Bronx public access TV is spreading its wings.
BronxNet plans to open its first east Bronx production studio at Mercy College’s Hutchinson Metro Center, and is eying a third location in the south Bronx.
Available on cable, Verizon FiOS and online, BronxNet will build an express studio and media lab at Mercy College connected digitally to its network operations in the west Bronx on the Lehman College campus, said executive director Michael Max Knobbe.
Besides expanding its ability to train high school and college students and community members for careers in the television industry, the studio should also provide more resources for Mercy’s media program and serve as an east Bronx hub for local community programing, he added.
“This east Bronx location is another way for our people of the Bronx to attain valuable workforce development skills and share their vision with state of the art technology,” said Knobbe.
“We are pleased to partner with BronxNet to create BronxNet at Mercy College,” said Mercy College Chief Operating Officer Joseph Schaefer. “The new center provides tremendous real-world learning opportunities for our students and is another way for the college to serve as an active member of the community.”
The facility is a needed addition to handle an uptick in people looking for training, said Knobbe.
“Our east Bronx facility is very necessary and timely as we celebrate 20 years of providing services and Broadcasting in the Bronx in 2013,” said BronxNet chairman Paul Gentile. “This partnership between Mercy College and BronxNet will benefit the community, and we welcome the participation of Bronx residents, community leaders, organizations and students.”
A third location is being negotiated in the south Bronx, said Knobbe.
For info, go to bronxnet.org.
Patrick Rocchio can be reach via e-mail at procchio@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3393
