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Local public‑access station warns cable‑fee revenue decline, asks school committee to help recruit volunteers
Summary
Holliston Hub HCAT board members told the school committee their cable‑subscriber funding has fallen about $100,000 (about 30%) in five years and urged the district to promote volunteer internships, student opportunities and a proposed podcast studio; they did not ask for direct district funding.
Board members and volunteers with Holliston Hub HCAT (the town’s community access television studio) told the Holliston School Committee Thursday that the station’s principal revenue source — a small share of cable subscriber bills — has declined sharply and that the station needs volunteers and community support to sustain programming.
Heidi [last name not provided], a HCAT board member, said the station’s cable‑fee revenue has dropped more than $100,000 in the past five years, a decline she described as roughly 30 percent. Aaron Schechter, a HCAT board member, described the studio’s work with students, including internships and sports‑broadcast opportunities that in one case led a former student to study journalism.
"We’re not asking for money," Schechter told the committee. "We want you to spread the word, help connect us with volunteers and help students find experiential learning opportunities in media and broadcasting." Bruce [last name not provided], HCAT’s station manager, was introduced as the staff contact for questions about coverage and technical operations.
HCAT representatives asked the committee to help publicize volunteer recruitment, internships and a short‑term plan to create a podcast studio that students could use to produce broadcast‑quality audio or video. The board said the studio currently produces hundreds of community viewing hours each year, including coverage of school events and town government meetings, and provides scholarships to seniors who intern there.
Committee members thanked HCAT for its coverage of graduations, sporting events and other school activities and discussed logistical details such as forum locations and shared calendar coordination. HCAT noted it is not requesting direct district funding at the meeting but said the revenue decline makes volunteer recruitment and partnerships more urgent.
No formal committee action was taken at the meeting on station funding or contracts.
