TV production class pans to the future

    Channel 13 — as it’s known now — has become a staple to the Holyoke community over the years. While no one would contend that 1980 and 2018 are essentially the same, somehow people don’t tend to give much thought to how the school TV channel is changing with the times. Well, it is.
    There was a time, not long ago, when the majority of households subscribed to cable TV, and Holyoke was no different. As most people know, Jan. 1 came with a drastic change to the local availability of cable TV. PC Telcom scaled back its cable offering, but Channel 13 remains.
    PC Telcom marketing manager Michael Cline said they will continue providing Channel 13 for as long as they’re providing a cable TV service. So community members who regularly tune in to see live Holyoke High School events, students’ news broadcasts and community calendar updates can continue to do so.
    “Channel 13,” however, is more than just the traditional cable TV channel.

Channel 13 embraces internet streaming
    Though the school’s TV production class continues to reliably offer their content to cable TV subscribers, they also strive to make Channel 13 available to as many Holyoke residents as possible.
    “Mobile devices have changed everything,” HHS TV production teacher Cindi Beavers said. People — especially youth — aren’t using TVs as often for their video content. They want to watch on their phones, tablets and laptops, not restricted to the living room at home.
    To meet that need, Channel 13 is already providing some of their content via internet streaming. And should cable TV go by the wayside, HHS will be prepared to continue offering their program by way of other means.
    One avenue HHS fans can use to view school events is the High School Sports Network, found at www.NFHSnetwork.com. The school’s TV production class works with the organization to broadcast live events online. Subscribers can view sports, band concerts and musicals. They even stream events like the Veterans Day program and graduation.
    This keeps community members informed, but since it’s online, it can be utilized by friends and family that live elsewhere, too. And if a subscriber misses the live streaming, the events can be viewed on demand as well.
    Beavers pointed out that one of the benefits of the High School Sports Network is that a portion of the subscriber fees paid come back to the school.
    Another option being utilized by TV production is Facebook Live. Similarly, they can broadcast the same events live, and the videos are available for viewing on demand later.
    In the future, Beavers said, they would like to have a portal on the school’s own website where Channel 13 can be viewed.
    Another area in which Channel 13 is used is in-house at Holyoke JR/SR High. There are TVs throughout the building, in classrooms and the commons area, that are wired to show the school’s channel. Even without cable TV, they will continue to be able to broadcast the TV production content.
    That means the signage that features the school calendar and updates can be played for students and staff to see between classes. It also means spectators at sporting events can keep an eye on the action when they’re visiting the concessions stand.
    
Classes change as well
    It’s easy to think of Channel 13 as just another TV program, but it’s also a fundamental part of HHS education.
    It began in 1980 with a grant to start the TV broadcasting class. Jerry Baum was the first teacher of the class, and he continued to do so until his retirement, when Beavers took over. Even at its beginning, the class was about much more than just learning about broadcasting. Students practiced writing, interviewing and speaking.
    Today, those things are still true, but Beavers noted there have been changes to the content of the class. In the past, there was much more emphasis on the “in and out.” Students were tasked with finding where audio and video were coming in and where the finished product would come out. Now, there are more wireless components, meaning different concerns.
    To stream live events, they need a good internet connection. That often means getting access from the host school when students are covering away activities.
    While the world of TV is changing, Beavers knows the value of the HHS TV production class will remain, both for viewers and students. Channel 13 will evolve to keep up with the ever-changing video demands.