As Suzi Thayer’s recent article touched on, there are big changes going on at BRCTV. Some involve long, overdue equipment upgrades and enhancements to our community station. When BRCTV was created it was a different world. How we communicated both locally as well as nationally looked very different then from what it does today. As a public access channel, we need to make necessary changes in order to better serve our community, and we are taking great steps to meet our goals.

We are in the process of expanding the physical space at the YMCA that BRCTV calls home, with new walls, windows and floors. Thanks to the help of local businesses and builders, materials have been donated with a labor of love. In building this space, we envision creating several workstations for training, editing and producing shows. Two new camera kits have been purchased and are available for use by anyone in the community trained in their operation. TV steaming apps have been developed and are available on Apple TV and Roku, and our extensive online archives enables anyone with an internet connection to enjoy our unique programming at www.BRCTV.org. Station Manager Cody Mitchell has also been actively involved with the development and teaching of our new film class being offered to high school students that explores the world of storytelling and visual arts. We’ve even mastered the ability to broadcast events live.

For the last decade or so, it’s been basically a one man show. Though we have had some help from volunteers, we are still in need of the support and volunteerism from community members. Although town meetings and basketball games are important staples in our services, we feel it is imperative to expand and attract more creative programming with community involvement being paramount.

We have had our setbacks as well. Most recently, we have had a major equipment failure at the station. That equipment failure keeps us from broadcasting Channel 7 programming to your home television. Unfortunately, no provisions had previously been in place to set aside funds to cover such a failure. The technology is over 15 years old and in order for Channel 7 to continue broadcasting events and programs, a new unit must be purchased for upwards of $20,000.

The towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport disburse annual franchise monies that Channel 7 budgets for operational costs. It is not available to be used for expenses such as a major equipment failure.

Fundraising steps are being explored. We would like to say that this is a decision that is made with the support of our community. We, as board members, staff members, teachers, volunteers and the future media students of this great region, see this as an opportunity to get involved and move forward together. Not only will the new equipment allow us to once again broadcast throughout the community, it will also enable us to grow and expand our services in ways that have not been possible before.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please send us a check to P.O. Box 664, Boothbay, ME 04537, call us at 533-5022, or donate online at brctv.org. Thank you all for your kind and perpetual support.