SOUTHEAST TV BACK ON THE AIR AFTER LONG ABSENCE

CUMBERLAND, Ky. After more than 10 years of near broadcast silence, Southeast TV, the campus TV station at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) is back on the air.

SKCTC President Dr. Lynn Moore, SKCTC Director of Media and Communications Brandon Robinson and SKCTC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Tiffany Scott, along with SKCTC President Emeritus Dr. Bruce Ayers, members of the Robert E. Frazier Foundation board and a host of others, cut the ribbon on the new Robert E. Frazier Broadcast Center on Tuesday, April 12th.

The broadcast center, located on the Cumberland campus, was originally built in 2000 under Dr. Ayers, who was president of SKCTC at the time. The $1.2 million studio was state of the art and once boasted a student video team of nearly 40 people in its prime. Due to staff departures and declining student enrollment, the program was shuttered in 2005.

Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Robert E. Frazier Foundation in Cumberland, the facility has been upgraded and is once again state of the art. It can be viewed 24 hours a day in Cumberland, Benham and Lynch on Access Cable channel 20 and online at www.livestream.com/SoutheastTV.

Robinson, who is in charge of the station, says while programming may be limited in the beginning, big things are on the horizon.

Its going to take us a little while to get fully up and running, but we want everyone to know that this is not only the colleges TV station, this is also the communitys station. Robinson said. Once we get more students involved, you will see us everywhere.

In the beginning, Robinson says, you will be able to see a mix of programming from both local and national sources, ranging from military history to local plays and events.

Were in the process of digitizing our original Southeast TV archives, which is on several different types of media. Robinson said. As we do, youll be seeing a lot of SETV Throwbacks. In the meantime, we have and will continue to pull in shows from other sources, along with shooting and editing new content in house.

SKCTC President Dr. Lynn Moore said the studio is not only a way to give people access to local programming, but to showcase the college and its initiatives.

Were so excited for all of the amazing opportunities that Southeast TV will bring into play. Moore said. Thanks to the generous support from the Frazier Foundation, we will be able to tell and share our story, as well as our mission, with people all around the world.

Plans are underway to eventually expand the channel on to other cable systems in Harlan, Bell, Letcher and Knox counties.

Part of the programming schedule will feature a community calendar for local events. Organizations are encouraged to send those to Brandon Robinson and Tiffany Scott.

Anyone with questions about the station can contact Robinson at 606-589-3092 or brobinson0002@kctcs.edu. Scott can be reached at 606-589-3198 or tscott0024@kctcs.edu.