Ironton’s familiar Channel 2 is getting a facelift that will bring new educational and public affairs programming to more than 75,000 area residents.

Wednesday, September 06, 2000

Ironton’s familiar Channel 2 is getting a facelift that will bring new educational and public affairs programming to more than 75,000 area residents.

Ohio University Southern Campus formally launched its new OKTV on Tuesday, unveiling present and future plans for the educational access channel, now viewed on Adelphia Cable systems in both Ohio and Kentucky.

"We started on this project several years ago," said Don Moore, director of OUSC’s electronic media program.

The channel started in 1995 as an idea to get education out in the public eye through high quality programming carried on the local cable channel, Moore said.

Add increased emphasis on OUSC’s electronic media program, student involvement, a state-of-the art television studio and more than $300,000 in grant funding, and the dream is now a reality, he said.

"With the new center, we have the facilities and the manpower to provide the programming," said Dave Surgalski, associate director of electronic media.

"And this is not just an OUSC channel," Surgalski said. "It’s available to any educational outlet that wants to use it."

OUSC’s Electronic Media Center, located on the newly-constructed third floor of the Riffe Center building, will act as the facilitator of the OKTV channel.

The campus will work with public schools systems in Lawrence County, Ashland Community College in Ashland, Ky., and Boyd and Greenup County, Ky., schools.

The focus of OKTV is threefold – showcase talents of students in OUSC’s electronic media programs; give schools on both sides of the river ability to broadcasting news, events and helpful information; and provide cable customers with quality informative and educational programming.

OUSC wants school systems to call in event listings. The channel will also provide airtime for school television productions.

OUSC’s current shows, including the public affairs program "Horizons" and "Zone for Business" start airing Thursday.

The channel is again offering Bob Leith’s history class as a telecourse. And there are plans for an interpersonal communications class.

There are already plans to upgrade the lineup with the addition of a student-produced news show, and other public affairs shows, Moore said.

And, ACC wants to produce a show at the media center focusing on area economic development, while the Paramount Arts Center wants to produce a Tri-State arts program, he said.

"We hope to make this one of the most valuable cable channels for Adelphia," Surgalski said.

Jim Wilson, general manager of Adelphia, said the cable system can help the two states access OUSC’s programming resource.

Adelphia is committed to bringing educational TV to its customers, Wilson said, calling the venture a partnership.

OUSC will keep expanding its television offerings through OKTV, with an emphasis on providing ways for its educational audience to benefit while giving students hands-on experience developing programs, Moore said.

OUSC’s media center features the same equipment, much of it technologically advanced digital equipment, as area broadcast stations, he said.

Whether students want experience with video, audio or other work, work will be available with OKTV, he added.

For more information, contact OUSC’s electronic media program at 533-4600.