Idea of the (yester)day #1: Broadcasting Historic Preservation hearings

Home and Garden Television is a very successful cable television offering.

Those of us who testify before City Council and in other venues are accustomed to people telling us that "we saw you on tv" -- on Channel 16 (the city government channel) or even on broadcast and cable when an issue makes it to the commercial tv stations.

This happened to me yesterday. Given that I have been thinking about preservation taking it on the chin in Mt. Pleasant, and a bit in Takoma (within local circles, not the press), this mention made me realize that HPRB hearings are not broadcast on the city government tv channel.

They should be.

If anything, this would begin to build a broader understanding of the importance of preservation within the city.

I would suggest setting up the hearings so that visual presentations could be included within the television feed as well. (After all, we work so hard on creating good ones...)

The hearing room is already set up for TV I think, because Zoning Commission matters are televised.

From "HGTV Likes Its Crowded House" from Broadcasting and Cable magazine:

The glut of home redecorating shows on cable is driving some viewers right back home—to Home & Garden Television, that is. The Scripps Networks channel was flush with record ratings in October, and seven of its series are attracting more than 1 million viewers per episode.

Also see "The age of HGTV: Home improvement network has built quite a following in 10 years" from the San Diego Union-Tribune. It occurs to me that we're missing the boat. Preservationists somehow need to better connect with the interest and desire that is fueling the popularity of cable networks like HGTV and the perenially popular show "This Old House."


Index Keywords: historic-preservation; civic-engagement