Several of the College's students who share a passion for the small screen are turning their vision into a reality. Lions Television (LTV) is a student-run television station which channel surfers can catch on campus channel 17.
LTV is the brainchild of junior communication studies major Scott Pioli, who serves as the president/station manager, and Matt Uhrich, junior communication studies major and the station's vice president/program director. The idea began after Pioli took over as director of the now-defunct campus television program "The Journal," a news show which barely aired at all.
"We wanted more shows - an actual network," Pioli said. "So we organized the club, appointed an executive board, drew up a constitution, and now we're looking for SGA (Student Government Association) approval."
This new breath of life for campus television brings with it six programs to entertain audiences. The first is a show called "Lions Now," which focuses on people, events, clubs and all things that matter to students at the College. "The Hot Corner" is LTV's sports debate show, akin to ESPN's "Around The Horn," and "At the Movies" is a new movie trivia game show. Also on the bill is the WTSR/LTV concert series, along with "The Screening Room," which will showcase student work. The sixth program, a late-night-style talk show titled "The Early Late Show," with James Introcaso hosting, is being produced as a senior communication studies practicum.
The shows run on a rotating basis between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and 11 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. For now, the station has to share channel 17 with others on campus, such as professors, who can use the channel to show movies to their classes. However, next year LTV will have full control of channel 17 and the other programming will move to channel 20.
The executive board of LTV is looking to strengthen its relationship with the College's communication studies department. It also strongly encourages students to send in suggestions for shows and become involved in on-air or behind-the-scenes production at the station.
"People didn't even know a show or station existed," Pioli said. "By getting our name out there we want to boost the reputation of the communication (studies) department and the College as a whole."
The staff at LTV is dedicated to establishing and preserving the station.
"We're passionate about it even though it's stressful and there are times when we stay up until six in the morning editing in post-production," Uhrich said, "but we want it to last beyond when we graduate. We need to build for the future."
The time and energy it takes to run a television station does not come without its rewards.
"It was like (in the movie) 'That Thing You Do' when the band hears their song on the radio for the first time," Pioli said. "I remember when we first went to air and I called everyone. The experience as a whole is an experience unlike anything else you will get at college."
Tune in to LTV, campus channel 17 or on YouTube.com if you are off campus, and come out on Wednesdays at 1 p.m to the studio in Kendall Hall to experience how the College's students are making the small screen magic happen.
