INTRODUCTION

Tshwane TV is a non-profit community-based TV station established in terms of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ( ICASA ) 

Tshwane TV is committed to promoting human rights, social justice and community cultural development. To this end, all programming related matters must further these objectives. The following broad policy areas with subsections constitute the programming policy and will govern all programming decisions.

 

1.      Principles and values

2.      Sources of programming

3.      Editorial decision-making

4.      Programming content

5.      Sustainability

1. Principles and values

 

1.1 Equity and social justice

Recognizing that the majority of South Africans were deprived of media ownership, control and production, Tshwane TV is committed to:

 

• Giving special priority to working class communities;
• Ensuring no group or section is deliberately excluded;
• Promoting alternatives to commercially-driven cultural values.

 

1.2 Diversity and representivity

The programme panel will, through their selection of content, ensure that:

• Programming reflects the widest diversity of people and interests in Tshwane, with a special focus on poor working class communities;
• One particular interest group (be they education institutions, government, NPOs or independent producers) do not have more than one programme partnership at any given time;
• Programming is produced by a wide diversity of people across all ages, sexual orientation, disabilities, class, race and gender, with no one group dominating simply because they have the resources to do so.
  

1.3 Access and affordability

The Tshwane TV programming policy is informed by the principles of community access and participation, whereby community TV serves as an access point for diverse members of the community as a means to share political, cultural, artistic, spiritual, and individual expression. In order to achieve this Tshwane TV will ensure that:

Citizens have direct access to training and production facilities and are empowered to tell their own stories. The developmental objective is to build ongoing and sustainable capacity within communities to utilize the audio visual media for social objectives;    

• Tshwane TV will serve mainly as an access point for citizens, organizations of civil society and the community at large. In doing so it will also ensure opportunities for emerging and established film makers to develop and air productions that are in line with the principles and values of Tshwane TV;
• Tshwane TV shall aspire to deliver the highest quality programming without jeopardizing the principles of access, affordability, learning, innovation and experimentation. While every effort will be made to ensure access to “broadcast quality” formats, participants should be allowed to produce content in any formats available to them.

2. Programme sources

2.1 In-house programming

In-house programming refers to all programmes that will be financed and produced by Tshwane TV internally. This will include a community news service, a weekly events programme, an CBO/NGO/CITIZENRY slot and a number of other studio-based talk shows, magazine programmes and “public access” programmes such as on air community radio talk show.

Tshwane TV is also prepared to enter into partnership with content providers who have good ideas for programming but do not have the expertise or resources to deliver content. Co-productions will be negotiated on a project by project basis and may entail support for partners in the form of production costs, mentorship and access to facilities.

2.2 Licensing Agreements

Licensed programming includes programmes that have been produced independently by NGOs, educational institutions (student productions), independent producers, distributors, broadcasters and other community TV stations internationally. Contributors will be asked to submit programming free of charge although Tshwane TV will bear costs for tape duplication and postage, where necessary. Tshwane TV will sign a license agreement with contributors which grants Tshwane TV non-exclusive rights to broadcast material over a 12-month period.

2.3 Programming partnerships

Tshwane TV is calling for programming proposals from Tshwane  based NGOs, CBOs, independent film makers, production houses, independent producers, education and government institutions. Proposals will be forwarded to the relevant commissioning editor who will make recommendations for selection to Tshwane TV’s Programming Committee.

Once selected, Tshwane TV will provide partners with a “letter of intent to broadcast” which can be used to raise funding or sponsorship to cover production costs, according to guidelines set out by Tshwane TV. The budget will include a 10% broadcasting fee payable to Tshwane TV to cover broadcasting costs. In return Tshwane TV will have non-exclusive usage of the material for a period to be agreed.

Independent producers are encouraged to submit proposals in partnership with non-profit organisations in order to,

1.      ensure skills transfer,

2.      to ensure that film makers are accountable to the community they are “representing” and,

3.      to make it easier for film makers to raise funding or sponsorship.

This will not be a ridged policy as there may well be certain types of programming where there is no obvious NPO partner. The principle of “community participation” will be taken into consideration when programme partners are selected.

3. Editorial decision-making

The Tshwane TV board is responsible for developing a programme policy and a broad programme schedule (outlining programme formats rather than actual programmes). A programme committee consisting of the station manager, the programme manager, commissioning editors and at least one board member will be responsible for selecting content for the channel based on the guidelines set out in the programme policy.

The programme manager will be responsible for developing programme partnerships that are in line with the programme policy. The acquisitions coordinator, and others appointed by Tshwane TV to view potential programme acquisitions, will make recommendations to the programme manager on acquisitions.

The programme manager will be required to view the final cut of all programmes produced by partners to ensure that the final programme is in line with the original proposal submitted to Tshwane TV. In the event of any last minute changes, final editorial control resides with the programme manager.

This is not intended to be a gate keeping role but is simply a means of ensuring that programming is in line with the programme policy developed by members of Tshwane TV and as a way of managing limited resources such as equipment, studio and airtime. 

4. Programme content

 

4.1 Programme Format

Format	Percentage
Community News Service	5%
Sport	15%
Documentaries	5%
Arts	10%
Feature films	5%
Government	5%
Education	10%
Drama	5%
Children	5%
Youth	5%
Religion	10 %
Actuality (informal knowledge-building, talk shows, magazine programmes...)	20 %

4.2 Language

Programming will be produced in the language of participating groups. Tshwane TV will explore innovative ways to cut across language barriers by exploring multiple language formats. Tshwane TV will endeavor to find  balance with regards to the main language groups in Tshwane

 

4.3 Local Content

In terms of the origin of content, Tshwane TV will endeavor to ensure that content will, in general, be broken down into the following categories: 

Local                           50 %

 

South African              30 %

 

International              20 %

5. Programme finance

Programming will be sustained through a “mixed economy” including donations, service fees, sponsorships and advertising with no single source of revenue dominating thereby exercising undue influence.

The following guidelines have been put in place with regards to advertising and sponsorship:

 

Sponsorship:

·        Programme Sponsorship entitles the sponsor to have “brought to you in association with…” this would be an opening and closing 10 sec billboard. Additional exposure within the programme (e.g. infomercials, ad spots, product placement etc.) may be negotiated.

 

·        During ad breaks the sponsor would get 5 second break bumpers going both into the commercial break and back into the programme immediately after the commercial break period.

 

·        There is also the opportunity for in-studio branding.

 

Advertising:

 

·         Tshwane TV will be responsible for selling advertising (30 sec commercial spots, break bumpers & opening and closing billboards).

 

·         Tshwane TV will allow no more than 8 minutes per hour of advertising on the channel.

 

·         Programme sponsors buy the airtime (opening and closing and break bumpers) in exactly the same way as buying spots.

·         Should a content provider offer free programming in exchange for Tshwane TV's commercial airtime then Tshwane TV will offer the producer a sponsor package of opening & closing billboards and breakbumpers. This is subject to the content being approved and fitting in with Tshwane TV's editorial line.

 

·         Agency commission on any media company buying airtime on Tshwane TV would be 12.5%. This is between the brand and their media planning shop, this fee can be reduced dependent on volume of business.

 

·         Individuals bringing new advertising business to Tshwane TV should be paid 10% of the actual fee payable to Tshwane TV.

 

·         This does not include media planning houses or ad agencies buying spots or sponsorship on Tshwane TV on behalf of their brands.

 

Donations:

Tshwane TV is willing to negotiate free sponsorship packages in and around certain programming in exchange for donations, services or funding.

 

Restrictions:

·        Tshwane TV will not allow advertising targeted at children and advertising that is sexist, racist, xenophobic, sectarian or culturally demeaning.

 

·        Product placement is acceptable should a content provider need an additional avenue to re-coup some production costs, providing it is not blatant and intrusive within the structure of the programme. This should be brought to Tshwane TV's attention and would be subject to approval while shooting.

 

6. Censorship:

• Tshwane TV will strive to promote freedom of expression, as guaranteed in South Africa’s constitution, while abiding within the frameworks of other applicable legislation such as the Broadcasters’ Code of Conduct.
• Tshwane TV will not broadcast programming whose overall message is to engender hate or prejudice towards any person or group; inter alia that which promotes racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia; nor which is culturally demeaning.
• Age restrictions will be set on programmes that have been rated according to the stipulations of the Films and Publications Act. Content deemed unsuitable for younger audiences will only be shown after the stipulated time.
• Tshwane TV will not broadcast any programming that contradicts the provisions of South African legislation, including but not limited to the country’s Constitution, the Broadcasting Act, Broadcaster’s Code of Conduct and the Electronic Communications Act. The channel will enter into agreements with content providers to warrant that their contributions conform to this prescription.
• Where possible, content should seek to foster a critical approach to media and information, including an awareness of how traditional media can negatively affect people’s perceptions or behavior – for example through the reinforcement of a moral standards or negative social behavior through on-screen characters and role models.

7. News

News and current affairs items will seek to take a balanced and fair approach to investigation and information dissemination. In particular the provisions for Tshwane TV news contained in ICASA’s “Community Television Broadcasting Services: Position Paper” (2004) and the Broadcasters’ Code of Conduct will apply.