The mission of the Office of Film, Television, and Entertainment (OFTE) is to create a sustainable entertainment industry in the District. In addition, OFTE (1) regulates the provision of “cable service” in the District of Columbia (as that term is defined by the District’s cable television laws); (2) protects and advances the cable television-related interests of the District and its residents; and (3) produces live and recorded video and other programming by way of the District’s public, educational, and government (PEG) cable channels. Lastly, OFTE implements, manages, and administrates programs, initiatives, and services that support the film, television, and entertainment industry’s economic activity, growth, and employment in the District of Columbia.
Summary of Services
OFTE is composed of the former Office of Cable Television and Office of Motion Picture and Television Development.
OFTE offers various services to local and out-of-state film, television, video, entertainment, interactive, multimedia, and digital media content creators, including: production and parking permitting; location scouting; production support; hotel, restaurant, and transportation assistance; and job placement assistance. The office engages the community to create a greater understanding of the media industry as a whole, the content/media-making process, and the professional skills required to become a marketable media industry professional. Lastly it serves as a liaison between the media industry and District residents, local government, federal government, local businesses, business development groups, and non-profits.
In addition, OFTE is responsible for regulating cable television in the District, as well as the administration of the District’s government access channels, District Council Channel (DCC) and District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District's Education Access Channel, District Knowledge Network (DKN). OFTE creates content that informs, educates, and entertains viewers via the District of Columbia’s public, educational, and government channels (PEG) and other forms of content outlets. The award-winning content provides resourceful information on government activity, education, current events, history, and arts and entertainment. Through its three cable television channels, OFTE provides public access to the governmental process and insights into life in the District. OFTE is dedicated to providing quality diverse programming and services that seek to educate, enlighten, and empower the residents of the District of Columbia. Department performance expectations in FY 2016 are listed by functional program.
