Mapping Access

WGATV currently provides 24/7 programming to just under 3,000 subscriber households in Woodbridge, CT, which borders the city of New Haven. Primary content consists of town board & commission meetings, regional school district meetings, with occasional community events that have the sponsorship of some government body as well as public affairs-type programs from outside the town borders. Woodbridge is one of six towns in the franchise area of Cablevision of Southern CT ("Area 2"), and works in coalition with its Cable Advisory Council (CAC) and other town-specific access organizations there--OGAT of Orange and MGAT of Milford.

WGATV operates as a department of the town government, under the supervision of the Govt. Access TV Commission. In addition to an allocation in the annual town budget, WGATV has made use of grant money from the CAC since 2008. The coordinator's position is part-time. Students and recent graduates of Amity Regional High School are also employed as camera operators. Most of these students have taken the video production courses at the school or participated in the Video Yearbook club; additional training is provided to them on the job.

In 2007-2008, WGATV provided some programs on Google Video, until that service became unavailable. DVD copies of most programs are provided to the town library, for those citizens without cable television service. We exploring how to provide internet video affordably and without selling out our town-specific soul.

Woodbridge residents are eligible to use the public access studio and facilities at Sound View Community Media, Inc., in Bridgeport, about 20 miles away. Sound View currently provides programming to Woodbridge on the P and E channels and to U-Verse subscribers throughout Connecticut.