THE PCTV MISSION
Parkland College Educational Television (PCTV) supports the college’s primary goal of providing accessible and comprehensive, educational programming to the residents of District 505, which improves their economic, personal, and cultural well-being.
ABOUT PCTV
PCTV, a 24-hour cable channel, delivers telecourses, educational and community interest programs, and Parkland workshop and event announcements to District 505 households. Viewers access it on Insight Communications cable channel 9 in Bondville, Champaign, Homer, Ogden, Philo, Savoy, St. Joseph, Sidney, and Urbana; and on Mediacom Cable channel 10 in Gifford, Ludlow, Rantoul, and Thomasboro.
PCTV is part of the department of Distance and Virtual Learning and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and it operates under policies developed by the Parkland College Educational Television Advisory Committee. Its monthly programming schedules are located on the PCTV web page, on the channel’s bulletin board, on Insight preview channel 19, and in the News-Gazette’s weekend TV magazine. Viewers can hear the daily program schedule by calling 217/373-3821.
PCTV History
1978-79
- First Champaign-Urbana cable TV franchise provides channel for Parkland and the Champaign-Urbana schools; the Educational TV Consortium is formed.
1980-85
- Communications department initiates video production course (Com 154). Video equipment is housed at Parkland’s radio station, WPCD.
- Telecourses and basketball games on tape air on channel.
- Student playback of tapes (primarily telecourses) takes place at Cablevision studios in Urbana.
- Full-time manager hired for “PCTV” in 1985; video equipment moved to room C135.
1986
- PCTV operated by full-time manager and three part-time staff; room C134 provided for channel’s office space.
- Emphasis placed on educational and promotional programs.
- Number of programs produced for channel increases: parenting programs, Fanfare news magazine, PC Week, career programs, musical productions, Women’s Studies programs, Candidates Forums, Quiz Bowls. Program schedule distributed.
1987- 1989
- Educational TV Consortium becomes more active under Parkland leadership.
- Community Education Network talk show forum airs from the Champaign City Council chambers.
- PCTV (as part of Communications division) joins the new Fine and Applied Arts department.
- “For Arts Sake” premieres.
- PCTV operates with part-time manager, two part-time production assistants.
1990-1993
- Parkland expands telecourse offerings.
- Educational Video Center proposed, approved, designed, and built.
- PCTV moves from FAA to Continuing Education, then to new Distance Education department.
- “Parkland Report” premieres.
1994
- Parkland receives its own channel in the new C-U cable franchise agreement and is awarded FAA license for ITFS channels.
- Programming now transmitted directly from Parkland to C-U cable subscribers and, on its ITFS channel, to subscribers of Heartland Wireless Cable.
- TV studio production class created, COM 155.
- Programs taped in the studio include: Parkland Community Forum, Parkland Challenge, and Parkland Report Links.
1995 - 1996
- The Parkland Channel premieres, fall 1995.
- PCTV moves from Distance Education to Continuing Education department; community education programming becomes a priority.
- “Parkland Community Forum” premieres.
- Advisory committee forms to revise PCTV mission statement and programming. New goal created: PCTV to broadcast from campus to all local cable systems within Parkland’s district.
- Channel’s bulletin board begins operation.
- Live satellite conferences of interest to Parkland and community taped to air.
1997-1998
- Policies, procedures, and mission statement for channel approved. Name changed to Parkland College Educational Television (PCETV).
- Studio show “Live & Learn” developed to partner with Live & Learn publication on non-credit programs.
- Increases number of playback decks to permit increased automated air time.
- Increases satellite downlinks to Imported Programs
- WPCD provides audio for electronic bulletin board
1999-2000
- Graphic design instructor Paul Young and class create PCETV logo design
- PCETV web page developed by Marketing department
- Channel program included in News-Gazette Saturday TV Magazine and on Insight channel 19 preview channel
- New format and logo for PCETV program guide
- PSA for PCETV produced to air on Insight channels
- “Job Story” premieres.
- Class projects air as Parkland Magazine; TV class begins taping Parkland basketball games to air.
- Teleprompter for studio broadcasts purchased.
2001-2002
- “Surrounded By Science” premieres.
- New control room created.
2003-2004
- PCETV moves to Distance and Virtual Learning department under umbrella of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
- “Intersections: Issues in Religion and Ethics” premieres.
