Storyhive

Share your story on

TELUS Optik TV.

Community Showcase is a program for creators who want to reach a new audience. Do you have a story to share now?

All filmmakers, creators, and voices in BC and Alberta are invited to submit completed films or series for broadcast on the TELUS Optik TV™ On Demand system, which is accessible for free to over a million Optik TV subscribers in BC and Alberta.

Applicants must live in

Alberta or British Columbia

Creators are invited to

submit programs that:

  • Are filmed in BC and Alberta 
  • Reflect local communities, stories and a diversity of voices
  • Present innovative ideas and alternative views with a balanced viewpoint on existing or emerging issues of importance in the community
  • Highlight local people, events, cultures, history, places and organizations
  • Comply with all laws, regulations and policies governing content, taste, community reflection and diversity of voices including the Canadian Broadcasting Act, CRTC Best Practice Code, and other relevant Canadian laws

Please note that TELUS does NOT pay license fees or revenues for community access content submitted through this service. TELUS provides closed captioning for our platform and covers the cost of re-encoding the program, ensuring accepted projects comply with CRTC broadcast regulations

Important Reminders:

  • Applications for exhibition on TELUS Optik TV Video On Demand may be submitted for review at any time.  
  • You will not be compensated for your submission (there are no license fees or revenues paid). This is an opt-in opportunity to showcase your work and reach a new audience, not a license deal or a grant. We support your project by covering  the cost for closed captioning as well the encoding cost to upload the program to our VOD platform.
  • TELUS will not make any changes to your program other than to insert a disclaimer card at the head of the program, plus add a viewer advisory and/or rating card if necessary.
  • Before you apply, please ensure that you have read all information as well as our FAQs.

All submissions must meet certain requirements. Submissions will only be considered if they meet the following:

  • Regulatory compliance: Your program must comply with all laws, regulations and policies governing content, taste, community reflection and diversity of voices including the Canadian Broadcasting Act, CRTC Best Practice Code, and other relevant Canadian laws.
  • Rights, releases and clearances: You must have the necessary rights, releases and clearances for your program to appear on TELUS Optik TV Video on Demand, in English, for a period of 10 years.
  • Closed Captioning: A full transcription of the program is required for closed captioning. Transcripts may be submitted as a word or text file.
  • Language and subtitles: If your program is in a language other than English, the content must be subtitled in English.
  • Length/duration: Our preference is for programs with a minimum running time of at least 10 minutes.
  • Coarse language: The audio must be dropped on any coarse language or profanity. Please refer to the CRTC Best Practice Code for more guidance.
  • Rating: Projects must adhere to a G or PG rating. G (General) Rating: Suitable for viewers of all ages. May contain occasional violence and coarse language, and the most innocent of sexually suggestive scenes and nudity. PG (Parental Guidance) Rating: May contain less subtle sexually suggestive scenes and nudity, more realistic portrayals of violence, and more occurrences of coarse language. There is no age restriction, but the film may not be suitable for all children.Parental discretion is advised. For examples and guidelines on these ratings, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-film-classification.aspx.

As well, the program must originate from a person who:

  • is not employed by TELUS or another Broadcast Distribution Undertaking (BDU); AND
  • is a resident of BC or Alberta.

In accordance with CRTC regulations and policies governing content, taste, community reflection and diversity of voices, the following types of applicants are ineligible:

  • Political organizations and candidates
  • Advocacy or special-interest groups
  • Religious or sectarian organizations (except where they represent non-denominational community and social support services)

The following types of programs are also ineligible:

  • Programs exploring issues of public concern without a reasonable, balanced analysis of the topic
  • Programs containing any advertising or words promoting goods or services.

Technical specifications

Please see our delivery checklist for a list of deliverables and specs that must be included in your delivery.

Deliverables
  1. VOD HD file
  2. Transcription
  3. Box Art Large
  4. Box Art Small
  5. Key Art
If you choose to, you also may deliver a VOD 4K file (optional):
  1. Optional VOD 4K file (the VOD HD file above must also be delivered)
ARTWORK Specs

Note: when exporting artwork, use “save for web” setting so the file sizes stay below 650 kb

  1. Box Art LARGE (JPG, JPEG, PNG 480 x 688 | 650kb max | 72-300 DPI)
  2. Box Art SMALL (JPG, JPEG, PNG 400 x 600 | 650kb max | 72-300 DPI)
  3. Key Art no text or logos, (JPG, JPEG, PNG 1600 x 900 | 650kb max | 72-300 DPI). Cannot be the same image as the box art.
 

VIDEO FILE Specs
Video Size Format Container
VOD HD 1920 x 1080 Apple ProRes 4:2:2 (HQ) (Preferred) DNxHD or: XDCAM HD.mov XDCAM EX.mov MPEG2 .MOV or .MPG
VOD 4K (OPTIONAL, if submitting 4K the HD file must also be delivered) 3840 x 2160 Apple ProRes (4:2:2 or 4:4:4) (Preferred) DNxHR .MOV
VOD SD 720 x 480 Apple ProRes 422 HQ.mov or XDCAM.mov .MOV
 

*Web files are not required for Community Showcase projects.

Application details

  • Applications for Community Showcase (exhibition on TELUS Optik TV Video On Demand) can be submitted for review at any time.
  • Partial or incomplete applications will be ineligible for review until they are complete. TELUS STORYHIVE may request that you submit additional documentation or information to complete your submission.

You will receive a notification that we have received your application after you have submitted it to us. Within approximately 6 weeks of your submission, we will notify you of any deficiencies in your application that need to be remedied before your application will be considered complete.

Before you apply, please ensure that you have read all information as well as our FAQs. If you have questions, email us at  storyhive@telus.com.

 

 

CommunityYour voice and votes count!

STORYHIVE empowers you — the community — to help shape our creative culture. Creators need your votes and social support to get funding for their video projects. Stoke stories that rock your world.

  • VOTE! Community votes decide which projects get $10K production grants and distribution on TELUS Optik TV On Demand.
  • PROMOTE! content on your social networks to help your favourite projects gain support.
  • COMMENT! Give Creators feedback on their ideas by leaving comments on their projects.
  • SHARE! Help us grow the STORYHIVE community.