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Jan. 30, 2006

Starting Feb. 1 Woodbridge Township municipal television channels 35 and 36 will broadcast in a new program format providing 24-hour news and entertainment, Mayor Frank G. Pelzman has announced.

For the past several years TV-35 has aired municipal events and community information notices, while TV-36 has shown Woodbridge Township School District news and educational programming. Since 2003 the channels have shared personnel, equipment, scheduling and production.

The new format that starts Wednesday has TV-35 offering 24-hour programming of all Township and school events, while TV-36 will serve as a round-the-clock bulletin board shared by the Township and the schools. All programming will be broadcast using digital, server-based technology.

“TV-35 and TV-36 currently provide an invaluable service in keeping residents connected and informed,” says Mayor Pelzman. “This technology upgrade will expand that service and make it easier for viewers to get information more quickly and concisely.”

TV-35 viewers will see a continuous schedule of programs including Council and Board of Education meetings, athletic and cultural events, activities around the Township and regular shows such as Peekaboo Turtle, Access New Jersey and Taste of the Town.

TV-36 will feature regularly repeated information segments: recycling schedules, municipal departments and contact numbers, Township and school items, arts and recreation events, news from civic organizations, Township employment and volunteer opportunities. Current local weather and local traffic information will be broadcast every quarter hour along with a continuous onscreen date/time stamp.

“By making each channel content-specific, we’ve given viewers more consistency and more options,” says station director Lee Beckerman.

The new format is made possible by software custom-designed for TV-35/36 by Telvue of Mt. Laurel and Princeton Server Group of Princeton. All programming will now originate from a computer server, as well as being stored and archived on the server.

 This new system is more reliable and delivers a clearer signal than the videotape format, says Beckerman. “Going digital speeds up and simplifies our operation. What the viewer will see is a better picture and a much wider diversity of programming.”

Future programming plans include a Township news digest show and a searchable web site where a viewer can locate any bulletin board item.

Beckerman believes the new format will significantly boost the municipal channels’ viewership. “Someone tuning in to TV-35 will be able to watch a variety of localized programming over the course of an entire day, and they can access TV-36 at any time for municipal services and information about the weather or events throughout the Township.”

TV-35/36 has been the recipient of national Telly and Cable Ace Awards, as well as a Hometown Video Award for the televising of concerts and cultural events at the Barron Arts Center and Woodbridge History and civic events.

“I want to commend Lee and his staff for their efforts in keeping Woodbridge at the leading edge of municipal broadcast technology,” says Mayor Pelzman. “This is another example of delivering maximum benefit to residents through cost-effective resource sharing.”