At the 79th annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems competition, TUTV was named Best College Television Station out of three other finalists including, Troy University, Western Illinois University and Illinois Media School. Two students, Asad Bokhari, KLN ‘19, and Cassandra Semyon, KLN ‘19, also took home the award (now on display at the station) for best news story.

The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System serves as a resource for college radio, television, publishing and podcasts. Their annual international competition took place in New York City from March 1-3, 2018.

TUTV was recognized for its work as a student-run television station broadcasting to local cable television channels, which is a unique feature for a college television station. TUTV’s success comes from the hardworking students who contribute to the variety of programs on air, including “Baker Dave Presents…”, “City Secrets,” “Film Versus Film,” “La Charla,” “OwlSports Update,” “Temple Update” and more.

“I spent a lot of my career managing, and you learn in that there’s a certain level of gratification that’s yours in the victory of others,” said Paul Gluck, the general manager of TUTV. “And if you’ve been at all supportive of them, the gratification is even richer,”

TUTV is available on channel 50 on Comcast, 50 on Verizon and 103 at main campus. Programs can also be streamed online. The station, supported by the Kal and Lucille Rudman Media Foundation, financially supports the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems awards applications.

“It was really a dream to win best college TV station, because that’s really the one you want to win,” said TUTV Content Producer Ed Dress. “And what’s really great about that is it recognizes everyone.”

“There are so many hardworking students at TUTV on multiple shows and it’s really nice to get that recognition from a national competition for all the hard work we do,” said Semyon.

TUTV offers entertainment, news, cooking, sports, music and many more programs. Dress said students come up with their own show ideas, conducting interviews and creating content similar to what students would experience in a professional environment.

“We know we’re doing a good job, but it’s nice when somebody else recognizes that,” said the Executive producer of Temple Update, Peter Jaroff.
Bokhari and Semyon were awarded best news story for their coverage of the Pennsylvania state appropriations bill responsible for funding commonwealth-related universities including Temple.

“It was an awesome experience to be in the field, to produce a package not in the ‘perfect’ setting,” said Semyon. “You’re not in the studio, or the control room, but you’re doing it how a real news team does it.”

To produce the piece, the duo spent time in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the Capitol Building, talking with lawmakers and working on the House floor. Bokhari and Semyon hosted a live broadcast from Harrisburg to local channels, keeping up with the constant developments of the bill and reporting the final result when Pennsylvania schools were granted funding.

“There was a bunch of Pennsylvania state congressmen there and they were treating us like media professionals, which was nice,” said Bokhari. “And we were the only college news team there. It was a really professional experience.”

This is not the first time TUTV has been recognized or nominated for awards like this one. n 2017, TUTV won best promo for its coverage of the travel ban from College Broadcasters Incorporated (CBI), and OwlSports update came in second place for best social media presence. In 2016, TUTV came in third place at CBI. In that competition, Temple Update came in third place for best student media website.

“There’s healthy competition at Temple Update, which is nice,” said Bokhari. “It keeps [the momentum] going, it pushes for people to do their best.”