Want to stream a meeting? There's an app for that

Residents wanting to catch up on the latest city council meetings have a new option — and it’s in high definition to boot. From anywhere in the world, people can now watch the Rocky Mount City Council’s regular meetings and work sessions and all video programming produced or uploaded by the municipality.

These features are all available on the CITY TV 19 app, which has been made available for download.

“It should not cost a dime for our citizens or those interested in Rocky Mount to be able to connect with us,” City Communications Manager Grant Roberson said in a recent interview.

Although the City Council’s regular meetings and work sessions are available for viewing via the CITY TV 19’s YouTube channel, the app means viewers no longer must navigate to that link or to the municipality’s website to watch them in real time or afterward.

Roberson came up with the idea for the app, which he said was launched on March 15 at a one-time cost of roughly $5,000.

CITY TV 19 is part of a buildings-based system of public, educational and governmental television channels.

However, those channels are only available through a local cable television provider, which requires a monthly subscription with that cable provider. Those channels also are limited to viewers within that cable provider’s service area.

Roberson emphasized that the reason the CITY TV 19 app was created is because the days when cable television was prevalent are going away due to there no longer being a need for having the connectivity of the cable lines.

“Everything’s wireless,” Roberson said. “So, as people move away from that traditional media, we have to follow where they’re going.”

Also, he emphasized that cable providers do not see governmental channels as money makers.

“So, if we don’t fit their business model, I mean, we could be left behind,” he said of the municipality broadcasting meetings.

The CITY TV 19 app can be downloaded via Android and Apple devices and the connection also can be obtained via Apple TV and an Amazon Firestick.

Among the videos now on the app, in addition to council meetings, are those of the CITY TV 19 City Beat shows featuring interviews with municipal officials and providing public service information.

The app also includes the CITY TV 19 Spotlight on Downtown shows, which feature interviews of people who in the heart of the city are turning their dreams into reality.

The Mayor’s Brief, which Mayor Sandy Roberson launched as a show to interview people of note in the community, is also available for viewing on the app.

Roberson also uses the show to provide overviews after council meetings.