*For Immediate Release*
Partnership Produces More Than Video
-released by OPSU Campus Communications 03-06-2006
by Laura Dahl

Goodwell, Okla. - PTCI has supported Oklahoma Panhandle State University in a variety of ways over the years. The local cooperative continues to back the programming team and they consistently provide employment opportunities for graduates and students. In July of 2004, OPSU and PTCI formalized a working partnership to produce videos of local events to air on PTCI’s digital interactive television network.

PTCI provided $35,000 for OPSU to purchase cameras, lighting and editing equipment for producing video. In return, OPSU offers video production classes to educate students. Instructor Matthew Carter teaches proper use of the equipment and video editing techniques and also oversees the filming of the community-wide events. The video is then broadcast by PTCI for their subscribers to enjoy and covers most of the Oklahoma Panhandle as well as the northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle. Programs aired include area public school athletic contests, graduation ceremonies, community celebrations such as the historic Pioneer Days event held annually in Guymon, rodeos and documentaries of local interest.

What began as an ambitious learning project has evolved into an educational economic development opportunity. Due to the number of hours spent on production of each video project, PTCI added $10,000 this year to help fund a video production assistant for the program. According to Diane Murphey, OPSU’s Dean of Business and Technology, “As the project matures, we anticipate revenue for OPSU from advertising, sale of videos, and marketing increased local content production.” In addition, as faculty and students have gained in digital production experience, those teaching and learning in the program have produced more course work, integrated and recruited additional students, and increased output to be utilized by PTCI.

Officials at PTCI are also excited about the growth of the program. According to Leslie Kraich, a Public Relations Representative at PTCI, “Education and economic development work hand in hand. PTCI is proud to be a part of the growth of this program, and we enjoy supporting and working with OPSU.”

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