May 1, 2024 By Harbor Media
Harbor Media, Hingham’s hyperlocal community television provider airing high definition programming on Comcast 1072/Verizon 2131, today announced the opening of its third grant cycle accepting applications May 1 thru June 30 2024 for $67,000 or more in production funds. The prior two application cycles distributed $129,000 for 29 video episodes as part of the Harbor Media Production Grant program (HMPG) benefiting local viewers. In collaboration with the town of Hingham, this first of its kind reimbursement program utilizes federally-designated cable funding to incentivize the community to produce local programming by covering production expenses. All who live or work in the town of Hingham are welcome to apply.
Since launching in May 2023, many new TV episodes are already available for local viewers in high definition on Comcast 1072/Verizon 2131 and via video on demand at www.HarborMedia.org. Among the newest episodes for Hingham viewers:
Five Days in Hingham produced by former PBS reporter Brian Sullivan and Nicholas Bonn: features local businesses, restaurants, hiking trails, the waterfront and farmers’ market.
Creating Born to Do This, the Joan of Arc Rock Opera produced by Zoe Bradford: go behind the scenes withThe Company Theatre’s creative crew in this documentary showcasing the making of this original, sung-through rock opera.
This new grant program was formed in partnership with the Town of Hingham as part of a new five-year service contract with Harbor Media (2022-2027) utilizing cable funds to encourage local video production with expense reimbursement for producers and their crew. The availability of these grant funds empowers those who live and work in Hingham to share their voice and vision from a Hingham perspective. Diverse audiovisual formats are encouraged including short form, episodic, feature length, fiction and documentary with resulting production aired on Harbor Media’s high definition Comcast 1072/Verizon 2131 channels.
In addition to grant funds, Harbor Media can also make available its high quality audio and video production equipment, staff support and the use of its professional studio with multiple set options and made for TV kitchen. These resources are currently available to all members of the public to create local television and HMPG applicants may also choose to use these production elements in order to submit lower-cost budgets.
Available on the Harbor Media website, the HMPG application is designed to be simple and user-friendly to encourage participation. Applicants answer four questions directly on the website or via email:
1) Video project description
2) List of crew (producer should be a Hingham resident, affiliated with a local
business/organization or have a local sponsor)
3) Amount of production funds requested with a detailed budget
4) A production timeline keeping in mind all projects should be completed within 12 months
A three-person committee composed of Harbor Media board member Liz Vanzura and Hingham residents Maura Farden and Angie Woodin, all of whom have deep TV and video production experience, will review the applications and select grantees. Grant recipients should consult with their tax advisor on classification of grants as taxable income.
The new HMPG fund reflects Harbor Media’s ongoing mission to offer Hingham residents the best in hyperlocal public, education and government programming and professional production resources. Additional innovations provided to the community in the past three years include closed captioning, online real-time TV schedule with video on demand viewing and multi-device live streaming.
Please go to www.HarborMedia.org for details and to sign up for email updates, call 508-318-8694, or send an inquiry to michelleb@harbormedia.org for more information.