University of Minnesota Television

University of Minnesota Television is a television station based at the University of Minnesota, serving the Twin Cities area, including Minneapolis and St. Paul. The station is affiliated with the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts and works closely with the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication to provide students with hands-on experience in television production. The station's programming includes a mix of educational, cultural, and entertainment shows, often featuring guests from the University of Minnesota community, such as Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Weisman Art Museum. The station also collaborates with other University of Minnesota units, including the University of Minnesota Extension and the Institute on the Environment.

● History

The history of the station dates back to the 1950s, when the University of Minnesota first began experimenting with television broadcasting, inspired by the work of pioneers like John Logie Baird and Vladimir Zworykin. The station's early years were marked by a focus on educational programming, with shows featuring University of Minnesota faculty members, such as Norman Borlaug and Arthur Naftalin, discussing topics like agriculture and urban planning. Over the years, the station has undergone several transformations, including a major upgrade in the 1980s, which allowed it to begin broadcasting in color television, similar to other stations like WCCO-TV and KARE. The station has also been influenced by the work of other University of Minnesota units, such as the University of Minnesota Press and the Bell Museum of Natural History.

● Programming

The station's programming includes a wide range of shows, from news and public affairs programs like Minnesota Tonight, which features interviews with University of Minnesota experts, such as Lawrence Jacobs and Katherine Fennelly, to cultural and entertainment shows like The Play's the Thing, which showcases the work of University of Minnesota students and faculty, including the University of Minnesota Theatre Arts and Dance Department. The station also broadcasts University of Minnesota sporting events, including Golden Gophers football and Golden Gophers basketball games, as well as other events like the Minnesota State Fair and the Twin Cities Marathon. Additionally, the station partners with other organizations, such as the Minnesota Public Radio and the Twin Cities PBS, to produce and broadcast shows like Almanac and Twin Cities Tonight.

● Production

The station's production team is made up of University of Minnesota students, faculty, and staff, who work together to produce high-quality programming, using equipment and facilities similar to those used by other stations like WFTC and KMSP-TV. The team includes experienced professionals, such as Emmy Award winners, who have worked on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The station also offers internships and other opportunities for University of Minnesota students to gain hands-on experience in television production, working on shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Conan. The production team collaborates with other University of Minnesota units, such as the University of Minnesota School of Music and the Weisman Art Museum, to produce shows like Minnesota Original and Art Heroes.

● Facilities

The station is located in the University of Minnesota's Murphy Hall, which is also home to the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the University of Minnesota Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. The station's facilities include state-of-the-art studios, editing suites, and control rooms, similar to those used by other stations like CNN and NBC. The station also has a large collection of equipment, including High-definition television cameras and audio mixing consoles, which are used to produce and broadcast shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden. The facilities are also used by other University of Minnesota units, such as the University of Minnesota Extension and the Institute on the Environment, to produce shows like Minnesota Farm Report and Climate Cast.

● Notable Shows

The station has produced many notable shows over the years, including Minnesota Tonight, which has featured interviews with University of Minnesota experts, such as Robert Bruininks and Eric Kaler, as well as other notable figures like Al Gore and Jane Goodall. The station has also produced shows like The Play's the Thing, which has showcased the work of University of Minnesota students and faculty, including the University of Minnesota Theatre Arts and Dance Department, and Minnesota Original, which has featured profiles of University of Minnesota artists and musicians, including Dominick Argento and Libby Larsen. Additionally, the station has broadcast shows like Twin Cities Tonight, which has featured interviews with University of Minnesota experts, such as Larry Jacobs and Katherine Fennelly, and other notable figures like Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. The station's notable shows have been recognized with awards like the Emmy Award and the Peabody Award, and have been nominated for awards like the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and the Edward R. Murrow Award. Category:Television stations in Minnesota