Student Media plans to expand programming to eateries

Students lunching on campus might soon find themselves watching
shows produced by fellow students if a plan to expand the
student-run television channel is successful.

UCLA Student Media hopes to broaden viewership of UCLAtv Channel
29 by placing television screens at campus eateries. A new 54-inch
television screen has already been placed in the Cooperage dining
facility, using funds provided by the Associated Students of UCLA
Communications Board.

Currently, UCLAtv is available to residents living in on-campus
housing.

Channel 29 airs several programs run by students, including news
broadcasts, a comedy show and screenings of student films.

The television screen at the Cooperage will start broadcasting
programs on Channel 29 within the next few days, said Student Media
Director Arvli Ward.

Student Media is also interested in implementing the program at
other campus locations, Ward added.

While the current plan of installing television screens requires
funding from the Communications Board, Ward said he hopes increased
exposure of the programs will make UCLAtv more attractive to
advertisers.

Student Media’s program was approved during the
ASUCLA’s services and enterprises committee meeting in
November 2003. Its proposal was chosen over one from CTV, an
outside vendor who presented plans to provide television spots for
student groups to publicize their activities.

Though both proposals are similar in encouraging student
involvement, committee members said there are advantages to
choosing Student Media over CTV.

“There is a greater potential to branch out the product to
other locations on campus and to maintain better control over the
concept of the brand,” Student Union Director Jerry Mann
said.

The approved proposal also includes provisions that allot daily
four-minute advertising spots for ASUCLA’s own events, such
as the Professor in the Union program which gives students the
opportunity to have lunch with professors from various
departments.

“Student Media is part of the family … and with them we
would have more latitude to also broadcast other activities taking
place on campus,” Mann said.

In addition to attracting advertisers to fund the program,
increased exposure of UCLAtv programs may raise student involvement
in Student Media, which oversees campus publications such as the
Daily Bruin, print and online magazines, the Bruinlife yearbook,
and radio and television stations.

Student groups may also use the opportunity to advertise their
events and presence on campus or submit a proposal to produce their
own shows.

Barry Friedman, a fourth-year communication studies student,
said he thinks airing student-run programs at campus food
facilities would increase interest in campus events and
activities.

“Whenever I pass by Bruin Walk I always avoid those people
who are flyering, even though I realize that sometimes I might
actually be interested some of those activities … it just gets
annoying after a while,” he said.

Friedman said he would be more receptive if the programs are
shown on television while he is having lunch.

Mann said he hopes Student Media will decide to branch out its
program and install more television screens broadcasting Channel 29
at dining facilities.

“Placing a screen in the Cooperage is a chance to see
whether or not (the program) works. … The challenge will be for
Student Media to generate new programs on a regular basis to keep
students interested,” Mann said.