By Stephanie Chelf
Staff writer
March 24, 2008 06:04 am METHUEN — In the five years since moving out of high school and into its own studio, Methuen Community Television has grown in membership and added more community programming. To celebrate five years at 13 Branch St., MCTV is hosting a daylong open house from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. "They did a lot of excellent programming out of the space they had (at the high school)," said MCTV Executive Director Karen Hayden. "We've been able to do more training, get more people in doing their work. It's our space now. People used to look at it as being part of the school. This is ours, the public space." The more convenient location and larger studio have encouraged more volunteers to join MCTV, Hayden said. The station produces several local-themed shows, airs live election results, and covers high school sports. The community-run nonprofit was founded in 1996. During the open house there will be studio tours and residents can also sign up for a class on hosting a TV show. Residents can also watch a live taping at 5 p.m. MCTV is also partnering with local nonprofit, New England Caring for Our Military, to have residents come to the studio and record a video message to send to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Community television is an expression of free speech," Hayden said. "What better way to honor that than to include our soldiers — the people who defend our free speech. They appreciate those types of things and hearing from home." MCTV has three full-time staffers and a $300,000 budget. It's funded through fees that residents pay on their cable bills, through a federal law requiring public access television. In the next few months MCTV will also celebrate the five-year anniversaries of two of its popular shows: "Methuen Now" and "Call to Serve." "Methuen Now" is a news show that airs up to eight stories in a half-hour-long episode. "Call to Serve," created by a group of volunteers, focuses on local veterans. "They came in as a group and said we want to do this," Hayden said. "That group has been together five years. It's wonderful what the community can do when it puts its mind to it." In the future, MCTV hopes to have more volunteers producing shows and also expanding local programming. "We're reaching out to other parts of the community," Hayden said.
MCTV Open House and troop support drive What: MCTV celebrates five years in its studio. When: Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: 13 Branch St., Methuen Learn more: Record a video message to send to soldiers, tour the studio, take a class, and more. Refreshments will be served. Information: Call 978-689-8627 or visit www.methuentv.org.
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