When Public Access television premiered in the early 30's when TVs were first created, viewers could not understand the point. But as people found out more about unique stations like The Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), understanding was no longer a problem.

Broadcasting over four channels, the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) is one of the best known Public Access television stations around New York City's five boroughs. The MNN headquarters building has been around since the 1980's and has grown in large amounts in staff over the years.

Many people think having their own show on this station would cost a large fee but there is free access to all equipment, including editing rooms and studios and class sessions.

"Everyone sees the negative aspects of Public Access and not the use of all this on hands technology" says Felix Leo Campos, President of After Dark CATV Productions. Felix has a show on Public Access and he encourages everyone to at least try conducting a production on such a network.

Class sessions are run from 4 to 6 weeks and teach people how to use equipment such as lighting devices and video cameras. People also work on preparing their own projects with editing.

Exective Director, Anthony Riddle says people come in and find it hard to leave knowing that they have all this free access and so many people are just waiting for the next open spot.

"Some days are real slow but when it comes down to it, people pop up out of nowhere" Riddle says.

Scheduling has become a huge problem at the studio due to the growth in people who decide to create their own shows. Of the 6,000 staff members of MNN, 5,000 are producers. Class size has tripled over the past year and editing rooms are turning into holding cells.

Riddle has been working in the public access business for 2 years and has noticed many changes. He describes the changes at MNN over time, "More people, less space." A number of people have tried to put MNN out of business but have not succeeded, he adds.

Many shows on MNN's public access stations are noticed by bigger stations such as MTV and NBC. In fact, these stations grab those shows in hopes of airing them. MNN rules are loose; They only enforce one or two rules for broadcasts, that there is no selling of items and no profanity.

Hopefully in the future for MNN, internet access will guide viewers throughout the entire station from broadcast to broadcast. "Internet will be great for us, everyone will be able to check us out not only Manhattan," Riddle points out.

Also the staff would like to create an all Kids channel for young people. This will give children a chance to experience some of the on hands technology that MNN has to offer. It will also allow children to work on a Game Market which will let them create their own games, eventually selling them on store shelves.

While on our interview we had the chance to watch a live taping of a woman named "Audre" and her show "Psychic Healer, Women of Wisdom". She has been apart of the MNN company for several years and says it's really worth it.

"Being here is like being a star, everyone sees you on T.V. and rapidly notices you on the street," she said.