What Does NORCAM Offer North Reading Residents?

What is NORCAM and what services does it offer to North Reading residents?

For North Reading residents who have fantasies of producing their own TV shows, reality is no farther away than the town center. The outside of the historic Damon Tavern belies the high-tech setup inside, as NORCAM – – has a studio, cameras, sound room, and editing equipment neatly laid out within the approximate 1,300 square feet of the building’s first floor.

NORCAM was formed as a nonprofit company in 2008 after the town signed an agreement with Verizon, bringing cable competition to North Reading. Previously, Comcast broadcast town meetings, Board of Selectmen meetings, and School Committee meetings on local access.

In a structure similar to that in many towns, North Reading cable customers pay a franchise fee to Comcast and Verizon, and these carriers pass along about 4.25 percent of these revenues to fund NORCAM, which is a nonprofit organization, said Executive Director Rob Carbone, who oversees NORCAM along with a volunteer board of directors.

NORCAM’s annual budget is about $225,000, which funds the salary for Carbone and other part-time employees, equipment purchases and upkeep, insurance, and rent at the Damon Tavern.

“We get franchise fees from the cable companies, and it goes right back to the town in the form of rent,” Carbone said.

The fees allowed NORCAM to move to the Damon Tavern from a small room in and update its equipment, which includes studio cameras, portable cameras, and multiple computers with editing software. Carbone said he seeks to purchase used equipment whenever possible to control costs, and he recently purchases two used studio cameras in like-new condition from a New Hampshire-based company.

“One new studio camera costs more than a new car,” he said.

North Reading residents can use the equipment after becoming a NORCAM member and receiving training from Carbone or other staff. “I don’t give you a fish,” Carbone said. “I teach you to fish.”

Family and individual memberships are $20 annually and student/senior memberships are $10. Renting similar equipment or editing time from a private studio can run up to $150 per hour, Carbone said.

Carbone will instruct residents on using camera and sound equipment and editing software. Three Apple computers offering Final Cut Pro, a video editing software, are available at NORCAM’s offices.

In addition, a green screen allows a new background to be edited into video recorded in front of the screen.

As long as content is appropriate and there are no copyright infringements, there are no limits on the types of shows residents can shoot, edit and broadcast through NORCAM, Carbone said. For example, on a recent morning “The Glitzy Gourmet,” a cooking show recorded by an Andover resident in her home, ran on North Reading’s local access. Equipment and facilities are available for North Reading residents to prepare a similar show sharing their expertise in cooking or any other hobby, Carbone said. (NORCAM’s studio is not set up for a cooking show, but the studio could host a talk show or other formats.)

Carbone also recently installed new microphones in the Selectmen’s room at Town Hall to improve sound quality, though some quality control is beyond NORCAM's control as Comcast and Verizon handle wiring and technology beyond the studio and broadcast equipment owned by NORCAM.

Carbone encourages residents to visit NORCAM’s Bow Street studio and imagine the creative possibilities of local access.

North Reading's local access broadcasts on Comcast channels 10 and 22, and Verizon channels 24 and 26. NORCAM’s website is currently unavailable as it is undergoing a complete update. To reach NORCAM, e-mail norcamrob@gmail.com or call 978-664-0501.