Chris Harrison, Reporter
NCTV normally broadcasts sporting events and weekly news for the school, but the team has had to change and adapt their production this year due to the hybrid schedule. Senior Austin Platt would usually arrive at the studio, prepare for the Friday broadcast, and get ready for upcoming sporting events. However, this year, he faces complications and difficulties with production and scheduling.
Austin said that practicing the broadcast with the team hasn’t been the same because of the cohorts and new block scheduling. “We have seen some challenges. I have been at school until 7:00 PM on Thursday afternoons for all three of the broadcasts because things need to get done even with the hybrid schedule,” he said.
Austin says that broadcasting a short film for the entire school to see is a tough task on its own. But when you add the worry of COVID-19 and all the protocols that come with it, it becomes even more difficult. “We’ve adapted pretty well, but it hasn’t been easy,” Austin said.
In last year’s FCIAC championship hockey game, New Canaan played Darien and approximately 1,000 people attended. Without the ability to enter the arena, students will have to watch online this year. “I don’t think I feel more pressure when broadcasting online during COVID-19, even though a lot more people are watching,” Austin said. “I have fun with it because everyone is looking for that entertainment or distraction given what’s going on around the world.”
NCTV teacher Roman Cebulski said that the hybrid schedule has interfered with their normal routine of having experienced upperclassmen work with underclassmen. “In any production it’s about teamwork, working with one another, helping them, and showing them how to do things properly,” Mr. Cebulski said. “But we don’t really have that ability to do that anymore, because the students have to go and set up their part on their own, so you don’t get that immediate feedback on how to do things the right way or make certain things better.”
Mr. Cebulski said that the hardest part of producing the broadcast is covering sports because kids need to work together to set up and break down the equipment. “I am following all the protocols that all of the other teachers in the district are following. Students wipe down their keyboard, mouse, and mousepad,” Mr. Cebulski said. “What we have to do is make sure we wear our mask and socially distance.”
For fall sports, NCTV would normally focus solely on broadcasting football. However with the uncertainty of the football season, Mr. Cebulski said they have ventured to broadcasting more sporting events. “When covering sporting events there is a lot of time involved with the setup and the breakdown,” Mr. Cebulski said. “That is the part that is the most labor intensive and it’s the part that is the least exciting.”
To solve this problem, NCTV has purchased a cart to help students transport the camera gear from classrooms to events quickly. “We were looking for ways to set up and break down equipment quicker, and also move our equipment,” Mr. Cebulski said. “We have cut our setup and breakdown time by half, which is really important. When we broadcasted football, there would be a four camera shoot with all the cables, video switchers, and monitors. Setting all this up takes a lot of time.”
With all the unexpected challenges and the ups and downs, Austin said that NCTV-78 has done a remarkable job adapting to COVID-19 and the changes it has brought to the normal way of broadcasting. “The NCTV team is doing a great job considering everything going on,” Austin said.
