This semester, Tufts University Television (TUTV) will run 24 hours a day for the first time in its history. The change was made possible thanks to the station's recently updated equipment, as well as an unprecedented number of members this year. With over 60 members, more programs can be developed and run throughout the day. According to Public Relations Director David Rubenstein, this year looks to be "the best year we're ever going to have."
The current lineup on cable channel 43 consists of TUTV News, a campus news broadcast, and Steal the Show, which allows Tufts students to come into the studio and tape a half hour of themselves on live television. Lately, music groups have been using this program as an opportunity to gain exposure and promote their sound. TUTV has also been running feature-length movies, which they change once a week.
Within the next two weeks the remainder of the station's shows will be aired. They are expected to include Life in the Day and Casting Couch, a sketch comedy and movie review program, respectively. One of last year's most popular shows, On Campus Live (OCL) will also return for another season. The program elucidates two opposing viewpoints and allows representatives of each side to debate on live television for half an hour.
Live programming is relatively new, having started only last year. It has been a door-opening innovation for TUTV because it allows the organization to greatly expand its program possibilities. New programs in the works for this year include Jumbo Love Match, a Tufts dating show, as well as a late night "Johnny Carson-Wayne's World mix," according to Rubenstein.
The station is currently in the process of training students in production and editing techniques, and will continue to do so throughout the year. Since training is an ongoing process, TUTV gains members all the time.
TUTV, which began as a club in the 1970s, was originally dominated by students who wanted to create video projects, but had no way to air their productions. Eventually the Experimental College got involved, TUTV became a student activity, and the recordings were aired in Hotung Caf?© and the Mayer Campus Center.
But TUTV continued on its quest to become a full-fledged station. Today its programs can be seen on cable channel 43 around campus, as well as on some local public access channels.
In the last three years, TUTV membership tripled in number. TUTV is distinguished from television stations at other universities that are not completely student run. Many stations at other schools allow students to run programs, but hire an outside executive to oversee the production.
For Rubenstein, keeping everything under the student's control is "how [TUTV] keeps our creativity, how we keep things going."
In the future, TUTV hopes to air advertising from neighborhood businesses. Currently the group is funded by the Tufts Community Union Senate, but advertising will provide the station with more money to expand its programming to accommodate the steady stream of student creations.
