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Date: 4/19/2022
CHICOPEE – As the city’s provider for public, educational and government (PEG) access television, ChicopeeTV serves as a resource for community members looking to be informed or get involved in creating their own programs.
Chief Information Officer of the City and School Department Andrew Vernon shared that Western Mass. PEG television programs, like ChicopeeTV, represent some of the oldest public access stations in the nation. On television stations 191, 192 and 193, ChicopeeTV provides a range of content, from contested debates during City Council meetings to the high-flying athletics of a Chicopee High School sports game.
“The fundamentals of a PEG facility are to allow the community to engage with what they want,” said Vernon.
Over the last 40 years, ChicopeeTV continues to capture important events in the city while evolving their technical practices. The department works diligently to digitize the city’s record of videos for the public while also infusing more high-definition cameras into the filming of meetings. The additional equipment allows ChicopeeTV to record meetings with increased dynamism and quality.
“We wanted to make [meetings] more appealing to watch,” said Vernon, who shared that seven cameras are utilized for the filming of content in the renovated City Hall Auditorium.
Some events are recorded via automated cameras, while others are filmed in person by members of ChicopeeTV’s team. Along with director and producer Jay Buckley, Wade Wofford, David Farnum and Alex Fenderson serve as production directors for the department.
Chris Polanco and Mickey Prout also work in important roles as City Hall Auditorium Technicians who aid in the filming of meetings.
The efforts of ChicopeeTV took on a newfound purpose during the pandemic. Over the last two years, the studio remained proactive in capturing meetings and events that members of the public could often not attend due to COVID-19 restrictions. “The pandemic reflected the importance of PEG facilities,” said Vernon.
Meetings and events recorded by ChicopeeTV can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/ChicopeeTV.
Community Content
ChicopeeTV also spearheads the development of community-created content. PEG stations allow community members to sign up and learn about recording their own programing for the television stations. Vernon shared that ChicopeeTV offers “high-end workstations” and detailed training, with both services allowing community members to become their own television producers.
Training includes learning how to operate the cameras, setting up an engaging set and assembling the final production in editing. Vernon expressed his hopes that community members take advantage of the department’s depth of resources.
“We want folks to contact us about making content,” said Vernon.
Currently, ChicopeeTV hosts a few different programs. Chicopee Cultural Council member Johnny Miranda embraces local artistic endeavors with “Spotlight on the Arts,” while the informative shows “What’s Happening in Chicopee” and “Chicopee Works” provides an inside look at news throughout the city.
“Johnny wanted the arts to be communicated to a wider audience,” said Vernon.
Future of PEG Programs
In discussing PEG programs, Vernon articulated a common misunderstanding about public access television stations across the state. While many assume ChicopeeTV would be supported through local funding, they are instead bolstered by a portion of cable company’s revenue. The percentage of revenue ranges from 2 to 5 percent, according to Vernon.
With many community members embracing the cord-cutting movement, the ramifications of those decisions place ChicopeeTV’s future influx. Vernon expressed his hopes that the community continues to support ChicopeeTV and utilize its array of resources as common media consumption patterns begin to change.
Readers can learn more about ChicopeeTV and their resources at https://www.chicopeetv.org/.