If you want to experience what’s happening on campus without leaving your bedroom, Binghamton Television may satisfy both your entertainment and informational needs.
An entirely student-run television station, BTV airs a variety of shows featuring comedy, sports, news and politics.
“The content is made by the student body for the student body,” Jordan Schiff, general manager of BTV, said.
The station is closed circuit, which means it is only available on campus. This allows BTV the flexibility of operating outside regulations of the FCC and expression with little restriction.
“This is a college campus and we are mature enough to handle profanity,” Ricky Viscomi, the president of BTV, said.
Schiff echoed Viscomi in the importance of the freedom of expression for the station, and compared the station to “HBO at midnight without the porn.”
According to Justin Hartough, chief engineer of BTV, the free nature of the content almost resulted in BTV’s shut down about five years ago when footage from a strip club made the air.
A majority of BTV’s programs are filmed on campus because students are often interested in events taking place in their residential communities, he added.
According to Viscomi, the station looks to meet the interests of a wide variety of students.
“BTV has done shows with themes that range from sports to music to cooking,” she said.
The station, which provides students with a media outlet to produce television shows and advertise student groups or events on campus, is a great opportunity for students interested in the field, Schiff added.
“The output you get from working here is great. It is a fun experience to have,” he said.
According to Schiff, there is a lot of great student-made material worth watching.
“If you don’t like anything that we do, we encourage you to make your own,” Schiff said. “All you have to do is come up with an idea and we will do the rest.”
Production manager Isaac Attias said he enjoys making people laugh through his sketch comedy show, “Isaac Eats Babies,” which airs Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m.
“I like bringing light to the cloudy Binghamton area,” Attias said.
Schiff co-hosts a sports talk show entitled “Box Seat Central,” which airs live for the first time this semester on Nov. 5, from 8 to 9 p.m. The show addresses current topics in the sports world and features the opinion of the hosts and viewers via e-mail or phone calls.
“Box Seat Central” won an XCEL award, which is given to celebrate exemplary student organizations, leaders and projects, for Outstanding Broadcast of the Year.
“I am glad people appreciate the station and watch our programs, it’s a great accomplishment,” Schiff said.
BTV has many ideas for future improvements.
“We are looking to expand more into the student community and provide better coverage of campus events and student groups,” Viscomi said, adding that the group hopes to accomplish this through the formation of the Mobile Unit Department, which will be BTV’s traveling production studio at various events on campus.
Schiff said that members of BTV are urging students to reprogram their channels to make sure that Channel 6 is in their listings.
“We want all students to be able to experience BTV,” he said.