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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jun/01/community-channel-offers-public-chance-shape-own-media-outlet-media-trust
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Community Channel offers public chance to own and shape station | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The public are being offered the chance to buy into and shape a UK TV channel as part of a crowdsourced share scheme designed to create the first “channel owned by the people for the people”. | The public are being offered the chance to buy into and shape a UK TV channel as part of a crowdsourced share scheme designed to create the first “channel owned by the people for the people”. |
The Community Channel, currently run by the Media Trust, is trying to raise £300,000 by offering tiers of membership through crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder and become a community society owned by backers. | The Community Channel, currently run by the Media Trust, is trying to raise £300,000 by offering tiers of membership through crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder and become a community society owned by backers. |
Founded 16 years ago with help from Sky, the channel broadcasts programmes focused on community projects and charitable activity across the UK. It is watched by at least 1 million people a month, but Media Trust chief executive and channel founder Caroline Deihl said the funding would help make up a shortfall to keep broadcasting and make digital investments. | Founded 16 years ago with help from Sky, the channel broadcasts programmes focused on community projects and charitable activity across the UK. It is watched by at least 1 million people a month, but Media Trust chief executive and channel founder Caroline Deihl said the funding would help make up a shortfall to keep broadcasting and make digital investments. |
“This is a really exciting opportunity to broaden the supporter base of the channel,” she said. “It’s a minimum we’d need to be able to invest in taking the channel to the next stage.” | “This is a really exciting opportunity to broaden the supporter base of the channel,” she said. “It’s a minimum we’d need to be able to invest in taking the channel to the next stage.” |
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“What’s amazing is that it costs us less than £800,000 a year. It’s less than 10p per viewer a year, which is pretty good going. But we know our impact could be so much bigger if we had enough funds.” | “What’s amazing is that it costs us less than £800,000 a year. It’s less than 10p per viewer a year, which is pretty good going. But we know our impact could be so much bigger if we had enough funds.” |
Backers can put in anything from £50 for a basic membership to £50,000 to become a “founder”, who will become a “sole guest curator of a major season on the channel”. It is open to anyone, including charities, film-makers, media organisations and members of the public. | Backers can put in anything from £50 for a basic membership to £50,000 to become a “founder”, who will become a “sole guest curator of a major season on the channel”. It is open to anyone, including charities, film-makers, media organisations and members of the public. |
Though many of those putting in more substantial sums will be given a significant say in shaping shows, the channel’s board will retain overall editorial control and all programming will follow regulations laid down by Ofcom. | Though many of those putting in more substantial sums will be given a significant say in shaping shows, the channel’s board will retain overall editorial control and all programming will follow regulations laid down by Ofcom. |
Diehl said the new structure would make the Community Channel the “the first ever channel owned by the people for people”. | Diehl said the new structure would make the Community Channel the “the first ever channel owned by the people for people”. |
“That phrase came to me from a lady who is a project worker on a really rundown community estate in north-west London. She said ‘It’s the only channel for the people by the people. It inspires me and makes me realise I am not alone’.” | “That phrase came to me from a lady who is a project worker on a really rundown community estate in north-west London. She said ‘It’s the only channel for the people by the people. It inspires me and makes me realise I am not alone’.” |
Regardless of their investment, Each backer receives one vote to choose three directors picked from the backers who will make up a sizeable minority of the channel’s new board. | Regardless of their investment, Each backer receives one vote to choose three directors picked from the backers who will make up a sizeable minority of the channel’s new board. |
Most of the remaining directorships will be taken by members of the Media Trust and broadcasters who back it with services to the tune of around £3.5m a year, along with up to three posts chosen by the board for their experience and skills. | Most of the remaining directorships will be taken by members of the Media Trust and broadcasters who back it with services to the tune of around £3.5m a year, along with up to three posts chosen by the board for their experience and skills. |