The South Washington County Telecommunications Commission (SWCTC), a local government cable access staple for the past four decades, has ushered in a new era with its recent rebrand to TrueLens Community Media. As a hub for local video and audio content, TrueLens aims to maintain its foothold in cable and social media platforms while expanding its reach through upcoming FM radio stations.
"It was time for a name that people could connect with and easily remember," Ann Schweisguth, executive director of TrueLens Community Media, told the official Woodbury website. The name "TrueLens" seeks to encapsulate the organization's dedication to providing an authentic and community-centric perspective on the diverse life in South Washington County. Schweisguth's sentiments echo a vision for content accessibility, as TrueLens makes itself known on channels like YouTube, Roku, and a range of social media platforms, alongside their mainstay Xfinity offerings on channels 798, 799, and 895.
The rebranding and relocation herald the launch of TrueLens Community Media's two new low-power FM radio stations, WWBY 91.5 FM and WGRO 104.5 FM, with the aim of providing hyper-local content ranging from news and government updates to music and possibly live coverage of local high school sports. Adding to their multimedia approach, TrueLens has also rolled out a podcast, available from this month, with episodes releasing on the first Friday of each month, as noted by the City of Woodbury.
Behind the scenes, the SWCTC will continue to oversee the overarching governance related to cable franchise agreements and fee collections, as per its established mandate. This includes channeling a portion of Comcast's annual local subscriber revenue back into member cities, further evidencing the institution's investment in community-oriented programming.
