SNCAT’s Updated Website

For a long time this blog has harped on the City of Reno to do a better job getting its City Council meeting footage online after the event.  This used to be handled pretty easily by the SNCAT Archive, but then first Reno and then Washoe County’s content began not to appear in the archive.  That looks like a textbook example of when they paychecks stop coming in, and it’s rather unfortunate that the content is no longer available.

Meanwhile, SNCAT took some initiative and updated their website to better resemble the modern era of streaming video sites.  They’ve made some smart changes.  Episodes appear with thumbnails, metadata, links back to individual items, and they appear alongside related items.  Clearly some thought went into the system (no embed code… yet)

It’s interesting to see new episodes of Around the Arch and Reno Metro Pulse posted, but no Council meetings.  In these economic times, we’re not likely to see the City of Reno get its municipal programming live anytime soon, which is unfortunate, with things like tomorrow’s hearing on the Tesera project, a massive revamp of the northeast part of downtown proposed by a single developer.  The City’s website does stream the Council meetings live but that streaming capability is often overburdened, rendering huge portions of the proceedings unwatchable – which can even impact the proceedings, in cases where a Councilmember is attending the meeting remotely.

For a time, Reno was a leader when it came to making its programming available online.  With Charter Communications’ shenanigans regarding on which tier the service is available, and the demise of public access studios in California, the writing might be on the wall for cable accessed government and community TV.  It is in the public interest to make all video from all government proceedings available on-demand as soon as possible.

Comments

[Gay Rodeo]

I absolutely love the new SNCAT website. I was watching the delightful "Cheap Thrills Theatre," streaming, and it ws great.

I'm happy that while Charter and the City of Reno stick their tongues out at each other that SNCAT took the gracious step and just did the job themselves the best they could.

GR