CMU-TV is the student run television station, channel 3 on campus. Formerly known as a small club, they have transitioned to a full-fledged organization with over 15 crew members. This semester they also accomplished switching to HD programming all across campus.
“This will change the way students view our channel,” Joe Azar, General Manager of CMU-TV, said. “Now our quality is up to par with every other channel available to students on campus.”
Associated Student Government and the Fee Allocation Committee guided CMU-TV with both of these transitions.
“Seeing new organizations on our campus and being able to fund them is a great thing,” Student Body President, Ben Linzey, said. “Providing more opportunities for students to get involved is what CMU is all about.”
HD programming has enhanced the learning experience for CMU-TV members.
“Working in an HD environment gives the students a real-world experience in live, multi-camera video production,” CMU-TV advisor, Greg Mikolai, said.
Mikolai has been an advisor for CMU-TV for the past 6 years, since they first became a club. There are many benefits to being an organization as well. There are now five paid positions available to students in CMU-TV.
The General Manager runs the entire organization, the Program Director organizes the schedule of the channel and three content producers who will produce all shows on CMU-TV and direct/produce sporting events on campus.
There are also practicum hours available to mass communication students, essentially class credit can be received through work at CMU-TV. There are currently five practicum students in the organization.
There are three student-hosted shows running on channel 3. “Maverick Postgame,” a sportscast, “The Update,” a newscast and “Let’s Talk KPop,” a Korean Popular Music talk show.
“Our main priority is to produce even more programming on a regular basis that is of interest to the general student body of CMU,” Mikolai said.
Mikolai is a two-time Emmy award winner and the current head of the Video Production program at CMU. CMU-TV members are learning under a very experienced organization advisor in the world of television. Mikolai facilitated the design for the two TV studios when Escalante was being built.
“I provided advice and guidance on some aspects of the architectural and infrastructure design of the Production Control Room and Studios A and B,” Mikolai said.
The environment is equipped to teach students proper studio production skills. CMU-TV meets every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Escalante Hall TV studios. Meetings are open to all students, any level and any major.
