News
for Immediate Release
Government of the District of Columbia
Executive Office of the Mayor
Office of Cable Television & Telecommunications
3007 Tilden Street, N.W.; Pod-P
Washington, D.C. 20008
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
CONTACT: JAMES D. BROWN, JR., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
202-671-0066
DC OFFICE OF CABLE TV ENTERS PARTNERSHIP WITH MASON PRODUCTIONS
(Washington, DC) The D.C. Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications
(OCTT) has entered into a significant private/public partnership
with Mason Productions, LLC (Mason Productions) that has economic
and national implications for OCTT. OCTT is a District of Columbia
agency that operates under the Executive Office of the Mayor. OCTT
is charged with the responsibility of regulating the provision of
cable television services by cable television service providers
who operate video distribution systems that occupy the public rights-of-way
in the District of Columbia. OCTT also manages and operates the
Districts two government cable access channels: OCTT 13 and
OCTT 16 and cablecast the University of the District of Columbias
channel 98. Pursuant to its new partnership with OCTT, Mason Productions
will design and manage the upgrade of OCTTs digital broadcast
center to High Definition. OCTTs broadcast center is located
in the Intelsat Building; 3007 Tilden Street, NW; Washington, D.C.
In addition, Mason Productions will market OCTTs broadcast
facility to local and national production communities.
James D. Brown, Jr., Executive Director of OCTT and creator of
the agencys business initiative said, We are excited
about our new partnership with Mason Productions. We are excited
about the tremendous benefits that this partnership will bring to
our District of Columbia audience, and we are very enthusiastic
about its broad economic potential.
Brown added, Our goals regarding this upgrade and alliance
are to attract more television production work to Washington, D.C.;
to expand the production talent base in the District; and to satisfy
the digital television broadcast mandates that have been imposed
upon OCTT and other broadcasters by the Federal Communications Commission,
states OCTT Executive Director James D. Brown, Jr. By developing
this private/ public relationship, we will create greater opportunities
for District of Columbia residents to gain substantive exposure
to the television production industry.
Brown additionally noted the fact that Todd Mason, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Mason Productions, has a proven track
record of bringing major productions to Washington, DC productions
such as ESPNs Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn,
along with several series for the Discovery Networks, TV One, MTV,
Comedy Central and Showtime.
Todd Mason said, I have known James Brown for more than ten
years and have seen the amazing accomplishments that have resulted
from his enterprising spirit and hard work. James has done a continually-stellar
job of running the Districts Office of Cable Television and
Telecommunications. He is steadfast in his efforts to protect the
interests of the District and its residents. I am very excited about
working with James and the District government on this project
comments Todd Mason.
Presently, the project is well underway and its completion is scheduled
for this November.
For more information on OCTT, visit the agency's website at
http://www.octt.dc.gov
For more information on Mason Productions, visit their website
http://www.masonmediagroup.com/
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