FAQ: DCTV, Independent Media Block and Route Irish / Torture is Us on TV

dublin | arts and media | feature

Saturday July 12, 2008 22:22

by seedot - dctv

Frequently Asked Questions as the mob film takes over the airwaves - ch. 802 UPC digital

Media that doesn't have any other distribution....................
.........................
..........other than the internet, screenings, dvds.........
........
a place where these films are broadcast and can be submitted to be put on the television.......

It had to come to this. Somewhere along the way the means of production and distribution of media would fall into the wrong hands and even indymedia would be fully co-opted for the armchair activist. Don't go out on the streets, don't gather at your screenings or media centres, don't pass samizdat video from hand to hand - now you can consume independent media through the goggle box.

Dublin Community Television is launching on 16th July and the launch night schedule gives a clue to the influences - premieres of Route irish and Torture is Us mark the Independent Media Bloc which shows activist videos from Ireland and the world. Below the fold is the guide to the launch in the handy form of a FAQ.

1.What is being launched next week?

Dublin Community Televison. www.dctv.ie

2.Isn't that already broadcasting?

Yes, but with the tag 'pilot' beside it on the EPG. The aim is to get that conditionality removed and go properly on air and tell people.And have a party to mark it.

3.Nothing to see here?

Well – the launch night does have some good TV on. And no ads. And they promise that they'll learn the software soon and do an understandable schedule.

4.is there a reason this story is on indymedia?

DCTV has a lot of strands. Creating the schedule in blocks, it has allocated a weekly schedule block to independent media content. On the launch week the broadcast TV premieres of work by indymedia contributors form the anchor programmes of the independent media block – 2.5 hours daily allocated to independent media production.

5.which premieres?

Route Irish the film by ec the indy contributor who also produced / directed / crafted Berlusconis Mousetrap after the Genoa protests of 2001.

Torture is Us
This film covers the adventures of our intrepid Guerrilla film maker, and long time Indymedia video contributer Scooter as he turns himself into a entrepreneurial master of war. WINNER: *Made in Cork* – Cork Film Festival.

I suppose you can add the TV premiere of “Look we have a studio” though i don't know if anybody could class that as long awaited. More accidental but it does have the relevant people talking.

6.And how do I see these?

You have to have UPC digital – go to channel 802.

7.When?

When the independent media block is showing. Route Irish premieres on Wednesday at 12.30 and Torture is Us is at 9 pm on Thursday. After that they rotate for the next few weeks as the anchor programmes on the current DCTV independent media block.

8.But I don't get UPC digital?
You could follow the links and watch on the internet.
You could use a torrent client, seed a file or host a screening.
You could change your tv provider – pay a new bill or get your current provider to carry DCTV.
You could start a new tv station.

9.Whats with the weird schedule?
Blame the scheduler. Apparently theres an algorithm.

10.What else is on it?

Heres the blurb. http://www.dctv.ie/DCTV_Programmes.pdf

11.do you have any telly I can watch?
Here's a programme called “Look we have a studio!”. Its the future of television ;-).
Otherwise DCTV launches next Wednesday at 1pm. 802 NTL Digital.
Theres DVDs and other distros about.
Independent Media block starts on Wednesday night.