BTV: Bloomington TV

Watch on cable TV

City Council meetings, usually held on Monday evenings, are shown live on BTV 859 HD / BTV 14 SD. See dates and times of upcoming meetings.

The meetings are typically rebroadcasted the following Wednesday at 6 p.m., and Thursday at midnight, 6 a.m. and noon.

Watch archived video

Visit the past meetings section of the City meetings webpage to view recent meetings online, and for information about accessing video of older meetings.

Watch on cable TV

Planning Commission meetings, usually held on Thursday evenings, are shown live on BTV 859 HD / BTV 14 SD. See dates and times of upcoming meetings.

The commission's meetings are typically rebroadcasted the next day (Friday) at Midnight, 6 a.m. and noon.

Watch archived video

Visit the past meetings section of the City meetings webpage to view recent meetings online, and for information about accessing video of older meetings.

This magazine-format news show covers the City Council, City services, City staff, development in Bloomington and other governmental issues.

The show airs Wednesday through Monday on BTV 14 / 859 (HD).

Bloomington Today is also available on YouTube. 

BCIT also covers other governmental, Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters meetings that deal with governmental issues.

Any program produced by the City of Bloomington's governmental organizations may be cablecast by BCIT on The BTV 14 / 859 (HD). Programs produced by other governmental agencies or other community organizations may be cablecast on behalf of BCIT, provided they have interest and value for the citizens of Bloomington. Such programs shall also be subject to the approval of the City Manager or the City Manager's representative.

Programs that contain, in whole or in part, any of the following subject matter will not be cablecast by the government access organization:

A. Commercial message or material

Anything promoting a product or a service, with the primary objective of producing a monetary profit for a specific commercial organization or individual, may not be aired in a BCIT program. This is not to preclude the incidental mention of a business or product, as part of a program, where the primary purpose is to disseminate information of public benefit. Businesses, individuals and organizations may be acknowledged for assistance in the production of a program or the provision of other means of support.

B. Political campaigning

Government access programming will not be used for political campaigning by individuals or organizations seeking public office or legislation. BCIT cannot be used for solicitation of funds nor for political purposes. This is not to preclude the cablecasting of political debates or candidates' meetings, provided that fairness and equal time rules are followed. Also not precluded shall be the possibility of cablecasting reports by current elected officials regarding the status of issues and other governmental business, providing again, that fairness and equal time rules are followed where applicable.

C. Religious material

Programming generally considered religious in nature will not be allowed. Program material that would advocate a particular religious belief will also not be produced by BCIT. Religious organizations or ideals may be mentioned as incidental information as part of a program. This rule will not preclude the appearance of a clergy or individual representing a particular religion as part of a program providing general information.

D. Obscenity and defamation

Every effort will be made to assure that all programs cablecast by BCIT adhere to the rules of the Minnesota Cable Communications Statute 238 and community standards relative to obscenity and defamation.

The City of Bloomington shall determine priorities for the production and cablecasting of programs in accordance with these guidelines and available resources. Responsibility for planning, budgeting and operation shall be as designated by the City Manager.

Funding for the operation of the government access organization will be as appropriated by the City Council from the annual franchise fees received as a result of the operation of the cable television system in the City of Bloomington. Other support may be provided through services such as grants from other agencies and assistance from the cable television franchise holder, as required by the franchise ordinance.  

BTV broadcasts premiere programming from the City of Bloomington (BCIT), Bloomington Community Access Television (BCAT) and the Bloomington School District (BEC). See below for more information about each of these programming sources.