'OLELO:  THE CORPORATION FOR COMMUNITY TELEVISION

2003 Annual Activity Report

Executive Summary

* This programming is not designated P, E or G, and includes overnights, Island Info and other non-PEG programs.

* `ŌOlelo’s Island Info and Jobs Info which comprise `ŌOlelo’s “Bulletin Board,” are not tracked using the PEG sector designations.

** This does not include “Bulletin Board” hours and other programming not designated P, E or G.

Note:  The following segment accounts for first run hours only.

* These hours are not tracked using the P, E or G designations and Open Mic includes O`ahu Speaks and Capitol Commentary.

** These hours are not tracked using the P, E or G designations.

VIDEO PRODUCTION TRAINING

(Māpunapuna Totals)

VIDEO PRODUCTION TRAINING

(Kahuku, Leeward, Palolo, Wai`anae Totals)

VIDEO PRODUCTION TRAINING

 (Māpunapuna Totals)

VIDEO PRODUCTION TRAINING

(Kahuku, Leeward, Palolo, Wai`anae Totals)

**No data collected at the Satellites in 2002 for this category, tracking began in 2003.

Complaint Resolution

`ŌOlelo tracks complaints (along with compliments and suggestions).  Complaints that warrant tracking are defined as being relevant to the organization and its services and are specific enough to result in some action. Formal complaints are accepted both verbally and in writing. Upon receipt of a complaint, when possible and appropriate, every effort is made to resolve the issue and to communicate the response or outcome with the person who originated the complaint.

Complaints fall into several broad categories and are listed below in alphabetical order with a brief explanation:

Access - To facilities, equipment or staff

Board - Relating to Board of Directors' processes

Equipment - Requests for new or special equipment and equipment malfunction

Miscellaneous - Not specific to other categories here, and not frequent enough to warrant its own category. Examples of issues that fall into the miscellaneous category include: vending machines, web site, aesthetics of the facility and personal views of various aspects of `ŌOlelo 's operations

Program Content - Relating to specific programs

Program Requirements - Relating to `ŌOlelo requirements to submit programs

Program Scheduling - Relating to program scheduling issues

Staff - Customer service to clients

Supplies - Tape stock, batteries and other production-related supplies

Training - Relating to requests for specific types of training

Volunteers - Relating to acknowledgement of and complaints about volunteers (by volunteers)

`ŌOlelo:  THE CORPORATION FOR COMMUNITY TELEVISION

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2003 Annual Activity Report

2003 Highlights

`ŌOlelo Community Media Centers, formerly known as Satellite Centers, expanded in 2003 with an increase of services and equipment offered at the Leeward Community College site and the addition of a new Community Media Center in the Palolo/Kaimuki community.  The Palolo/Kaimuki location opened in October 2003 at Jarrett Middle School with significant community support. The initial success of the Palolo/Kaimuki Community Media Center can be measured by the enthusiastic response area leaders and residents expressed during the center’s grand opening and their continued support of the new facility.  An additional success indicator for the Palolo/Kaimuki Community Media Center has been the proportionately large number of programs to come out of the area during its first quarter of operation. 

The existing Wai`anae and Kahuku locations continued to serve their respective rural communities in 2003.  A significant change to the Wai`anae facility has been the relocation of the Wai`anae High School Media class to their new Media building on the west end of the high school campus.  This has resulted in the ability of the Wai`anae Community Media Center to serve even more community members while maintaining a high level of interaction with and support of student video makers.  The Kahuku Community Media Center experienced a similar increase in the number of community members served while the Kahuku High School video program became a reality in 2003.  A significant effort to provide these rural communities with Easy Access services also began this year with the premiere of the Wai`anae Center’s  “Aloha `o Wai`anae” and Kahuku’s “Community in Touch” programs.  These programs have made it possible for nonprofit agencies in these communities to share their success stories and inform viewers of the services they offer.

`ŌOlelo’s mentoring initiative, now in its second year, has enhanced learning opportunities for newly trained clients. The non-linear edit (NLE) mentoring for iMovie and Final Cut Pro has become a very popular service with NLE client participation doubling from 2002. Another Client Services Department mentoring program, directed toward newly certified producers, was added in July.  Beginning with a Crew Call event, where new producers are assisted with finding technicians to work on their projects, the Production Advisor/Client Counselor mentors the producer in storyboarding, makes equipment recommendations, helps with site surveys, and offers other appropriate production assistance upon request. 

`ŌOlelo conducted targeted outreach to Filipino and senior communities in an effort to increase the diveristy of programming from these under represented communities. Of special note is the facilitated oral history training for the volunteers from the Battleship Missouri Memorial.   These volunteers interviewed 117 veterans serving on the U.S.S. Missouri during the signing of the treaty to end World War II.  The first  “Mighty Moments” program aired on Veterans’ Day.  The Filipino Historical Society also participated in a facilitated “Hali`a Aloha” oral history training with their stories slated to air in 2004. 

`ŌOlelo provided  a volunteer crew to cover the Lt. Governor’s Drug Summit and edited and aired the Drug Summit to coincide with the community awareness around  the broadcast of “Ice: Hawai'i's Crystal Meth Epidemic” program.  Building on that awareness, `ŌOlelo provided live feeds and web streaming from four locations around O`ahu to facilitate “Breakin` the Ice”, a volunteer producer’s coverage of the simultaneous town hall meetings on the “Ice” issue.

`ŌOlelo embarked on a new project to convene students with community leaders in an effort to bring voice to major teen issues identified solely by students.  The Youth Xchange Video Competition received 154 submissions from students K through 12 across the state.  Community support was shown through enthusiastic sponsorship and partnerships as well as participation from several key community leaders.  Mainstream press as well as news stations from all major networks provided coverage.  The contest culminated in a gala ceremony sponsored by the Ko`olina Resort and Spa attended by over 240 students, teachers and administrators.

Overwhelming client and community support and appreciation was evident at a DCCA public comment meeting held on August 25, 2003, to address the proposed Statewide PEG Access Plan.  Almost 200 `ŌOleloclients were present with the majority providing compelling testimony praising `ŌOlelo’s current services and sharing the importance and impact of PEG Access services in the community.   Almost half of those in attendance were unable to testify due to the overwhelming turn out which resulted in the hearing running approximately two hours over the original scheduled time. Many hearing participants emphasized the importance of community access and were generally supportive of expanding `ŌOlelo’s reach into more under served communties on O`ahu.

Public, Educational and Government Access Programming

In 2003, the Programming Department evaluated the success of block programming, which was initiated the previous year.  Clients found new audiences for their programs since they were preceded and followed by programs with similar subject matter. Viewers were vocal in their enthusiasm.

The Programming Department extended the six-month schedule for series programs to a one-year schedule (July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004).  This news was well received by producers and they were encouraged to create series promos for their program promotion. The response to the call for promos was tremendous and by the end of the year, almost every series program had at least one promo and several had multiple promos.

The Programming Department continues to wrestle with a programming dilemma on Channel 54 VIEWS which is the channel dedicated to social, political, city and state government issues.  It provides service not only for governmental institutions, but also for the general public to address community concerns.  At maximum, there are 35 hours of available prime time per week. VIEWS currently airs 12 Neighborhood Boards, each program consuming three hours, nearly 36 hours per week.  Also, City Council and the State Legislature, each having live programs during daytime hours that average three to five hours each, request cablecast during prime time. Programs submitted by individuals must be given equal opportunity for prime time as well.  Programming is exploring options to address this ‘limited prime-time’ issue in 2004.

Programming made a concerted effort this year to provide timely responses to client inquiries.  Viewer concerns about programming information have been addressed by submitting the most current programming information to services providing data to the local media, and by updating `ŌOlelo’s website daily with the most current programming information.

Following is a breakdown of original and repeat programming by sector (Public, Education and Government).  This year, total programming hours do not include overnight programming services.  This change in reporting reduced the amount of “Public” programming hours in 2003 compared to 2002. UH and DOE coordinate their own program schedules and are responsible for tracking their own original and repeat hours.

*  This programming is not designated P, E or G, and includes overnights, Island Info and other non-PEG programs.

** UH and DOE provide first run and repeat hours in their own reports.

 *  This programming is not designated P, E or G, and includes overnights, Island Info and other non-PEG programs.

** UH and DOE provide first run and repeat hours in their own reports.

Playback Summary

In 2003, `ŌOlelo’s Playback center was responsible for cablecasting 43,800 hours of on-air programming.  Video streaming continued throughout the year for channels 52, 53 and 54 with live, 24-hour a day video streaming on the internet.  The addition of two new web streams brought the total number of web streams to five, which allowed for the streaming of all live programming in both low and high bandwidth formats while still providing 24-7 coverage of channels 52, 53 and 54.  Low bandwidth was provided to serve viewers who use dial up modem and high bandwidth was offered to serve those who use cable or DSL hook up, but most importantly it allowed neighbor island access centers to use the feed to broadcast live legislative hearings on their channels.

On-channel errors were evaluated in the following three categories: those caused by technical problems with client program tapes; those resulting from transmission/power problems; and errors caused by `ŌOlelo equipment or processes.

The table below details the number of errors in each area.

Client discrepancies dropped dramatically in 2003.  Although the Programming Department began logging additional discrepancy items such as improper form submissions, improper end slates, etc., the updated tracking mechanism and process of informing the clients may have curbed the overall number of repeat discrepancies. Clients seem better informed and are turning in programs with proper paperwork, technical compliance, etc.  These numbers will continue to be tracked in 2004.

In 2003, there was an increase in the amount of equipment errors that can be attributed to tape formats. `ŌOlelo began accepting the DVCam videotape format in early 2003 and during the soft launch of the format,  clients who tested the new format showed no problems with DVCam. After the format was designated as an acceptable format for general submission, a recurring audio problem was linked to the DVCam decks and has since been resolved by `ŌOlelo Engineers.  Additionally, the DVCPro tape format as a playback source is relatively new and `ŌOlelo began experiencing deck failures. Research indicated these decks require more frequent maintenance to improve performance.

Summary of all Channel Outages

The `ŌOlelo Playback Department uses two back-up techniques to minimize channel outages.  In the event of a power outage, portable UPS batteries maintain power in the Playback Center, while the back-up generator is powered up.  The back-up generator is used until normal power is restored to the Playback Center.

In 2003,  `ŌOlelo Channels were off-air for four hours and 45 minutes due to three incidents listed below:

January 27, 2003 – A power surge at Oceanic’s main facility in Mililani knocked out cable service island-wide for 21 minutes.

January 27, 2003 – A second power surge later in the evening, at Oceanic’s main facility, knocked out cable service again, island-wide for 24 minutes.

April 14, 2003 – A power outage at approximately 3:00 am knocked out power at the `ŌOlelo Playback Center, in Māpunapuna.  Because the Playback Center runs solely on computer automation from 12:00 am to 6:30 am, there was no operator in the Center.  When the operator arrived at 6:30 am, all channels were fully restored to on-air status by 7:00 am.

Facility Use

In 2003, `ŌOlelo expanded its Non-Linear Editing (NLE) at the Māpunapuna Media Center. The largest increases in usage came from the Mini Field Units (PD-100), Non-linear Editing Systems (iMovie and Final Cut Pro), and Field Units (DSR-300).  There was also a small jump in Mini EFP Unit usage. Media Center operations were affected by a number of factors, including air conditioning malfunctions and equipment repairs.

The Macintosh based non-linear editing systems continue to be the most popular editing systems at the Māpunapuna facility.  After assessing the usage of the four linear bays, the total number of bays was reduced to three in the first quarter of 2003. Use of the linear edit systems decreased 2,029 hours compared to 2002. Although this may seem significant, it is consistent with edit usage transitioning to NLE, which increased 4,255 hours from last year.

Another consistent upward trend from 2002 is in Mini Field usage. The Sony PD-100 is the workhorse in production acquisition increasing usage by 6,142 hours.  Due to its ease of use and high picture quality, the PD-100 is becoming the clients’ camera of choice.  Use of the Sony DSR-300 Field Unit increased by 3,260 hours this year.  The DSR-300 is still the camera of choice for long format or high quality acquisition.  

Mini EFP Unit use increased by 1,374 hours from 2002.  Many clients find that the Mini EFP units work well where the use of the EFP Van is unfeasible.  Bridging the gap between the EFP Van and multi camera shoots with long edit sessions, the Mini EFP Units have the ability to switch multiple cameras, resulting in reducing editing time required or even eliminating the need for editing altogether.

The Māpunapuna Media Center was closed a total of 23 days for holidays, administrative days, inventory and maintenance.  Air conditioning problems caused partial closures of the Media Center totaling nine days. The studio, control room, and linear edit bays were affected.  In order to minimize impact on clients, NLE systems were moved to other air-conditioned areas in the facility. Camera reservations were not affected. The EFP Van was also not available for a total of seven days while equipment was repaired.

Mac OS 9, IMovie 2 and Final Cut Pro 2 were phased out by the end of the year. `ŌOlelo moved to Apple’s Unix based operating system in early 2004, which boasts faster speeds and less software crashes. `ŌOlelo has also moved to iMovie 3 and Final Cut Pro 3.

Facility Use - Māpunapuna

* Mini EFP Systems available for 24 hour check out.

Community Media Center (Satellite) Facility Use

Overall, client interest in using the mini-cameras (PD-100, PD-150, PDx10, consumer cameras) has increased, while interest in the larger, professional DVCam units (listed as “Field Units” in the table below) has decreased.  While these larger units are still preferred by those clients who are taping long-format, lecture or meeting type programs (such as neighborhood board meetings), the portability and ease of use of the smaller cameras have increased the demand.  A similar increase can be noted in editing where NLE hours for 2003 are more than twice that of linear edit hours. 

Facility Use – Satellite Centers (Kahuku, Leeward Community College, Palolo and Wai`anae)

* Feather-Pack available for 24 hour check out.

All Facility Use

 Māpunapuna and Satellite Centers (Kahuku, Leeward Community College, Palolo and Wai`anae)

Video Production Training

In response to requests and communitiy needs, the Training Department conducted 13 facilitated classes in Camera, Studio, Producer, Editing and Van.  Additionally, `ŌOlelo began development of the Mini Studio concept as an Easy Access service for 30-minute live-to-tape programs.  This involved training Media Center staff to operate the equipment, as well as the development of a Producer Guide.  The Mini Studio will launch in first quarter of 2004.

The 2003 focus on new clients saw the advent of `ŌOlelo’s First Works First Aid consisting of field reference materials for PD-100 cameras and mixers.  In addition, the move toward non-linear editing has improved the quality of the First Works.  One First Work project won the National Hometown award in the PSA category.  Sneak Preview attendance has increased to become the showcase for newly certified clients in Producing, Camera and Editing. The newly developed First Works critiques distributed at Sneak Previews provide clients with production advice and tips.

More than seventy clients attended five free “ShopTalk” workshops.  Topics included: audio theory, keyframing in Final Cut Pro, structuring television programs, producing "must see TV" and low cost pre-production.

Training also developed materials for two new cameras (PD-150 and PDx10) and two new versions of editing software (iMovie3 and FCP3).  Seventeen sessions were offered and 76 clients took advantage of the “crossover” class to these new editing systems.  Other developments included adding two exercises for various editing classes.  All of these materials were distributed to the satellite centers.

The breakdown on basic training activity by category follows:

Video Production Training - Māpunapuna

Video Production Training at the Community Media Centers

CMC training continues to serve a very diverse population. Class sizes at the CMCs are typically smaller than those at Māpunapuna, allowing staff to provide a more hands-on approach with a built-in mentoring component. This model has been successful in helping clients gain production confidence, and has increased the certification rate for trainees.

In an effort to increase the community’s access to resources, a new class on using the feather-pack (mini EFP unit) independently was introduced at the Wai`anae Community Media Center during the fourth quarter of 2003.  This new certification makes it possible for clients to check out and operate the feather-pack for a community event without requiring a staff technician to be present during the taping.  This training has been successful and has empowered those who have been trained to be able to document a greater number of community events.  This new model will be adopted by each of the Community Media Centers in 2004. 

Video Production Training - Satellite Centers (Kahuku, Leeward Community College, Palolo and Wai`anae)

TOTAL Video Production Training

 Māpunapuna & Satellite Centers (Kahuku, Leeward Community College, Palolo and Wai`anae)