FAQ: Has the pandemic helped Ripon Channel’s evolution into streaming? – Ripon Commonwealth Press

The Ripon Channel Control Room sits ready for a broadcast. Ripon Channel has expanded into internet streaming and has forged partnerships with local organizations to provide coverage.

Question:

Has the pandemic helped Ripon Channels evolution into streaming?

Answer:

Those visiting the Ripon Channels YouTube page may notice more coverage of sports, school musicals and community events than they would have in 2019 as the cable access channel has solidified its pivot into the world of streaming.

Prior to the pandemic, Ripon Channel was covering high school concerts, sports, local government meetings and other community events, according to Ripon Community Media Committee Coordinator Riley Icenogle.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Icenogle says Ripon Channel took baby steps toward streaming that content on social media, but the pandemic helped propel the network into pursuing streaming with a full steam ahead mindset.

Our expanded streaming program has been successful because were really doing exactly what weve done in the past, he said. Except now, were livestreaming everything. That means our social media outreach and our YouTube channel are having the desired effect of reaching many more people.

Icenogle said the decision to expand into streaming was motivated by more people dropping their cable subscriptions and a desire to stay relevant in a changing media landscape.

We thought that it would help expand our viewership, he said. We were fortunate to have some good timing with it, starting that program and having some of the equipment and some of the skills in place when it became necessary because of COVID. Id say that overall its been a great success.

In fact, Ripon Channels YouTube channel has expanded so quickly that it gained enough subscribers to create a dedicated URL for the webpage, Icenogle noted.

There have been lots of people whove said, Holy cow, we didnt even know youre here and where did this all come from? he said, noting many people use their phones to find content both for educational and entertainment purposes.

Icenogle added that Ripon Channel has developed an advertising partnership with Hometown Broadcasting, where ad revenue from sports coverage is split between the two entities as Hometown provides the commentary during games and Ripon Channel provides the video.

So far, Icenogle said the fledgling partnership, which is less than a year old, is going well.

After we get to about a year and get through basketball season, well evaluate it and see how we are moving forward, he said. But I think, for the time being, its working pretty well.

Beyond sports and community events, Ripon Channel provides video of city government proceedings, free of commentary or punditry.

Icenogle says those services have become more important in an era of increasing pressure on local media.

The things that happen in local government are the things that most directly affect our lives, he said of covering local government meetings. The Common Council decides what sorts of ordinances to act on or not to act on. And government committees decide what sorts of programs they will or will not have in their particular areas.

What this means:

Video coverage of local sports, school and community events in the city of Ripon is more accessible than ever before.

Icenogle added that Ripon Channel plans to continue evaluating its programming and looking for new ways to offer a diverse array of viewing experiences for local residents.

Were going to continue to try to find appropriate non-school music events that we can provide some programming with, he said. We hope to, in the relatively near future, begin to focus some more programming on the activities here at City Hall, and possibly have the city administrator more directly speak to people through our channel, and maybe get some closer looks at departments.

Were working out details on how we might be able to accomplish those things.

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FAQ: Has the pandemic helped Ripon Channel's evolution into streaming? - Ripon Commonwealth Press