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1. How do I submit program on Southwest Television?

Forms for program submission can be accessed online as can the SWSCC Policies and Procedures page. Reading through the policies  will likely answer most, if not all, of your questions. The majority of  questions asked are answered on pages 4–6 and have to do with Drop-Off Procedures and Scheduling of Programming. If you choose to submit programs electronically, it’s a one-step process under the Forms section of this website. 

 

Each program submitted in DVD form for playback on SWTV’s Public Access Channel must be accompanied by a Public Cablecast Request Form. An Educational Cablecast Request Form should accompany SWTV’s Education programming.

 

The Edina Playback Facility partners with the City of Bloomington to  provide producers with resources such as a studio and video production  equipment. Those interested should contact Bloomington Community Access Television (BCAT) at 952-563-4980.

2. I see bulletins running in between programming. May I submit an informational graphic for broadcast?

Please do! Utilizing our video bulletin board is a great way for a  Public Access Producer to promote a television show, or for a resident  of the Southwest Suburbs to promote a community event or bring awareness  to an organization. Graphics can be in .png or .jpg format and should  be 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high. Please avoid using decorative  fonts and overly saturated colors. The Edina Playback Facility reserves  the right to request changes. No commercial advertising allowed.

3. Will Edina Playback Facility (EPF) create a video bulletin graphic for me?

Unfortunately, the Edina Playback Facility does not have the staff  available to assist residents and program producers in the creation or  modification of bulletin slides. We will notify the public online should  that policy change.

4. You recommend MPEG Streamclip to convert my DVD to a file that can be uploaded. Is this the only program I can use?

The process by which you convert a DVD to a file is called ripping a DVD, and there are many programs you can use to do it. A quick search for download software rip DVD program should  yield you a number of options.

The reason that Public Access Producers  are encouraged to use MPEG Streamclip is because it's cheap, (and often  free), to install and set up, it has the ability to export files that conform to our required file specifications, and it's the program that  is used at the Edina Playback Facility. This consistency allows us to  better assist you in the process of converting, or ripping, your DVD should you need guidance.

5. I use a Mac. MPEG Streamclip tells me I need the MPEG2 Playback Component. What now?

In the same way that PCs require the installation of Quicktime Alternative 1.81 for MPEG Streamclip to work, Macs typically require the  installation of the MPEG2 Playback Component to work. You will need to purchase it and install it. Please contact the Community TV Administrator for installation instructions as they are contingent upon your OS (952-826-0359 is our department number).

6. I just export my program file directly from my editing software. Is this ok?

Absolutely, this is ok. Make sure your export settings match the file specifications required by our cablecast servers here at the Edina Playback Facility.

7. It takes a very long time to upload my program file. Is this normal?

The speed of your internet connection will largely determine the speed of your file upload. Using an online speed test can show you your download and upload speeds. (Be sure to choose the  location nearest you when running the test.) A typical high speed residential connection may yield upload speeds of 5 Mbps or more. At a rate similar to this, a 1 GB file could be uploaded within a half an hour.