For many years, Methuen Community Studios – previously known as Methuen Community Television – brought coverage of many facets of city life to local cable television viewers. Among them: the festive annual Santa Parade, gridiron action at the high school, the activities enjoyed at the senior center and debates between political candidates.
The local non-profit, which has grown from using space at Methuen High School to owning a state-of-the-art facility of studios and editing rooms, celebrated its 30th birthday July 16. It was on that day three decades ago when incorporation papers were signed to create what would later be known as Methuen Community Studios.
Over the years, the studio’s programming has expanded, awards have been won, several student volunteers have gone on to work professionally in media, the staff size has increased and services to the public have broadened. But consistent at the studio’s core has been the welcoming of members of the pubic who want to take an idea for a television program and turn it into reality.
“The main purpose is people who have an idea who are willing to put in the time and effort can create a program that they can share with the community,” said Karen Hayden, the studio’s executive director.
Topics can include jewelry making, interviewing inspirational people, health topics and local politics, she said.
MCS is governed by a set of bylaws and a board of directors and has an annual budget of approximately $500,000.
According to its website, the studio is dedicated to covering the community, providing a venue for religious and non-profit organizations, sports, the arts and sharing the expertise of business leaders. There are approximately 10,000 Xfinity and Verizon customers in the city that can access its coverage.
According to the studio’s history, several residents and members of the Cable Advisory Board decided three decades ago that the then-cable television operator was “not enthusiastic about providing local programming.” They petitioned then Mayor Dennis DiZoglio to amend the cable television license and create an independent corporation. The station was funded by cable subscribers and sponsorships from local businesses, according to studio history.
“We were ambitious. We wanted to get our own facility,” recalled Raymond Pilat, one of the signers of the incorporation papers, who has been active in school sports coverage. “We wanted to be on our own, not be under the auspices of anyone else.”
MCTV operated in a commercial building on Branch Street – sometimes enduring water leaks through the ceiling – from 2003 to 2017. The non-profit’s leaders had a vision for MCTV to own its own space, hired an architect and in 2017 moved to a vacant business condominium at 20 Aegean Drive. The facility includes a large four-camera studio, a smaller three-camera studio, three editing rooms, a kitchen for cooking shows and eight field cameras. There is also a portable studio and a podcast studio along with rental space for meetings, photo shoots and other productions.
Membership is free to Methuen residents. Basic membership for non-residents is $75. Training programs have been revamped to better serve members, and the staff works with hosts and guests to make them comfortable on camera.
In 2018, James Jajuga, then the mayor, asked MCTV to take over Methuen Government Television and programming was expanded to include replays of meetings.
Two years later, in 2020, MCTV was re-named Methuen Community Studios to reflect expanding media services and expansion of television programming, according to its website.
Over the years, MCS has encouraged Spanish-speaking programming and spiritual programming, worked with city departments to inform residents about what they do, interviewed veterans and welcomed people with special needs to participate.
“They love working with us because it’s a job they can do and it’s something they can contribute to their community,” said Michelle Houle, Community Services manager and host of the “Methuen Now” news feature program. “They’re such a pleasure to have. So, it doesn’t matter what their special ability is. Their special ability is to be here with a smile on their face.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mayor Neil Perry, told Hayden: “You can’t close because you’re essential.”
He provided live updates, initially three days a week, sharing information such as where to get vaccinated, and how schools and public safety departments were dealing with the pandemic. The large studio allowed people working on the shows to safely spread out.
Sponsorships have long played an important role in the studio’s revenue picture.
“It’s an opportunity for local businesses to show they support their local media,” Hayden said. “We like to have them, especially on some of our marquee programs. I think people like to be seen on those broadcasts. It shows they’re community- and civic-minded. It’s an opportunity for them to have a presence.”
Hayden said the half-dozen member staff likes to “work with youth all the way through seniors.”
“We love serving our community, honestly,” she added. “That’s why we do this work. We love meeting the people in this community and hearing their stories. So please reach out if you have a good story to tell.”
Hayden said one of their important jobs, election coverage, is totally non-partisan.
“We never give an opinion. We never tell people who to vote for. Watch it, listen to the candidates, make up your own mind. If it helps you go to the voting booth as an informed voter, we are happy.”
Volunteers are critical to the studio’s success. Hayden’s father, Tom Gradzewicz, became active after retiring from the printing business. He’s done a variety of tasks, and has even turned some of his programming into documentaries.
“I enjoy all this, the people who come down and work at the station,” said his wife, Fran, another volunteer. “Interviews with people, I enjoyed that too. I liked it all. I was done with work. I wanted something to do. It was pretty interesting to me.”
One of Pilat’s grandsons, Harrison Chase, is the host of “The Sports Talk,” a local show. Pilat credits Harrison’s involvement with MCTV for his media success.
The studio’s work is not without its challenges. It can be difficult to recruit volunteers – there are other organizations competing for their time, the studio needs to keep up with changing technology – the organization purchases a new piece of equipment every year – and the revenue picture is changing as consumers leave cable services for streaming services, Hayden said.
But the staff, Hayden said, always have plans.
And Pilat, who serves on the board of directors, said he and others are looking forward to what MCS can do next.
“Because of the leadership we have in the building, because of the leadership of the board of directors, we’re looking forward how best we can serve Methuen,” he said. “Thirty years – while it seems a long time, it’s gone by in the blink of an eye. We have been lucky. We have the right people working here. Can’t praise them enough. The board of directors – we don’t want to it sit back. We’re looking to the future. What does the future hold?”
In 2017, the MCS family cut the ribbon on its new state-of-the-art studio on Aegean Drive.
On their best behavior back in 2012, during a studio visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, were Colin Tibert, Chris Dawe and CJ Brown.
Steve Schubert works some Control Room magic in 2004!
