The All State

By KELLY LORENSON
Guest Writer
Channel 99 is a television channel run by APSU that is shown on basic cable. It started as a small student project at APSU but quickly grew into a television program viewed by the entire city of Clarksville.

It showcases a variety of programs for community viewing, featuring such topics as the arts, politics, current events and issues, debates, community concerts, sports, children’s shows and more.

The channel began as something much smaller; it was simply an idea for the students at APSU to cover the elections in 1998 and broadcast them to the surrounding community. The university started working with Charter to give the elections live coverage.

Charter liked the student coverage, and the channel stayed on.

Eventually, APSU began working with the Arts Channel and NASA, adding some variety to the channel’s programming. In addition, APSU incorporated its own programming into the channel such as coverage of student and community events.

Today, over a decade later, Channel 99 has grown into its own cable channel that has two different sets of programming; one aimed at the students and one for the Clarksville community. For the community, it brings something new to television.

“All the programs that we air are completely original. These are shows that have not been duplicated in any manner, and we get local events from Clarksville and [APSU] out there,” said Mike Gotcher, communication department chairman and channel supervision.

Not only are the programs original, they also provide introspective and educational views on an array of topics that interest a wide range of viewers. For instance, Channel 99 often covers NASA space shuttle lift-offs, giving people a behind the scenes look at everything entailed in a rarely seen process.

“It’s a good educational resource for the community,” said viewer Denise Skidmore. “I’m glad it’s available to us.”

Besides educationally entertaining the community, Channel 99 also allows Clarksville to become involved in local and international events.

After the recent tragedy in Haiti, Channel 99 covered the telethon and concert that hosted 30 musical acts in order to raise money to help Haitians. The channel also sits in on city council meetings, engaging Clarksvillians in matters that pertain to them.

For APSU students, Channel 99 is a way to get hands-on experience for their future broadcasting careers.

“The major goal of Channel 99 is to give students the opportunity to experience a career in television with a safety net.

“They are allowed to explore their options and generate their own ideas, and they have the leeway to make mistakes without being fired,” said Gotcher, who said he believes this sets students up for success.

Students are heavily involved in the production of Channel 99’s programs, and act as directors, creators and writers.

They even manage the more technical aspects of managing the television station, with faculty on hand to teach and give guidance.

One of the channel’s programs, Scrambled Eggs, is entirely student-based. In this program, student issues at the university are presented and debated only by students, voicing their perspectives.

On campus, APSU students watching Channel 99 have a programming set devoted just to them, and can contribute their own ideas to the station.

“I think the channel generates a decent variety of shows, and I like to see that APSU is doing something different,” said sophomore Cadey Griffin.

Others would like to see some more entertainment on the show, “It would be neat to see a cooking show hosted by students on Channel 99, or maybe like a dinner-and-a-movie sort of concept,” said sophomore Vicki Pasquinelly.

Channel 99 strives to provide quality job experience for broadcast students at APSU while also giving the Clarksville community fresh and educational television programs.

For students who want to get involved in this opportunity to express themselves or for career experience, they can contact Gotcher or Professor Kathy Heuston, assistant professor of communication both at the APSU department of communications.