LTV is the revamped and resurrected campus television station at The College of New Jersey. During the 2006-2007 school year, a small campus organization known as The Journal produced a monthly news show that aired (sometimes) on campus cable. Scott Pioli was one of a few members during the fall semester, and when the director had to step down for the spring; Scott offered to take over as director of The Journal. That semester, Scott and a few other members produced a few episodes of the show.

Starting in the fall of 2007, the club took on a new name and a new goal. What was formerly “The Journal” became “Lions Now” and set a goal to produce and air a show every month. Although only two complete episodes of Lions Now were produced during the fall semester, the groundwork was set for an even bigger step forward.

At the end of the fall semester, the unofficial leaders of Lions Now got together and decided to do something bigger. After a meeting that lasted several hours, the inaugural executive board of Lions Television (LTV) had a clear vision for the future – create a station on campus cable organized, produced, and run by students. Over that winter break, members of the executive board worked diligently to write a constitution (in order to get recognized by Student Government) and to come up with programming for the spring semester.

When LTV held its first meeting in January 2008, they were ready to take on full production of 6 shows. Lions Now remained as the news magazine and flagship of the LTV programming. A spin-off from Lions Now, The Hot Corner was a new half hour sports debate show. At the Movies, a cinema trivia game show featuring scene reenactments, originally a final project for a communication studies class, was developed and became a staple of the LTV line-up. Aligning with one of the original goals of LTV, The Screening Room showcased student work. WTSR, the campus radio station, had started organizing free concerts in the fall semester, and LTV joined forces with them to create the WTSR Concert Series presented by LTV. Finally, a group of 3 communication studies students pioneered the development of The Early Late Show, a late night comedy show featuring James Introcaso.

The spring semester was truly amazing. In one semester, the organization went from producing about 1.5 hours of programming to producing nearly 20 hours. Lions Now covered campus events including WIRED 2008, Vagina Monologues, a feature on the Library Café, I Love the 90s Late Nighter, Parking on Campus, Globalpalooza, Relay for Life, and the VT Memorial. Lions Now also conducted numerous interviews with a variety of people, including: the new chief of campus police, The Simpsons’ David Silverman, Vanessa Carlton, Danny Glover and Felix Justice. The Hot Corner interviewed campus athletes and pitted North, Central, and South Jersey against each other in weekly battles for sports knowledge supremacy. At the Movies featured 9 episodes, with scenes from famous movies reenacted in the unique LTV style. The Screening Room only produced one show, but it was definitely memorable. WTSR Concert Series brought The Gay Blades, Justin Levinson, and Barcelona to the TCNJ campus. The Early Late Show set the standard for comedy and success on LTV, producing 5 hilarious episodes of sketches, interviews, and musical acts.

Production was not the only success of the semester, as the club grew with leaps and bounds. Membership increased dramatically, as well as viewership. The club ran its first successful elections and show proposal/approval procedure. LTV gained official recognition from SGA in mid March and began a close relationship with the TCNJ Communications Department. The new LTV YouTube account had nearly 2,000 views and campus channel 17 featured programming in three blocks, from 10am-2pm, 6pm-9pm, and from 10pm-2am.

What’s next you ask?

Fall 2008 looks to be even better than LTV’s first full semester. Twelve shows will be in production, including new offerings: Pennington - a crime drama, a yet to be named college sitcom, Brainstorm’d Comedy - a sketch comedy show, and 24: The College Years – a dramedy spoof of FOX’s 24, VideoGrams – a fundraiser that allows students to send messages to their friends, and Signal News – a hard news supplement to the Lions Now news magazine.