TelVue Virtual Television Networks

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TelVue Virtual Television Networks (TVTN) is a network of municipally-owned public, education and government (PEG) cable TV channels, run by TelVue Corporation.

TVTN partners with municipalities to provide hometown news, weather, traffic, and emergency information in a format that looks like other cable networks ^[1]. TVTN's patent-pending "Web Updating System" (WEBUS) enables the authorized users in each municipality to add, edit and update information on their channel anywhere Internet access is available ^[2]. This technology can replace older systems in which authorized users have to be present at a designated workstation to update emergency messages ^[3].

PEG channels are provided to municipalities as part of their franchise agreement with cable companies. Surveys have shown that full production PEG channels can drive viewership that is on par with other popular cable networks. TVTN helps municipalities produce professional looking cable television channels by giving them more robust programming and an updated look and feel ^[4].

TVTN is made possible by the generous support of sponsors who receive on-air credits in exchange for financially supporting their local PEG channels. These on-air credits are non-commercial in nature and are different from advertising. They adhere to the same FCC guidelines that PBS sponsors follow and are restricted from making the type of commercial claims or calls to action you’d see in mainstream advertising ^[5]. This type of sponsorship keeps the channels non-commercial and allows towns to provide local programming without passing the cost along to cable subscribers or tax payers.

As of February, 2007, TVTN is available to cable subscribers in 178 municipalities in ten states, primarily New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, viewed in almost 2 million households. TVTN has future plans to launch pilot programs in other parts of the country, reaching almost 3 million households in 277 communities ^[6].

TVTN is owned and operated by TelVue Corporation. TelVue Corporation was spun-off from Science Dynamics Corporation of Cherry Hill, NJ in 1988. It currently operates under the direction of cable pioneer and philanthropist HF “Gerry” Lenfest ^[7].

[edit] References

^ Lerner, Renecca. Channel 35 joins TelVue. Home News Tribune. 24 January 2007
^ DeAngelis, Martin. Local Government Broadcasts Get Sharp New Look. Press of Atlantic City. 23 April 2007
^ Pesick, Jason. A flashier channel 3. San Bernardino County Sun. 24 March 2007
^ TVTN Sponsorship Guidelines
^ Channel 3 Becomes Affiliate of TelVue. The Press-Enterprise. 19 March 2007
^ TelVue Corporation