Public Access Broadcasters Create 'ObamaCable'

Jan. 6, 2013 - PRLog -- January 6, 2013

PUBLIC ACCESS BROADCASTERS CREATE 'OBAMACABLE'

Do America's struggling families deserve free TV for life?  

A group of small-market broadcasters think so.

Octave Network Television has entered the media marketplace as a no-fee hdtv service provider, offering dozens of  public, government and community access channels free of charge to every U.S, citizen.

8ctave's network combines the strength of hundreds of small-market, noncommercial, student-run, government, public-sourced and community access broadcast stations from across the country.  Many of these 'tiny towers' are grossly underfunded, underpowered or unavailable without digital 'rabbit ear' antennas.

Public broadcasters are a vital part of national media, connecting communities, serving the public trust and acting as key components to national security through use of the FCC's Emergency Alert System, which informs and instructs the public during a crisis.  

Now enters Octave, a startup  bent on 'Powering Public Access' with streaming TV technology, broadcasting to millions of Americans via Roku and other internet TV receivers.

Roku is the largest streaming TV box in America, credited with creating the popular Netflix video on-demand service.  Devices like Roku contain the nuts and bolts that enable Octave's free HD offerings, with units costing less than $50.

In addition to on-demand content delivery,  Octave channels broadcast in TV's traditional linear format.  Octave looks like 'regular' TV because it is, combining the strength and character of America's Public  Access broadcasters into a nationwide network with more potential carriers than ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX combined.

According to Octave founder Edward Balboa, you need "a lot of Davids" to take on a Goliath, a role relished by the unknown recently dubbed 'The Rocky Balboa of Broadcasting.'   He says folks often mistake Octave for a music channel, but that an Octave's true description isn't so do-ray-mi.

"A true 'Octave' is defined as the distance between two  matching frequencies, in our case frequencies used to transmit and receive information.  An Octave's bridge 'breaks' when two frequencies either don't match or are too far apart to talk to each other."

Although Octave is a for-profit corporation, Balboa doesn't seem to run it like one.  He freely gives away affiliate broadcast channels to every  city, public school, qualifying church and charity in America, and refuses to siphon funds from government programs to do it.

Coining his free HD service 'Obamacable' may just be a term of endearment from its founder, but Edward's public telly-vision appears to be bigger than Big Bird.  He says that 8ctave gives hundreds of independent stations the ability to operate on a level playing field, speak to a nationwide audience and protect the public by using the government-mandated EAS system more effectively.

"Octaves are what allow us to see, hear and experience the world around us.  Octave Television offers a free, unbiased HDTV service that allows complete participation in our democracy,  solving problems together as an informed population.   We'll never grow, learn, thrive or understand each other until every American can freely communicate."

Communities wishing to add their voice to 8ctave Public Access may make channel inquiries via email to programming@octavetv.com.

For pictures, actualities and interviews please contact:  

Edward  Balboa
8ctave Network Television
213-787-3904 / 213-444-3180
programming@octavetv.com