Apply For Your Own Open Signal TV Series

Have an idea you want to share with the world? Apply for your very own TV series on Open Signal’s community-powered cable channels! A series gives you a regular airing schedule, helping you build an audience and grow your creative voice. Plus, you’ll have access to our studios, equipment library, and staff support to help bring your vision to life.

Broadcast Seasons

Open Signal has two broadcast seasons each year:

• Winter/Spring: January 1 – June 30

• Summer/Fall: July 1 – December 31

You can apply for a new series at any time during the year. Once approved, you’ll be asked to renew your series two months before the next season to keep it on the air.

To submit shows for broadcast, you must live in the Portland Metro area. If your show is produced outside of this area, a local sponsor who lives in the Portland Metro area can submit it on your behalf.

Series Application Guide for First-Time Producers:

1. Attend an Orientation. Join one of our monthly Orientation sessions to learn about Open Signal and set up your Producer Account. This is your gateway to submitting content and accessing equipment and studios.
2. Have two pilots ready to submit. To apply, you’ll need two completed pilot episodes that match your show’s length and theme. For example: if your series will feature 30-minute local interviews about health, your pilots should follow that same format. Episodes must be between 5 minutes and 1 hour long. Submit your pilots before the application period closes — and you can use them to officially launch your show!
3. Add a project to your account. Head to community.opensignalpdx.org and follow the instructions to create a new project.
4. Create a new series request. Follow our step-by-step Series Application Guide to complete your request..
5. Submit your pilots. Upload your episodes following the Series Application Guide directions. Need help? Email our Playback staff at playback [at] opensignalpdx.org or call 503-288-1515 ext. 321.

At Open Signal, we want you to succeed! Our team is here to help you meet deadlines, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate your creative milestones. Let’s get your show on the air — Portland’s ready to see what you’ve got.

Here are some recommended guidelines:

• Series frequency is the number of episodes assigned to you during a season based on your starting date. For your first series, we advise you to choose a series frequency that you think you can easily manage. If you are going to produce a show in our studios or with our field equipment, we suggest a monthly or bi-weekly frequency. Schedules can be adjusted if you are unable to meet your requested frequency. Frequency for shows starting at the beginning of the season are:
  • Monthly = 6 shows
  • Bi-weekly = 12 shows
  • Weekly = 26 shows
• If your shows are pre-produced and ready to submit (either produced elsewhere or from your own library), try a weekly series.
• All shows have a required submission deadline of 48 hours before their premiere date. If you are unable to submit your episode,  let us know what episode you'd like to replay or contact us to make arrangements.
• Please contact staff if you need assistance. Missing two or more scheduled airings may result in series cancellation.

**Please note that our equity goals aim to support communities who have been historically underserved and underrepresented in media. We encourage community members who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color; living with disabilities; English language learners; and/or living with low incomes (defined as 80% or below the median Portland income for your household size, found here) to apply.

Questions? Contact Emily Roland, Media Services Distribution Manager, by emailing distribution [at] opensignalpdx.org or by phone at (503) 288-1515 ext. 301.