PR 08/09: BAVC SELECTED TO ASSUME OPERATION OF PUBLIC ACCCESS IN SAN FRANCISCO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2009

PressContact: Jennifer Gilomen
415-558-2121

BAVC Selected to Assume Operation of Public Access Television in San Francisco

After an open Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the San
Francisco City Department of Technology has selected the Bay Area Video
Coalition (BAVC) to assume operation of the public access television station in
San Francisco.

Due to the significant decrease in funding available for San Francisco public access,
and the dramatic changes in media technologies and
workflow, BAVC's proposal reflects the need for a re-tooled public access
station that will seek to be continually relevant and engaging to San
Francisco's diverse communities.

BAVC Executive Director Ken Ikeda recently said of the project, "BAVC hopes to
re-create public access as a true public service, one that involves broadcast
and community participation, but also one that strengthens the fabric of our
vibrant city, encourages participation and volunteerism with our City's diverse
nonprofit organizations, and one that encourages the sharing of diverse
viewpoints and the stories that make our city so great."

With a 33-year history of serving San Francisco in
the realms of community media, technology, digital media training, and civic
engagement, BAVC is uniquely positioned to become the City of San Francisco's
public access provider. Unlike any other nonprofit in the city of San
Francisco, BAVC holds relationships with thousands of media producers, hundreds
of nonprofit organizations, the Bay Area's innovative technology sector, over
50 public schools, and over 800 young people with whom BAVC works each week.

“The future of public access television services in San Francisco has
been uncertain due to changes in state law that led to drastic cuts to
operational funding.BAVC’s
proposal not only promises sustainability of services, but was creative in the
way these services will be provided. As a result, I believe more citizens will
be able to train and provide valuable local content to the station,”  said Ron Vinson, Director of Media,
San Francisco Department of Technology.

During the last month, BAVC has reached out to current public access producers
and other community leaders to ensure that their voices are heard as the
station evolves. BAVC's first step in implementing its new vision includes
changing the station name to reflect the new priorities. The station will now
be called SF Commons.

BAVC will assume control of San Francisco public access station on September 1, 2009.

For more information about BAVC's vision for public access in San Francisco, please go to http://sf.commons.tv

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The Bay Area Video Coalition (www.bavc.org) is the nation's largest noncommercial media arts center dedicated to providing access to media education and technology. BAVC is an affordable training center, a pioneer in technology-based workforce development and youth media training, and a critical resource for independent media makers. BAVC's
mission is to inspire social change by enabling the sharing of diverse
stories through art, education and technology.www.bavc.org