What BERKELEY COMMUNITY MEDIA does

Berkeley Community Media (BCM, operating as BCMTV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit P.E.G. (Public, Educational, and Government) access television media center founded in 1994 and headquartered in the Maudelle Shirek Building (Old City Hall) at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, California. The organization operates 24/7 on Comcast Cable Channels 28 (B-TV, public access) and 33 (Berkeley Government TV) and AT&T U-verse Channel 99, with live streaming and on-demand playback via bcmtv.org. It provides amateur and professional filmmakers, television producers, citizen journalists, and local nonprofits with access to professional production equipment — Sony PXW-Z90V and FS5 4K cameras, Canon DSLRs, Sennheiser microphones, Dracast LED lighting, Atomos Ninja monitors, NewTek Tricaster switcher, a Sling Studio portable live-switching rig, and a large East Bay studio — as well as a Mac Media Lab and certification courses covering field production, editing (Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, After Effects), podcasting, and live multi-camera broadcasting.

BCM monetizes through four streams: tiered annual memberships ($40 student/senior, $60 resident, $120 non-resident, $1,000 lifetime), tax-deductible donations, fee-based classes and workshops ($80-$120 per course), and professional media production services for outside organizations. Go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth, monthly BCM Community Club mixers, signature events including the annual 48 Hour Filmmaker Challenge and Horror Film Fest, cable television presence, Eventbrite listings, and a YouTube channel. Customer segments span member producers, local nonprofits, youth from underserved communities, the City of Berkeley (Channel 33 government broadcasting), and educational institutions. The organization has 83+ member producers and a 27% Black/Latinx, 45% female, 18% persons with disabilities, 18% LGBTQ+ board, reflecting a deliberate equity-oriented mission.

Leadership comprises Executive Director David Flores (joined BCM as intern in 2013 after Coast Guard Public Affairs service), Business Manager Donald Bauer (returned 2024 after 2003-2009 Operations Manager tenure), Programming Coordinator Brian D. Scott (former ED 2000-2007 and 2013-2021), and a Board chaired by Carla Appleberry. The organization has roughly 9 identified staff, is open to the public 46 hours/week for 48 weeks/year, and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and there are no funding rounds, acquisitions, or subsidiaries; financial sustainability depends on membership fees, donations, possible cable franchise fees, and event sponsorships.

Name

BERKELEY COMMUNITY MEDIA

Legal name

Berkeley Community Media

Website

https://bcmtv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berkeley Community Media is a Berkeley, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit P.E.G. access television center, founded in 1994, that provides amateur and professional filmmakers, nonprofits, and the City of Berkeley with professional production equipment, training classes, and 24/7 cable broadcasting on Comcast Channels 28 & 33 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Media Services

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Broadcasting Production Units & Studios (In-house/Member) (MPABADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Broadcasting Content Distribution & Interconnection (Sat/IP feeds) (MPABADAI)

Keywords

• Public access television
• Community media center
• Video production equipment
• Media production training
• PEG access channels

Headquarters

HQ city

BERKELEY, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide access to studio, field equipment, Mac Media Lab, ability to submit programs on Channel 28, and master class workshops. Tiers: Resident $60/year, Non-Resident $120/year, Student/Senior $40/year, Lifetime $1000.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from the public. BCM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation (Federal Tax Id#: 94-3190674). Donations go towards improving services and purchasing new production equipment.
3. Class and Workshop Fees: Fees for media empowerment courses including Basic Field Production ($80), Advanced Field Production ($80), Sling Studio Workshop ($120), Podcasting 101 ($120), Adobe Premiere Pro Editing ($120), Final Cut Pro X ($120), After Effects classes ($80).
4. Media Production Services: Professional capture of events including in-house training, interviews, conferences, graduations, and special events. Contact for consultation and quotes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Berkeley Community Media (BCM) operates a Public, Educational, and Government (P.E.G.) access television media center that broadcasts 24/7 on Comcast Channels 28 & 33 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 across the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization provides members with access to professional-grade video and audio production equipment, studio facilities, media production training classes, and the ability to submit and cablecast original programs. Founded in 1994 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BCM combines community broadcasting with hands-on production services and media education.

Product overview

Berkeley Community Media (BCM) operates as a P.E.G. (Public, Education, Government) access television station offering a unified platform for community media production and broadcasting. The core offering combines B-TV television broadcasting across multiple cable channels with comprehensive media production services including certification courses (Field Production, Editing, Podcasting, Sling Studio), professional equipment rental, and studio access. BCM extends its platform through signature programs like the annual 48 Hour Filmmaker Challenge and Horror Film Fest, supported by an internship program and monthly Community Club networking events. The membership-based model provides tiered access to equipment checkout, studio facilities, and class enrollment, positioning BCM as a complete content creation ecosystem for amateur and professional filmmakers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B-TV Public Access Television Broadcasting Community access television broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, airing member-produced programs on Channels 28 & 33 (Comcast) and Channel 99 (AT&T U-Verse), plus live streaming via the bcmtv.org website. Designed for amateur and professional filmmakers, television producers, citizen journalists, and non-profit organizations seeking to share content with the Berkeley community.
• Media Production Classes Media empowerment courses including Basic 4K Field Production ($80), Advanced 4K Field Production ($80), Sling Studio Workshop ($120), Podcasting 101 ($120), Adobe Premiere Pro Editing ($120), Final Cut Pro X ($120), and Adobe After Effects ($80). For filmmakers, content creators, and community members seeking hands-on media production training.
• Video and Audio Equipment Rental Checkout of professional production equipment including Sony PXW-Z90V and Sony FS5 4K cameras, Canon DSLR cameras, Panasonic HD camcorders, Sennheiser shotgun mics, Sony lavaliers, Shure handhelds, Dracast LED lighting kits, and Atomos Ninja 4K HD recording monitors. Available to certified members for field productions.
• Studio Access Access to small Express Studio with green screen and NewTek HD three-camera Tricaster switcher, and the large studio (second largest in East Bay) for talk shows, band performances, and other productions. Available to certified members.
• BCM Membership Program Tiered annual membership program providing access to BCM's studio, field equipment, Mac Media Lab, master class workshops, and the ability to submit series programs on Channel 28. Tiers: Resident ($60/year), Non-Resident ($120/year), Student/Senior ($40/year), and Lifetime ($1,000).
• 48 Hour Filmmaker Challenge Annual summer short film competition where teams write, shoot, and edit a short film (10 minutes or less) in 48 hours using three secret clues revealed at the launch party. Open to amateur and experienced filmmakers in the Bay Area.
• BCM Horror Film Fest Annual horror film festival held in October showcasing independent filmmaker submissions in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres, with films up to 10 minutes in length. For indie filmmakers and horror genre enthusiasts.
• BCM Internship Program Twenty-week internship program providing hands-on training in producing, directing, camera operations, lighting, and sound. Open to youth aged 13 and older with no prior experience required. For students and young aspiring media professionals.
• Podcast Studio Access Professional podcast recording facilities available to certified members, with training offered through the Podcasting 101 course taught by an award-winning Bay Area podcaster.
• Media Production Services Professional video capture services for organizations and government agencies, including in-house training, interviews, conferences, graduations, and special events. Quotation-based pricing upon consultation.
• Show Submission and Cablecast Program submission service allowing certified members to air original content (30 seconds to 1 hour 20 minutes) on Channel 28, with on-demand playback via the bcmtv.org website. Content accepted on DVD-R, hard drive, or thumb drive in mp4/.mov formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of continuous operation as a community media resource
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• YEE TVminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026BCM partnered with YEE TV to cover the Berkeley Juneteenth festival in June 2026. This partnership provides extended coverage of the community event through combined broadcasting reach.
• Options Recovery ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Partnership with Options Recovery Services for hosting the 48 Hour Filmmaker Challenge screening event at the Veterans Memorial Building. Options Recovery Services is a community organization serving those in recovery.
• Victory Point CafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of the 16th Annual BCM Summer Shorts Movie Jam: 48 Hour Filmmaker Challenge. Victory Point Cafe sponsored the event supporting the local filmmaking community.
• Berkeley Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBCM's Community Outreach Coordinator serves as Ambassador for the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, promoting BCMTV resources to local businesses and organizations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Austin Community Television (ACTV): Austin's PEG access television station providing cable channels, production classes, equipment access, and community media services to residents and nonprofits. Directly comparable nonprofit PEG access operation.
• Open Signal (Portland Community Media): Portland's community media center operating PEG access channels, media training, equipment checkout, and studio rental. Directly comparable nonprofit PEG access model serving a mid-sized U.S. city.
• Cambridge Community Television (CCTV): Cambridge, MA's PEG access television center providing channels, production training, equipment rental, and community programming. Same operational model as BCM in a comparable college-town market.
• Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN): One of the largest PEG access stations in the U.S., offering community television channels, production training, equipment access, and studio facilities in Manhattan. Closest direct functional analog to BCM at larger scale.
• San Francisco Community Television (ACCESS SF): San Francisco's designated PEG access television station. Operates the same Section 611 PEG model as BCM in an adjacent Bay Area market with cable channels, equipment access, classes, and community programming.
• Metro Television (Denver): Denver's community access television center operating PEG channels, training programs, and equipment checkout. Functionally equivalent to BCM in a larger Western U.S. market.

Others

• Alliance for Community Media: National nonprofit trade association representing PEG access stations and community media centers across the U.S. Not a peer operator, but the industry body that defines best practices and advocates for the regulatory framework that underpins BCM's franchise position.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BerkeleyCommMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/BCMTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berkeley-community-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BERKELEY COMMUNITY MEDIA