Did You Know?
Community access TV has been around for a long time, but most people only have a vague idea of what it is or how it works. If you’ve ever wondered why local meetings show up on cable, how community-made shows exist at all, or why access TV still matters in a streaming world, you’re not alone. Here are a few things you might not know...
When video equipment became portable, community members started making their own programs. They tried to bring those videos to cable companies, hoping they could be aired on unused channels. Most were turned away.
That didn’t stop them.
Instead, people went to their city councils and asked for public access to be written into cable franchise agreements. Those efforts eventually led to federal mandates requiring larger cable systems to carry public access channels. What followed was a new kind of local media, created by the people who live there.
Public access channels aren’t meant to compete with major networks. They exist to make space for programs that wouldn’t otherwise have a platform.
That might mean:
- A local artist sharing their work
- A student-produced show
- A community conversation
- Coverage of a city meeting that affects daily life
This kind of programming is personal, local, and often very specific. That’s the point.
Most community access stations are funded through franchise fees paid by local cable operators. The size of a station’s budget often depends on how strongly a city supports public participation and access.
That’s why access stations can look very different from one community to another. Local commitment plays a big role.
Studies have shown that access to government meetings through television and on-demand platforms increases public awareness and engagement. When people can watch meetings on their own schedule, they’re more likely to stay informed and involved.
Access makes participation possible for people who can’t always attend in person.
BevCam is active at the state, regional, and national level, helping advocate for community media beyond Beverly. Staff members serve on boards for organizations like Mass Access and the ACM Northeast Region, working to strengthen access TV across the field.
At the same time, BevCam embraces the creative and sometimes silly side of local media.
You might recognize staff and volunteers popping up on other local channels. BevCam is known for playful community promotion, including memorable moments like crawling down the sidewalk during the Mom Crawl.
One of BevCam’s part-time staff members wrote and performed “Agents of Joy,” a local favorite celebrating Peppy the Horse. Volunteer Mikey’s ongoing series, “Mikey’s Random Mondays,” regularly goes off the rails in the best way possible.
These moments capture what community media can be. Informative. Creative. A little weird. Very local.
Community access TV isn’t just a relic of the past. It’s a living system that gives people a way to share ideas, tell stories, and stay connected to what’s happening around them.
In a media landscape dominated by algorithms and national voices, access TV keeps space open for local ones.
And that’s something worth knowing.