BWTV planning collaboration with esports team
BWTV is started up again with a plan to work with BW esports in the fall 2023 semester.
Huixin Deng
The Exponent collaborated with BWTV on a special coverage of Ohio’s midterm election in November 2022. Pictured here are managing editor Simon Skoutas (left), BWTV host Katarina Brankov (middle) and staff writer Chris Moran (right).
Changes are on the horizon for BWTV as it pairs up with Baldwin Wallace University’s esports team in Fall 2023.
After being slowed down by the pandemic, BWTV has students back on their feet developing their production abilities as it aims to establish a new era for the program.
BWTV is a student-led program that aims to help students build important skills in broadcast television and video production. For many years, due to the challenges posed by Covid-19, students did not have the opportunity to experience the process of professional video production.
A chat with the leading professor of the program, associate professor in the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences, Duane Battle, said that one new initiative would see BWTV collaborating with BW’s esports group, led by Jake Grasso.
“[Grasso] wanted to connect and do a live show with esports, similar to what you’d see on ESPN where you would have commentary over live gameplay,” Battle said.
Battle said that this would be a great opportunity for students to cover something in a professional format.
“TV production is all the same whether it be award shows, game shows, live sports or esports; the only difference is the subject may be different,” Battle said.
Battle said it is important to work up the video production muscles to attenuate students to the pace needed for the professional world.
“Making sure you’re fast and accurate [is] very important,” Battle said. “That’s the biggest difference with a professional workplace and a student one, as everyone is already great at their craft.”
As it stands, BWTV is more based on individual work than it has been in previous years as students work individually on their projects rather than as a team.
Joe Tarantowski, professor of film studies, said BWTV has a long history on campus.
Tarantowski was hired in the 1990s to produce a show called Studio 2 — the original BWTV — which aired on local public access television.
After a few years, Molly Swiger, professor of film studies, took over the show and dealt with documentaries, interviews, sports and other broadcasts.
“Local access television has disappeared and the outlet to it doesn’t exist anymore, Tarantowski said. “The radio station streams online, and The Exponent publishes online, but I don’t know if it’s been a choice to not do anything with the new program publicly.”
Tarantowski said that BWTV has changed and evolved over its history.
“Is it a sports show, a documentary, a game show? It doesn’t necessarily stick to one thing,” Tarantowski said.
Although the program is intended to sharpen a film and media production major’s skills, it is open to students of all majors who are interested in filmmaking and its process.
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