NewTV

NewTV is Newton, Massachusetts’ community media center.

Residents of the City of Newton, members of Newton-based non-profit organizations, employees of Newton businesses and City of Newton employees are eligible to become members of NewTV. NewTV offers services to the community, including production services, original programming and training.^[1][2]

History

In the 1980s, Newton’s Mayor, Theodore D. Mann, traveled to cities around the US and saw that independent public access television stations were being established. He wanted to see that happen in Newton. At the time, Continental Cable held the local access facilities and channels. Mayor Mann got to work organizing community members to form NewTV’s first Board of Directors. By 1990, this Board was established and set out to find a home and employees for NewTV. Construction began at the NewTV facility in 1991 and it opened on June 7, 1992.

NewTV spent its first fifteen years at its Lincoln Street location. There, it expanded from a single channel (NewTV 13) to a three-channel line-up (community, education and government). In 1994, NewTV began producing Newton News, a weekly news program. In 2006, NewTV moved to its current Needham Street location. In 2013 they did a build-out to expand the facility to approximately 7000 square feet. On October 3, 2013 NewTV launched an HD channel through a partnership with RCN. NewTV was the second public access television station to be offered an HD channel in Massachusetts.^[3][4][5]

Programming

NewTV operates three separate television channels, each designated for public, educational, or governmental content, since NewTV is a P.E.G. station.

The Community Channel features programs produced by members of the Newton community or programs sponsored by members of the Newton community. This channel provides a forum for free speech and self expression.^[6]

The Education Channel features programming produced by members of the public and private school community in Newton, whether it be parents, students, school administrators or interns. Since the programming on this channel is monitored for educational content it is not a public forum like the other two channels.^[7]

The Government Channel features coverage of public municipal meetings. There is also programming produced in collaboration with municipal and state departments that focus on issues affecting Newton.^[8]

Other programming

Newton News is a half-hour weekly news program focused on news happening in Newton. The program is produced by a news director and most reporting is done by interns. The program airs on all three channels.^[9]

The Original Programming department produces narrative content that is distributed throughout the nation. Currently, they are in production of The Folklorist. This series shows on all three channels ^[10][11]

NewTV has an HD Channel on RCN 613. This channel includes shows from NewTV’s Community, Education, and Government channels as well as original programs and Newton News.^[12]

References

1. "Telecommunications/Cable". newtonma.gov.
2. "Resources". newtonculture.org.
3. "Paul Berg out at NewTV". Wicked Local Blog.
4. Adams, Jenn. "Oh, The Changes I've Seen at NewTV".
5. Bogomolov, Anastasia (October 3, 2013). "NewTV and RCN Roll Out HD Channel #613". Newton Patch.
6. Cantrell, Cindy (July 12, 2015). "Retired teacher brings learning into the community via NewTV".
7. Sullivan, Magdalen (February 12, 2015). "A New Vision: NewTV Offers Film Opportunities For Local Students".
8. "NewTV to host 5 debates ahead of Newton election". Brian Yates Alderman-at-Large.
9. Rosenberg, Steven (May 15, 2014). "Local-access cable shows are sharpening their focus".
10. "NewTV's 'The Folklorist' takes home Emmys". June 16, 2016.
11. Ishkanian, Ellen (September 14, 2014). "Newton cable show wins Emmy Award".
12. "NewTV and RCN Roll Out HD Channel #613".