History
The Emerson Channel is a leading college television network that functions as both a content distributor and producer. As the only major media outlet on campus, The Emerson Channel is Emerson College's premier outlet for students’ film, video, and other creative works. The organization is completely student-run and is maintained by a staff of over 100 students involved in production, broadcast operation, promotion, and programming. In addition to being a crucial media outlet, The Emerson Channel is dedicated to training students in a professional environment in preparation for graduation into a dynamic television workforce.
Emerson College's rich and varied media landscape enables The Emerson Channel to acquire, create and package 18 new programming hours weekly. The Emerson Channel airs original productions and programming acquired from Emerson students, staff and faculty as well as student production organizations such as Emerson Independent Video (EIV), National Broadcasting Society (NBS) and Frames Per Second (FPS). The Emerson Channel also produces live and taped event coverage, often as Co-Productions with Emerson Productions, EIV, or The EVVY Awards which is one of the largest college television productions in the world shot annually each May in the Cutler Majestic Theater in downtown Boston.
Emerson College has a long history in media production dating back to the 1950s when a student organization, WERS-TV, staged professional quality productions broadcast to a lounge in the basement. Since 1976, Emerson Independent Video has been creating student generated content and a National Broadcasting Society chapter was founded in the early 1960s. By the late 1990s, these organizations, along with a growing number of other SGA (Student Government Association) funded media production groups (Frames Per Second, Women in Motion, Warlords, WEBN), were creating a fair amount of content but for little to no audience. In addition, Emerson film, television and new media students were undergoing rigorous hands-on coursework that required them to complete media projects ranging from short narrative and experimental film, television shows, animations, news packages and more.
The need for a media outlet for all of this student-generated content became very apparent. In March of 1999, after more than a year of brainstorming, preparation and planning - a student television channel was born - The Emerson Channel. Emerson’s Television, Radio and Film Production department had created a professionally managed, student-operated learning environment that would serve as a showcase for Emerson student, faculty, staff and alumni created content.
Through professional management and a dedicated student staff, The Emerson Channel has seen remarkable growth and expansion since its launch in March of 1999. Since then, The Emerson Channel has increased its original productions and has transformed into a sophisticated operation that includes extensive content creation and multiple distribution outlets.
Student involvement in The Emerson Channel has also increased. Students working for The Emerson Channel gain experience in all aspects of programming, production, post-production, broadcast operations, ad sales, promotions, and website development. Experiential learning is emphasized through peer education and faculty-advised student mentoring in a real-life television environment.
Emerson College Television is the umbrella that consists of The Emerson Channels 3 & 56, Emerson Info 57 and web streaming at The Emerson Channel Online and all external content distribution operations. The Emerson Channels 3 & 56 air news, entertainment and educational programming 19 hours daily, 7 days a week. WERS FM audio accompanies current information on up-coming campus events and meetings as well as student-produced still creative works on Emerson Info 57. The Emerson Channel Online streams programming and message boards to any on-campus network computer or any off campus computer with an EC Net ID and password. Free Emerson Channel podcasts are also available at the iTunes store. The Emerson Channel is a division of Television, Radio and Film (TRF) Production at Emerson College.
Visit our programming section to find out more about what’s on The Emerson Channel.
If you are interested in volunteering for The Emerson Channel, please contact us.
