NYCTV

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NYCTV

Type	Terrestrial television
Branding	"Everything New York"
Country	United States
Availability	New York City area; also distributed nationally
Founded	2003
Founder	Arick Wierson, Seth Unger
Broadcast area	New York City
Owner	New York City
Key people	Michael Bloomberg, Mayor Arick Wierson, General Manager
Launch date	June 24, 2003
Past names	Crosswalk Television
Website	www.nyc.gov/html/nycmg/nyctv

NYCTV is the publicly-owned broadcast service of New York City run by the NYC Media Group. It is seen in the New York City area on broadcast channel 25 and on five municipal cable channels. As a producer of several original award-winning shows, it is recognized as an innovator in municipal television.

Contents 1 History 2 Ratings 3 Programming 4 See also 5 External link

[edit] History

NYCTV replaced "Crosswalks Television," the city government's previous broadcast outlet, in 2003. Mayor Michael Bloomberg recognized the station's potential to link New York City residents with their municipal government. Bloomberg hired Arick Wierson, then 34, a former investment banker, and Seth Unger, then 31, a co-founder of a small independent record label based in New York City, to build new programming.

NYCTV rapidly grew successful. In early 2005 Wierson fromed NYC Media Group, which absorbed NYCTV and is the entity responsible for managing and programming the NYCTV broadcast channel. It also oversees five New York City cable television networks reaching approximately 1.8 million households each, one full power FM radio station (WNYE 91.5FM), and a production company, NYC TV Original Productions. Half of NYCTV's annual $5.8 million budget is provided by the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications and the other half comes from sponsors, franchise fees and time leased to others. The station has about 75 employees.

The cable channels overseen by NYCTV provide other coverage, such as off-track betting information for horse racing and gavel-to-gavel coverage of City Hall hearings and mayoral news conferences.

NYCTV has recieved attention as an innovator in municipal broadcasting. After winning 14 New York Emmys, city governments in Seoul, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Los Angeles have expressed interest in replicating NYCTV's success.

[edit] Ratings

The once-overlooked station has soared in the ratings to 100,000 viewers for its most popular shows. NYCTV's broadcast television station reaches approximately 7.3 million households.

In 2006 NYCTV became the first public broadcaster in the United States to enter into a deal with a major private broadcast network, NBC, to air its shows. NYCTV airs weekdays on WNBC and its digital channel, "4.4." Selected programs air in prime time on WNYE-TV, a public television station in New York City. Continental, Delta, and South African airlines have featured NYCTV on their flights. In 2006 NYCTV programming became available for purchase on DVD.

[edit] Programming

NYCTV programming on its flagship channel 25 ranges from public broadcasting-type shows like Globe Trekker, to New York Emmy Award winning original programs such as Blueprint: New York City and Cool in Your Code as well as the nationally syndicated show, Secrets of New York. Other popular programs, like New York Noise and The Bridge focus on the city's music scene. New York Noise has a loyal following among musicians. Tommy Ramone was the host of an episode and the show has featured such bands as Fischerspooner, Animal Collective, and the National. The show is filmed around the city, from longtime clubs like Irving Plaza to the accordian shop Main Squeeze.

Below is a list of orginal NYCTV programming:

• $9.99 - A guide to free and cheap attractions.
• Backdrop NYC - Focuses on short films shot and set in New York City. The host interviews filmmakers about the challenges of making their documentaries, animations, or films in the city.
• Cool in Your Code - Suggestions on places for people to meet and things to do in the city's 200-plus ZIP codes.
• Eat out NY - An insider's guide to popular places to eat, as well as interviews with chefs.
• It's my Park - Highlights the features of New York City's 28,000 acres of parkland.
• NYC 360 Degrees - Takes viewers through trends in music, fashion, advertising, and blogging.
• NYC Paradetown USA - Features the city's many parades.
• Secrets of New York - The host explores the city's sewers, subway tunnels, and history, teaching viewers about infrastructure and neighborhood history.
• The Bridge - Chronicles hip-hop's early days (hip-hop began in New York City). Each episode features vintage video of the New York scene.

[edit] See also

• NYC Media Group
• Media of New York City

[edit] External link

• NYC TV official website

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