BTV is now on air for the first time this semester.
Though station manager Matt Listro '07 hopes to implement significant improvements ranging from technology upgrades to expanded programming, his main concern at the moment is making sure the channel runs smoothly.
The station resumed operation Oct. 19 at noon and is currently showing student-run programming. Prior to last week, the station's low budget prohibited Listro from renewing a contract with Residence Life Cinema, which provides college television stations legal rights to current movies. The company's fees increased before the beginning of this academic year.
BTV's original budget was $10,618, according to Listro. The cost to obtain movies for the station, however, is $10,200, leaving BTV with insufficient funds to make technological improvements and expand programming.
Listro enlisted the help of the Undergraduate Finance Board, which granted an additional $2,296 that allowed BTV to obtain movies year-round from Residence Life Cinema. The movies are scheduled to arrive Oct. 24.
According to Listro, students can expect to see movies such as "Caddyshack," "Inside Man," "The Break-Up," "Failure to Launch," "Syriana," "A Prairie Home Companion," "Halloween" and "Transamerica."
"UFB has been very generous to us," Listro said. "If it weren't for them we wouldn't have a contract right now."
Listro continued: "Our number-one priority is getting the station to run smoothly again. It has been frustrating to go through all of these delays but we're doing the best we can."
In addition to complications with its contract, BTV has also had to endure technological setbacks. According to Listro, the station has been using a lot of equipment that is almost 15 years old.
Because of BTV's low budget, Listro has not been able to finance the technological upgrades needed in order to show the type and number of programs he would like to air on the channel.
Though BTV might not receive all of the new equipment Listro would like to purchase, he is hopeful that much of the station's technology will be upgraded.
"We hope to work with the Student Activities Office to explore how to best upgrade the technology we already have in order to meet the needs of BTV for the future," he said.
Listro has also met with officials from Computing and Information Services and plans to work closely with them in order to bring BTV to Internet Protocol Television.
"We also want to provide more student programming and many students have already expressed much interests in starting their own shows," Listro said.
Until then, however, BTV will remain primarily a movie channel.
"Although we have all of these goals for the station, we just have to take on one thing at a time," Listro said. "Right now we have to focus on getting the movies on the air and we are doing everything we can to speed up the process."
