Prime-time move

Princeton public-access TV channel finally gets some room.

By: David Campbell
   TV30, Princeton’s public-access cable channel, moved this week from its closeted space in The Arts Council of Princeton to more spacious quarters in the Valley Road building.
   The move will provide the station with room it was lacking to serve its roughly 7,000 viewers in Princeton, with space to broaden its programming, services and collaboration with the community, said Hugh Johnston of the Princeton Cable Television Committee.
   TV30 was founded in 1995 and until this week occupied two cramped, very small rooms in The Arts Council building on Witherspoon Street. The station broadcasts for about 10 hours each day, from 2 p.m. to midnight.
   Its regular programming includes shows like the film review "Fistful of Popcorn" and "Meet the Mayors." Earlier this year, the station unveiled its new documentary series on Princeton history with a film on the Delaware & Raritan Canal.
   The decision to move the station into the Valley Road building was jointly agreed to by the cable TV committee, the Princeton Township Committee and the Princeton Regional Board of Education, said Committeeman Bernard Miller, who is liaison to the cable TV committee and its former chairman. TV30 is administered by Princeton Borough.
   The amicable agreement over use of the space comes as a task force of members of the school district and township and borough municipal governments begins to discuss how to make maximum use of their shared resources in the Valley Road building.
   When the township vacated Valley Road last year to move into the new Municipal Complex across the street, it revived an old dispute between the township and the schools over use of the building. TV30, among others, expressed interest in moving into the vacated building.
   The dispute was settled in October when the township agreed to relinquish its claim by terminating its lease on Valley Road, which will be used primarily as swing space by the school district while it carries out its renovation and expansion program.
   What will happen to TV30 after that is undetermined. When asked, Mr. Miller said the cable channel’s presence at Valley Road is assured for the time being. "It’s home for TV30 for the present and maybe for a while," he said.
   The station now occupies two spacious areas — a former art room, which will now house the broadcasting equipment, and the stage behind the former Township Committee meeting room, which will serve as studio space.
   With the move comes a new fully digital system to replace stacked tape decks, which will permit TV30 to expand its number of programs, diversify scheduling, and air shorter programs. The studio will provide space for education, and for groups to meet and develop new programming, Mr. Johnston said.
   He said the move will be complete by the weekend, when cable provider Patriot Media and Communications is expected to undertake a hookup.
   A formal open house attended by the public and community leaders will be held once the new space is "tidied up," Mr. Johnston said.