported" programs) must include the standard YCTV "requested by" slate and accompanying audio containing the krequesting party's name and town of residence. 3.) Programs submitted for air must be onl/2" VHS, 1/2" S -VHS or 3/4" U -Matic format tapes. 4.) Programs must be submitted on tapes running at standard play (SP) speed. 5.) Tapes submitted for airing must have continuous, stable, unbroken control track. If the control track is broken or unstable for more than 10 consecutive seconds at any point throughout the entirety of a program, the tape will not air. 6.) Programs should have 7.5 IRE (Institute of Radio Engineers) units of video set up. 7.) The video level of all programs is to be -40 IRE units of sync. 8.) Video levels may not exceed 100 IRE units for more than 10 consecutive seconds throughout the entirety of a program. 9.) Video levels may not fall below 7.5 IRE units, as measured on a waveform monitor, for more than 10 consecutive seconds throughout the entirety of a program. 10.) Audio levels may not exceed +1 decibels, as measured on a VU (Volume Units) meter, for more than 10 consecutive seconds throughout the entirety of a program. The purpose of this standard is to avoid periodic audio distortion known as "peak clipping". 11.) Audio levels may not fall below -7 decibels, as measured on a VU meter, for more than 10 consecutive seconds throughout the entirety of a program. This standard will not preclude "soundless" programs but establishes a minimum audio level for programs intended to contain audible sound. 12.) Audio levels should average 85% modulation, on a VU meter throughout a majority of the program. The purpose of this standard is to avoid continual audio distortion. 13.) Tape tail ends (for programs produced using YCTV facilities and equipment) must include the YCTV logo slate and 450 frames of black before the control track is broken. 14.) Tape tail ends (for "imported" programs) must include the standard YCTV "requested by" slate and accompanying audio containing the requesting party's name and town of residence. 15.) "Live" programs will be subject to standards 6 through 12. All replays of programs produced live will be subject to standards 1 through 14. Programs failing to comply with these technical standards, unless clearly associated with deliberate artistic intent, can be refused from inclusion in the YCTV programming schedule. Determination of compliance with these standards is the sole responsibility of YCTV staff. Should YCTV staff determine a program does not comply with these standards prior to inclusion in the schedule, the producer or requesting party will be notified immediately and allowed to correct any deficiencies. Should deficiencies be detected once a program is in the schedule, the producer or requesting party will be notified immediately and allowed to correct any deficiencies. Should deficiencies persist, YCTV staff may remove the non -complying program from the schedule until all technical deficiencies are corrected. • • • • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 1 For Meeting Of Feb. 18. 1997 ITEM TITLE: Consideration of a resolution amending YCTV Operating Policies and Procedures and adopting YCTV Programming Technical Standards. SUBMITTED BY: Glenn Valenzuela, Director, Community and Eco Development Department CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Randy Beehler, Cable Communications Manager, 575-6092 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: The Cable Communications Division was directed by Council in December of 1996 to develop specific technical standards for YCTV programming. The technical standards are intended to ensure high quality programming is provided to viewers of YCTV. The Cable Communications Division staff contacted more than a dozen Public Access centers across the country and compiled technical standards from those centers. The proposed YCTV Programming Technical Standards represent a combination of standards gathered from other Access centers and standards independently developed by the Cable Communications Division staff. The proposed technical standards will be applied to all Public Access programs requested for airing on YCTV on a content -neutral basis. X Resolution Ordinance Contract X Other (Specify) Attached Techni cal Standards APPROVAL FOR SUBMITTAL: -City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve resolution. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Both the Cable Advisory Committee and the Council Cable Committee recommend approval of the resolution. COUNCIL ACTION: