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I want my GahannaTV: Online channel spotlights city
* Residents can watch videos on city, school and community events, with nearly 50 new shows in production.
By PAMELA WILLIS, Gahanna News
Communicating more widely with residents and distributing news about the city of Gahanna and the school district are goals of an Internet television website called GahannaTV.com.
Residents may subscribe free to six channels on the website, including The City, which could include videos about city government and events; Visit Gahanna, by the Convention and Visitors Bureau; Chamber Channel, by the Chamber of Commerce; the Schools Channel, displaying school events and videos by the district’s television production students; the Gahanna Church Channel; and the Community Channel.
Ron Smith, owner of Gahanna-based SOH Productions, approached the city years ago to talk about a public access channel on cable television or an Internet television channel, said Brian Hoyt, the city’s public information manager.
“We thought it was a great opportunity, especially since SOH Productions runs it and manages it at no cost to the city of Gahanna,” Hoyt said. “Ron wants to update the channels quarterly, so we owe him a couple of story ideas a quarter, then he shoots, edits, produces and posts the videos.”
Hoyt said Smith produced videos on the opening of the bridge on the Big Walnut trail and when the city’s new golf course opened last summer.
“I thought it was great to have another outlet for us to communicate with residents and businesses on what is going on in Gahanna,” Hoyt said.
He said Gahanna was first in Smith’s plans to have online channels that display events in cities all over Central Ohio.
“When it comes to doing something like this, it is always about time, talent and vision,” Hoyt said. “This is what they do at SOH Productions, so the talent is there and the means to do it. They come to the table already with the production equipment and the experience and talent to put something like this together.
“If we had to do this on our own, we would have to find those resources,” he said.
Smith said the Internet television station was four years in the making.
“We started talking to major organizations about bringing a television station to the city in August 2007, then as technology evolved, realized we could do it on the Internet versus cable television,” he said. “We feel this is the next generation of television, with videos on demand on the Internet. We hope to do this for each of the 22 cities around the outerbelt. Gahanna was the first to go live, on 11-11-11.”
Smith said area businesses pay to have commercials or “infomercials” on the website, which underwrites expenses so the organizations with channels at GahannaTV.com may experience free production support.
“The community channel will eventually have videos where you can tour an area restaurant or watch a fitness show, or a video that highlights a neighborhood in Gahanna,” he said. “You might be thinking of relocating to the city, so could watch a specific neighborhood show where residents and businesses talk about their neighborhood, so that you might compare living in Jefferson to Royal Manor, or other neighborhoods.”
Smith said a real estate show, restaurant show and fitness show, in conjunction with the local YMCA and dance studios, all currently are in production.
“Subscribing is free and you can choose to follow a specific channel if you want to and receive email alerts for that channel,” he said. “A total of 48 shows have been approved for production by the board of directors of the station.”
Smith said those who have show ideas or organizations or businesses that want more information or have an idea for a video may email him at rsmith@sohproductions.com.
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