Random Pixels

Cox Communication has recently changed their television program delivery to ‘a purely digital signal’. According to Cox ‘this upgrade to All digital will impact any televisions that currently receive an analog-only signal’. I found the process to obtain a free mini box (free for one-year) for one of my older televisions to be really easy and Cox was very responsive. I called their phone number, 858-836-7983, pushed a few buttons and received the box in the mail the next day! (You can also go to their website for help) It took me less then 10-minutes to hook the box up and I’m now able to watch KOCT in my home office. (I’ve got to get my LIVE council fix!) Please let KOCT know if YOU have any problems receiving KOCT’s Channel 18 or Channel 19 during this digital transition. E-mail us at KOCT@KOCT.org or call the station at 760-722-4433 during normal business hours.

Measure A ALERT: Tell your Carlsbad friends they are going to want to watch KOCT on January 7^th, Community Channel 18 at 7 pm. KOCT will be having a Special Election 2016 Journalist Roundtable on Measure A —the strawberry fields project initiative. We’ll have a Proponent of the Caruso shopping mall, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall and we’ll have an Opponent: Cori Schumacher with Citizens for North County. 

It’s easy for them to watch this high-definition program by going to KOCT.ORG and then clicking on the Streaming 18 button, or they can watch as Video On Demand throughout the month of January and right up to the February 23^rd special election.

Buy a Banner Ad on KOCT.ORG-A simple way to help KOCT and promote your organization at the same time is to buy a Banner Ad on KOCT.ORG   These small banners adorn the KOCT home page, VOD and News pages on the lower left side of each page. Prices range from $150 for 3 months to $300 for a full year.  Buy a Banner Page and you let our community know that you support independent, local media while also promoting your business or service club.

IF you had told me when I started at KOCT that one day our highest quality hi-definition television signal would not be what we air via cable but instead distributed via our internet signal I’d have asked if you were dizzy and needed to sit down.  But thanks to the effort of a lot of people, that is the KOCT reality. It started with a grant from the County of San Diego to upgrade our Mobile Studio to Hi-Definition. Thanks to Supervisor Bill Horn and all of the Supervisors for their support of community television.  (And thanks to KOCT Grant Writers Carol Mudgett and KOCT Station Manager Jake Rush for a successful application!)

The equipment would still be in boxes if it wasn’t for our amazing Chief Engineer Bill Peters and the hundreds of hours he has invested to install, test and troubleshoot this new technology. KOCT’s IT Specialist Phoenix Von Hendy has also been busy converting all of our Editing Suites to Hi-Def.  And then I have to acknowledge &  thank my two key staff members; Production Supervisor Angela Miranda and Station Manager Jake Rush who have had to learn how to use the new sophisticated Switcher, cameras and how to process the subsequent giant files of information.  They are talented and tenacious in grappling with this huge learning curve.   So when we go into 2016, ALL of KOCT’s programs will be produced, recorded and edited in Hi-Def. Whoa now I’m starting to feel a little Dizzy!

Random Pixels

KOCT is pleased to present two special airings of a new film by a local filmmaker. Lincoln’s Greatest Speech is the brainchild of Emmy Award-winning producer-director Kenneth Kebow. Hosted by Academy Award-winning actor and avowed U.S. historian Richard Dreyfuss, it features Dreyfuss’ reading of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural, followed by a discussion with Ronald C. White, bestselling author of Lincoln’s Greatest Speech and A. Lincoln.

Here is a brief teaser of Lincoln’s Greatest Speech. The complete program will air on KOCT’s Community Channel 18 on December 21st at 3 pm and on December 26th at 9 pm.

KOCT will have new public access procedures beginning in 2016. KOCT airs public access programs, submitted by local residents and members of the faith community, every Saturday and Sunday on KOCT’s Community Channel 18. Now, instead of public access producers submitting their programs on videotapes or DVDs, they must provide Digital Files via Drop Send (or similar services) or on a flash drive. This will save KOCT staff many hours of transfer time which means they can devote more time to producing community programs. More details can be found here & downloading our Public Access Guidelines.

Check out this new public service announcement (PSA) http://koct.org/video/category/koct_promos/detail/nctd_google_maps_2015 produced by one of our talented KOCT Editors, Toby Maysey.

This spot highlights the cool new North County Transit District/Google Trip Planner that helps you to schedule rides on the Breeze bus line and/or Sprinter train line. We’ll be playing this spot in between programs, as ‘commercial’ breaks in our regular shows like Journalist Roundtable and as Video On Demand via KOCT.ORG.

Thanks to our volunteer KOCT Board of Directors KOCT now has a new Mission Statement:

“KOCT, North San Diego County’s Community PEG* Channel, is an exclusive, independent, non-profit, educational media conduit.  KOCT’s focus is on the topics and issues of importance to the people of North San Diego County.”

*Public, Education & Government Access Media

December Oceanside Spectrum

Oceanside Spectrum is KOCT’s community television show with a guest list as diverse as our north county community. The program is hosted by Elaine Swann— “the Etiquette Lady”.  Our community (& KOCT) is lucky to have this professional host interview our local community activists, leaders and non-profits. Ms. Swann has shared her etiquette advice on various radio programs, as well as on the TODAY SHOW, ABC, NBC, CBS, The CW, FOX News, The STYLE Network, and CNN Headline News. A recent New York Times article touted her as one of the "Emily Posts of the Digital Age". As the go-to leader in everything etiquette her advice has appeared in publications such as the Modern Bride Magazine, Kiplinger's Magazine, and several newspapers across the US.

Our December Oceanside Spectrum has a great line-up of guests and organizations and things to do, including art in our community and in our schools and support for Camp Pendleton families. Also in this edition is information about a 2016 Youth Success Week and an organization that is providing shelter and services for our veterans.

Our first guests discussed Artbeat’s ‘Crazy Christmas Sweater’ party and exhibit.  Elaine then interviewed Cathy Nykiel, the Sunset Market Manager, who talked about the First Friday Art Walk and the weekly Sunset Market.

One of the most active and much needed YMCA’s in north county is the Armed Services YMCA that serves our military families on Camp Pendleton.  The new Executive Director, Chris Keane, made his first appearance on the program to share information about Santa’s Workshop and their Secret Santa program.

Our next guests came on to talk about Youth Success Week (January 10^th through17^th, 2016). This week is being organized by the Community Alliance for Youth Success. You can learn more by watching KOCT’s Spectrum and going to these web sites: www.8Keys.org or visit www.youthsuccessweekoceanside.org

Our last guest was Greg Anglea, the Executive Director for Interfaith Community Services and his topic was their Veterans Assistance of San Diego. Find out more by going to www.interfaithservices.org.

So why not consider helping YOUR favorite charity, non-profit and service organization in 2016 by booking an appearance on KOCT’s Oceanside Spectrum?  It’s a popular show so try to make your appointment at least 90 days in advance of your event.  To reserve a spot contact KOCT’s Production Supervisor, Angela Miranda by calling 760-722-4433.

Good Holiday News

Good Holiday News!  KOCT has figured out how to save you enough time to learn to surf and enjoy a recent musical event in downtown Oceanside.  We have a new program called Oceanside City Council Highlights—Reporter Promise Yee, who covers the City Council meetings for The Coast News, provides a brief synopsis of the most important agenda items for those who don’t want to watch an entire council meeting!  (The link takes you to our VOD page—just scroll down and click the City Council Highlight for the most recent council summation.)

With the extra time we just saved you why not Learn to Surf? KOCT has a new series called Learnin’ to Surf which will begin airing on Saturday December 5^th at 8 am on KOCT’s Channel 19.  For the premier of this new series we’ll play three episodes back-to-back and you’ll get 3 hours of surf lessons for free! We’ll also play the entire series on the following Sunday at 9 am but on Channel 18.  We’ll play 1 episode throughout December—every weekend too. KOCT would like to thank artist and producer Norlynne Coar for allowing us to air this creative series—to find out to order a copy contact her at N.CoarArt@gmail.com

Finally you are going to enjoy a new Newsbrief: Oceanside Music Festival. This was the 14^th Annual Music Festival and KOCT was informed about this  unique event by the key organizer, Robert Parker, Executive Board Member of Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF).  Our program was produced by Kellie Davis and edited by Toby Maysey. Congratulations to the Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation for putting on another fabulous performing arts event!