Public Access television

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Comrade 313C7 iVi4RX and I take part in a talk show on the public access channel here in Lincoln, Nebraska. Does anyone else here take advantage of this? Has anyone ever thought about this?

At least here in Lincoln, public access is free. Anyone can have a time slot on the channel, if the slot is open. You might not even need a camera (they have cameras one can borrow here). Public access cannot be censored. It seems like a good resource for activists to take advantage of.

I would like to know the thoughts of the comrades here...

[Sabocat]

Wow...that's great. We have a public access station in my town and have often thought that it might be a good outlet.

I was specifically thinking of an interview type show with leftist authors etc., in an effort to counter the massive right media campaign.

How long have you been doing it? What's your feedback been like?

[Al Creed]

Hmmm...A good idea!

I know my town has a Public Access Station...Thats ALL I know, though:S I must investigate:D

[Andrei Kuznetsov]

Create Public Opinion, Seize Power :D

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Disgustapated,

I would like to nudge you into doing a public access show. I think you have a good idea.

I started watching the public access channel about a year and a half ago, in the late winter or early spring of 2002. I quickly got hooked on a talk show run by an incredibly well-read man named Ron Kurtenbach. As it turned out, Kurtenbach was a communist. I was not yet a commie myself, and Ronnie K would be an instrumental part of my political education. I watched his show for a couple of months, and then I started calling in by late June.

I called every week, and I told my friend and comrade 3iVi. Soon, we were both calling every week. This continued on for over a year. Last July, Ron asked us to stop calling and start doing the show on camera. We started in early August, I believe, and that has been our weekly ritual ever since.

Ron is a local celebrity, as he has been on the public access channel every day for several decades. I am starting to get some of that celebrity, as people are beginning to recognize me in public.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2003, 03:44 PM
Hmmm...A good idea!

I know my town has a Public Access Station...Thats ALL I know, though:S I must investigate:D
I think it is a great idea. The program here in Lincoln deserves partial credit for turning me on to communism. I know it can work for others.

DO investigate. It is free.

[Al Creed]

Im invisioning a show where I do monologues about how Society is creeping down the sewer, not unlike Network

[Marxist in Nebraska]

RavenFan,

There are not many monologues on television. Many people do not like to listen to them, though... Would you be concerned about trying to reach out to more people with your message, or would you be content to "preach to the choir"?

[Hawker]

I'd take advantage but like most other publicly announced opposing ideologies.The government will stomp it.

[Al Creed]

Originally posted by Marxist in [email protected] 6 2003, 11:47 PM
RavenFan,

There are not many monologues on television. Many people do not like to listen to them, though... Would you be concerned about trying to reach out to more people with your message, or would you be content to "preach to the choir"?
Oh man, I have a way of convincing people with my words.

I want to reach out to new people, if I can open just one set of eyes, I will be happy

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Hawker,

You would probably be left alone--at least by the government.

I hope you give some serious thought to doing a program (that goes for RF, too)

[Al Creed]

OH I am, Id love to have an outlet for my ideas w/o any flack or censorship:D

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Anyone else have anything to say about public access? Do you think it is a worthwhile method for spreading revolutionary consciousness?

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Two days plus and no responses... that is disappointing...

I guess I will answer my own question...

I think public access is an effective tool for spreading radical perspective. I, myself, am an example. Before discovering Ron's commie talk show, I was a liberal reformist. Communists are in short supply here in Nebraska, but I found one of the most articulate ones because he was on TV.

The talk show style of our program has been dismissed by some because it does not attract a lot of viewers. This is a serious problem, but the open-minded can easily find our program. I think we reach (or at least have the potential to reach) enough people that it is worth doing the program.

I think a talk show is attractive also, because too many people do not read. Commies on television can reach some people who would never read a leftist newspaper.

[Rastafari]

I wouldn't dare do it in my area. Too many conservatives for one's own good. Plus it could hurt my college...career.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2003, 09:52 PM
I wouldn't dare do it in my area. Too many conservatives for one's own good. Plus it could hurt my college...career.
Nebraska is full of right-wingers, too... that is not enough to stop me. What are you afraid of? What are your career plans, and how do they affect your political activism?

[YKTMX]

That sounds like a brilliant tool for getting ideas out there. I don't think we have anything comparable here in Scotland. What are the viewerships like for thsese type of programmes?

[Al Creed]

Since Public Access isn't as flashy as evil, privately-owned Network TV, it's seen as a joke with most Bourgousiese in the US (from what I understand)

In Canada, however, Public Broadcasting is our most prosperous network, the CBC

[YKTMX]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10 2003, 06:25 PM
Since Public Access isn't as flashy as evil, privately-owned Network TV, it's seen as a joke with most Bourgousiese in the US (from what I understand)


Sounds like a plus point to me! ;) Under The RADAR!

[Al Creed]

...Good point

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by YouKnowTheyMurderedX+Nov 10 2003, 12:23 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (YouKnowTheyMurderedX @ Nov 10 2003, 12:23 PM) I don&#39;t think we have anything comparable here in Scotland. What are the viewerships like for thsese type of programmes? [/b]
I have no idea whether there is public access in Scotland, but I suggest that you look into it.

I do not believe that ratings are measured for public access. There really is no way of knowing how many watch our program. I have had a handful of people recognize me in public as being on television.


[email protected] 10 2003, 12:25 PM
Since Public Access isn&#39;t as flashy as evil, privately-owned Network TV, it&#39;s seen as a joke with most Bourgousiese in the US (from what I understand)

That is true, and not just for the bourgeoisie. Many workers are not likely to watch the program as we currently just sit in the living room and talk. There is concern in our group that we should look into more engaging styles of program--something that will catch the eye of channel-surfers. Perhaps you have a suggestion?

Also, you mentioned CBC... public broadcasting is NOT the same as public access.

[Al Creed]

...Good point, I can&#39;t believe I mixed the terms:S

[Marxist in Nebraska]

RF,

You were not the first to make that mistake... I am sure you will not be the last...

They both have "public" in the name... not common on cable...

[Elect Marx]

Originally posted by Marxist in [email protected] 10 2003, 12:50 AM
Before discovering Ron&#39;s commie talk show, I was a liberal reformist. Communists are in short supply here in Nebraska, but I found one of the most articulate ones because he was on TV.

The talk show style of our program has been dismissed by some because it does not attract a lot of viewers. This is a serious problem, but the open-minded can easily find our program. I think we reach (or at least have the potential to reach) enough people that it is worth doing the program.

I think a talk show is attractive also, because too many people do not read. Commies on television can reach some people who would never read a leftist newspaper.
I know you have come a lot farther politicaly than I (as you were once futher to the right) but are you sure of that timeline comrade? As I remember it, at least I was plotting to overtrough the government and abolish plutocracy in many a long discustion before we participated in the show calling in or being part of it. As it was, I would say that I all but skipped the liberal phase. When I became interested in politics, I became interested in solutions, substancial solutions. We had many long discutions on what reforms could do for society and shortly after I started to think about it, I realised that there is no measure of perminance or acomplishment in reformism. I just wish I would have been introduced to political matters sooner. I believe this show to be a good way of doing this for people that are searching for solutions as I was/am.

Ron is incredibly articulate and his is more patient that I think I could ever be. He will put up with the most disgusting reactionaries longer than I can watch him do it. I like to think this method shows the ignorance of these people.

You are right about talk shows reaching the people. I know of many people that call into the show questioning and looking for solutions to the burdens of an oppressed society. Ron is great at directing their attention to fundemental flaws in the control of our society and I can see many of these people that are rather liberal or inactive, taking a serious look at what they can do to stop the exploitation that is so evident every day.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

3iVi,

You are late&#33; I started this thread last week&#33;

Yes, my timeline is accurate... I was still a liberal reformist when I started watching the program... which would have been 19-21 months ago...

Do keep in mind, comrade, that I started watching the show about four months before I started calling in to contribute.

I agree that by giving reactionaries time, they will often make fools of themselves. That is not to say that I have the patience for it that Ron does.


I know of many people that call into the show questioning and looking for solutions to the burdens of an oppressed society. Ron is great at directing their attention to fundemental flaws in the control of our society and I can see many of these people that are rather liberal or inactive, taking a serious look at what they can do to stop the exploitation that is so evident every day.

Yep. We have a recurring liberal caller who may be on the verge of joining a leftist party. Another success story...

[Marxist in Nebraska]

A week without a response... this calls for a bump&#33;

Seriously, though...

Ron is leaving the country. We will have to continue the program without him. There has been discussion about changing the format of the program...

What do you think is the most effective, most fetching type of show to pull in a larger audience to listen to our political message?

And we are going to change the name of the program... I think the clear favorite is "Revolution Televised"... what do you think? Do you have something better?

[Al Creed]

The Revolution IS Televisied?

[Marxist in Nebraska]

RF,

Maybe it is wishful thinking...? Or perhaps we are conducting a revolution of a sort... a revolution of thought? I dunno... I like the sound of it, though...

[Al Creed]

A revolution of thought...

I like the sound of that:D

[Jesus Christ]

HAHA the only public access channel here is a Catholic station lol

[Exploited Class]

I don&#39;t understand why I have to cable TV to recieve public access TV. It seems like it should be broadcasted and recieved for free if it is public access.

[Exploited Class]

I really like the idea of the a socialist/communist public access television format. I would like to see all the major parties out there use it with some type of cohesion and I really think the SPoA should be cordinating something like this. I know that when I did have public access television in my home town of like 10,000; we had the Mormon meetings on it. They showed everywhere all at the same time or close to it. I don&#39;t know why we can&#39;t have scripts, organization and important guests for something like that.

It really needs to be better than just people standing in front of a camera just preaching as well. There needs to be comedy, skits, issues dealt with, it has to be entertaining as well as informative. The Daily Show can do it, I don&#39;t know why we can&#39;t have just an ounce of cohesion and do the samething.

It could be a very powerful, uncensored tool with the ability to reach people. You can even do flyers for advertisments, web pages for time listings..ect. You may even be able to get in contact with Independent TV and Radio networks for assistance. Like in my Area we have KBOO and I know they would advertise for such a thing.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

RF,

I am glad you like that... and I am glad you keep posting... it seems like you and I are the only ones keeping this thread going sometimes...

liberAL,

Are you sure about that? Is the channel monopolized by Catholics, but still open to others?

EC,


I don&#39;t understand why I have to cable TV to recieve public access TV. It seems like it should be broadcasted and recieved for free if it is public access.

I agree. There are so many people who cannot or will not pay for cable, yet still own a television and watch basic channels. It is a statement to how open (or not so, rather) our media truly is when George Bush can reach anyone with a TV and the communists are left hoping that the people will buy cable, look hard for programming (public access programs are not named in the cable listings here), and commit to watching it.


It really needs to be better than just people standing in front of a camera just preaching as well. There needs to be comedy, skits, issues dealt with, it has to be entertaining as well as informative. The Daily Show can do it, I don&#39;t know why we can&#39;t have just an ounce of cohesion and do the samething.

It could be a very powerful, uncensored tool with the ability to reach people. You can even do flyers for advertisments, web pages for time listings..ect. You may even be able to get in contact with Independent TV and Radio networks for assistance.

Thanks for the ideas.