While the world of online video and community access television are quite similar but also differ greatly. The missions of both of these mediums (?) are relatively the same : give a voice to the community that they serve by allowing them to create the programming themselves. Community access television is largely limited to the community in which it is broadcast. While a few films shows and videos may be shown widely, either via satellite or ”sneakernet”, the amount of productions that are available are minimal when compared to the plethora of videos that are available on websites such as YouTube.com and Vimeo.com. The advent of these websites created a community of millions rather than a community numbering in the thousands or hundreds of thousands. These online communities are highly participatory, allowing users to comment on videos and actively engage the community and the filmmaker. Community based television does not allow for this immediacy of interaction with the filmmaker and the greater community. The largest contrast between the online video world and community based television seems to be one thing: profit. In many ways it seems as though the world of community access television is largely non-profit. The films and videos that are uploaded to sites like Youtube and Vime are ,in effect, being sold. The user is “working” for free by uploading content and the websites sell advertising space (that can be highly specific depending on if a user tags their videos or not).

Interestingly Current.tv is an attempt to bring these two worlds (community based television and the world of internet video) together. Current.tv allows users from around the globe to upload their videos and have them voted onto their television network, which is available around the world. These two communities work seamlessly together as user created content appears on both on the television network and online. Viewer created content accounts the vast majority of the programming giving the program a “community” based feel. Even if the videos are not broadcast online they are still available on the channel’s website for all to view and comment on keeping with the participatory spirit of online media.