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Home: Video University Forums: Marketing & Business:
Sponsorships on Public Access

MikeW
Novice

Mar 8, 2006, 10:51 AM

Post #1 of 10 (2375 views)
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Sponsorships on Public Access	Can't Post

I am involved with the local Public Access channel. To produce a magazine type show for the channel I need to get sponsors to cover the production costs.

People are interested in the show but when I tell them their announcement has to be info only--no sales, they cool off fast.

How do you approach business people as potential sponsors for programming on Public Access?

Stoney
User

Mar 9, 2006, 7:17 AM

Post #2 of 10 (2360 views)
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Re: [MikeW] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

I work in Educational Access and it runs very much the same way. It is a hard sell, but you need to show them what demographic their information would be hitting. Sell to them the human interest aspect of working with the show. Also I don't know what you are charging, but you might want to make it a lower for since they are more restricted on what they can have. Why does Barney and other shows like that get underwriters? It's brand and logo recognition. It's much easier for a person to remember an interesting logo and simple website or number, than prices, dates and rebates. Just some ideas. Good luck.
Stoney
LE 6.1, DVC-80, GL-1 & TRV900

MikeW
Novice

Mar 9, 2006, 10:32 AM

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Re: [Stoney] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

Charter Cable, the provider in these parts, has been very difficult to work with.
When I called to ask for some demographic info the hung up on me.
The second time I called they gave me some song and dance about every in their office was classifed info.

All I have is a ballpark figure of the number of subscribers.

Stoney
User

Mar 9, 2006, 2:19 PM

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Re: [MikeW] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

That can be vey tough. I guess I you could do an average. Let's say you have 5,000 people in your town. Would it be safe to say that 40% to 60% have cable? Another tricky thing that you could do is call the cable company as a potential client. Tell them that you would like to put out some spots for upcoming business and you would like to know how many 16-27 year old customers you could potentially hit.
For potential sposors, go to the ones that you think would be interested in what your projected demographic is suppose to be. Remember that you have a primary audience and also a secondary audience. Keep us informed on your progress. I'm interested in how it works out for you. I just applied for a job as the executive director for a public access station, so your situation is something that I would have to deal with if I were to get the job.
Stoney
LE 6.1, DVC-80, GL-1 & TRV900

stogtv
New User

Mar 12, 2006, 3:42 PM

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Re: [Stoney] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

You may want to inquire about 'leased access' and then make your show a commercial venture. I'm president of the leased access association and we work hand-in-glove with Public Access where these type channels exist. However, all (yes, that's right --ALL) cable sites MUST make leased access available whether they have PEG channels or not. PEG channels are creatures of the franchise agreement; leased access channels are creatures of Congress. All cable sites are mandated to provide a percentage of airtime for commercial use by independent programmers, un-affiliated with the cable operator.

We often find uncooperative cable operators who don't want to share the rates they charge for ads and/or 'long form' (feature length shows) on their own 'local origination channel'. Just contact a sales rep and ask for a 'media kit' to use in case you want to buy from them. Some sites even publish these rates on a website. One trick is to visit the website of the ad sales group (Cox Media, Comcast Spotlight, Charter Media, etc.) and you'll sometimes find details on interconnects and/or targeted areas.

MikeW
Novice

Mar 15, 2006, 11:25 PM

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Re: [stogtv] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

There are no leased access channel in the Central Wisconsin system. Nor has Charter any plans for one. The people at the Cable Access channel more upset if somebody mentions the word "sell" than any other four letter word!

Yet, "sell" is the one word that make America the land opportunity.

Bill Mecca
Novice

Mar 21, 2006, 2:30 PM

Post #7 of 10 (2167 views)
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Re: [MikeW] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sinced the cable company operates under a franchise agreement from the local municipality, it might be worth inquiring at town hall to get a copy of the agreement, and talk to someone in the town offices. Providing access is usually a tenet of their contract and to deny or make it difficult might be an issue when renewal time rolls around.

I'm not saying make a stink out of it, but get the facts and arm yourself so you might be able to quote the cable rep chapter and verse.

No business should ever hang up on a customer, potential customer, anyone, but these companies have government sanctioned monopolies so they think they can do what they want.
If it gets that bad, I would draft a letter to someone who can actually do something, Cable company president etc, he or she might be interested to know that their employees are providing that kind of "customer service."
_________________________________________________

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hlanden
The Dean / Moderator

Apr 21, 2006, 3:12 PM

Post #8 of 10 (2094 views)
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Re: [MikeW] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

We just completed an extensive list of Public Access Stations at

http://videouniversity.com/pubaccess.shtml

Let me know what you think.

Hal
Professional Video Producer course

Pearl White
New User

May 4, 2006, 3:17 PM

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Pearl White
New User

May 4, 2006, 3:35 PM

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Re: [MikeW] Sponsorships on Public Access [In reply to]	Can't Post

I also produce a magazine show on public access television. I go out on location shoots and tape so many wonderful non-profit as well as commercial organizations. They are used to "pitching" their organizations because they are working to secure their next donation, grant, underwriter, customer and having to "sell" themselves.

For public access, I tell them to "teach, don't sell." The demographics of the viewers who enjoy my program love educational television. They enjoy watching teachers who take them on an interesting historic tour or provide them with some new information from a company expert. Let the viewers see for themselves how great this place is.

This is where you can think creatively! Who is the best storyteller? What topic would be fun to teach? Show and tell is a more exciting approach than someone just standing there fact telling. One of my personal favorites are natural teachers because they are used to speaking to an audience, have researched and prepared their talk for the public, and most of them are volunteers who absolutely love what they do! The only thing is for me to get them comfortable speaking in front of the camera--a whole other topic in itself.

What can these commercial businesses teach who rely on sales? Maybe a used car salesperson belongs to an antique Chevy club and can compare old features on his car to modern features on a new Chevy. Or speak about automobile saftey and use a modern Chevy car to show what emergency features to carry in the trunk in an emergency road kit. The ideas are endless!

Think Video University! Make your educational spots so enjoyable that your viewers can't wait to see the next exciting episode!

Pearl White