September 11, 2008

Boiler TV launches new channel, broadcasts public info 24/7

The service was launched to provide an alternative venue to distribute information to Purdue students since taping flyers to sidewalks is no longer permitted.

"We're offering a clean, sustainable alternative that is readily accessible to all of the students living in residence halls and the thousands of daily visitors to the Purdue Memorial Union," said Tina Parker, Boiler Television director. "Our full-color messages are more attractive and don't disintegrate into garbage under rain and foot traffic."

Boiler Television, Purdue's on-campus cable network, is received by the nearly 12,000 students living on campus. The service includes a popular premium movie channel that continues to run public information slates between movies. The movie channel also airs Boiler Television-produced public service announcements, including live-action shorts that encourage recycling and responsible online file sharing. Boiler Television is looking to expand its delivery to dining courts and departments around campus equipped with television monitors.

The Purdue Memorial Union is showing the new information channel on one of its screens and hopes to add more in the future.

"Boiler Television is a wealth of information and entertainment for large portions of the university and increasingly can serve to meet the university's larger strategic goals such as sustainability," said Purdue Memorial Union director Robert Mindrum, who served on the committee that reviewed the posting of flyers on campus.

Advertisements can be posted by going to the Boiler Television page on the Housing and Food Services' Web site at https://www.housing.purdue.edu. Applicants need to fill out a short form and provide any graphics they would like incorporated into their design. Organizations posting info on the university's new online eSidewalk that is part of PurduEboard (https://www.purdue.edu/eboard) simultaneously can order a posting on the new Boiler Television channel.

Boiler Television purchased additional equipment and will hire a part-time graphics person to handle the increased demand for on-air postings. Boiler Television also airs paid advertisements from businesses.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources:   Tina Parker,  (765) 496-6365, parkertm@purdue.edu

Robert Mindrum, (765) 494-8900, mindrum@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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