Somerville Community Access Television

Specialties

Somerville Community Access Television is a leading public access media center that enables a vibrant and diverse community to express its creativity, explain its ideas, share its cultures, and foster the individual’s right to freedom of speech. SCAT supports and creates community-​driven media through education, production resources, and distribution on cable television and the Web.

History

Established in 1983.

Somerville Community Access Television operates Channel 3 in Somerville It is the oldest access center in Massachusetts (since 1983) and boasts the longest running access program in the world (since 1972), «Dead Air Live.» Besides providing a TV channel for Somerville residents, SCAT serves the community through production of PSA’s, various staff-​facilitated programs, and coverage of community events, meetings, and political forums. We provide free meeting space for community groups, post messages on our bulletin board, provide video training and mentoring, offer access to high quality digital equipment and facilities, and operate an art gallery for local artists. The channel is well stocked with a wide variety of member-​produced programs in many languages, and we cablecast Free Speech TV programs including Democracy Now.

Winner of the Alliance for Community Media Award for Overall Excellence in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009.