CUTV Seeks To Reinstate Full-Scale Live-Stream Project

NewsJulian Ward — Published November 15, 2011

Students looking to live-streamed Concordia Student Union meetings lately have undoubtedly noticed a decline in the quality of service.

“We’ve scaled down the live-streaming temporarily, so that, at least for the time being, we still have a record [of the meetings],” said Laura Kneale, CUTV station manager.

Kneale and CUTV program director Laith Marouf said that live-streaming CSU meetings has taken an extensive toll on their volunteers and equipment since the project started in January. Because of the live-streaming, two of their cameras and a video mixer burnt out and had to be replaced—an expensive cost to incur, they said.

CUTV is currently in negotiations with the CSU to obtain both funding to continue the project and exclusive rights to film CSU events.

The Link obtained a copy of CUTV’s proposal to the CSU.

The document states that CUTV wants “exclusive rights to film and live broadcast all CSU council meetings following the rules of decorum of parliamentary coverage,” and exclusive rights to “[film] and [archive] all CSU organized events including but not limited to, orientation events, lectures and conferences.”

It is unclear if students in attendance at CSU events would be barred from filming on their cell phones because of the exclusive filming rights sought by CUTV.

Marouf and Kneale said that students filming on their cell phones for a short duration of time do not concern them. Instead, they are worried about losing their audience if other professional companies are allowed to film as well.

The document also outlines the $15,000 CUTV sought from the CSU budget to fund “equipment maintenance, devaluation, wear and tear, and costs of the live-streaming service.” Volunteers would continue to work for free.

“If we were charging at the cheapest street value, it would be $65,000 [for the one-year contract],” said Marouf, explaining that CUTV is providing an incredibly inexpensive service.

The CSU has, for the most part, rejected CUTV’s proposal.

“I just don’t think that a contract is really an option right now,” said CSU VP Advocacy Morgan Pudwell. “I think that partnerships and seeking funding for the projects together are more sustainable for the Union and CUTV.”

Regarding the exclusive aspects of the proposal, Pudwell said, “I think that they understand that exclusivity is not what the CSU is interested in.”

“The CSU, last year, adopted a policy specifically against exclusivity contracts,” which she said was in response to a contract Concordia’s administration gave PepsiCo., in which the corporation would remain the sole vendor of soft drinks on campus.

CUTV has not given up in its search for funding, and is currently drafting a proposal for $15,000 from the Library Project, a $1.00 per credit fee levy collected from all students, which Marouf said is not being used to its full potential.

He also assured The Link that if CUTV receives the money he says is needed, the live-streaming project of CSU meetings will resume, regardless of any exclusivity contract with the CSU.