Lower Manhattan now has a newly revamped broadcast facility where interested residents can get training and equipment to create videos, TV shows and documentaries.
Manhattan Neighborhood Network, a public access television network, redesigned its space at 87 Lafayette St. into a new digital television production studio, which houses its partner organization, Downtown Community Television Center. DCTV, which has been in the public access television business since 1972, joined with MNN five years ago to enhance its multimedia capabilities. Now, both organizations share a studio to produce TV shows – they can be shot live thanks to new equipment – independent films and social issue documentaries.
The studio is in “shakedown mode” right now, said Rick Jungers, director of community media for MNN, but it will be totally operational by mid-March. The Downtown location, he added, was convenient because many of MNN’s programs involve the city government, housing courts and advocacy groups in Lower Manhattan.
DCTV, for its part, already has well-established projects that involve Chinatown residents and schools as well as Downtown artists and youth groups. With MNN underwriting the new studio, DCTV will enjoy better equipment in addition to some basic amenities.
“Thanks to the generous help of MNN, we now have heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, which we never had before,” said Sandy Spencer, DCTV’s managing director.
—Divya Watal
WWW Downtown Express
