Rogue Valley Community Television

June 18, 1989: Agreement signed between City of Ashland, Southern Oregon State College, and Ashland Community Hospital creating Ashland Cable Access.

January 2, 1990: Pete Belcastro and graduate assistant Aaron Townsend began work preparing the facility for first cablecast. Joe Brett hired on part-time contract January 20.

February 20, 1990: Ashland Cable Access went on the air for the first time with five hours of programming, four nights per week on TCI Cablevision Channels 61-99-1

April 5, 1990: The first public access programs begin on Friday evenings produced by local citizens.

October 16, 1990: Ashland Cable Access and League of Women Voters presents a live gubernatorial debate from South Medford High School between candidates Dave Frohnmayer and Barbara Roberts.

September 26, 1990:  The first live call-in program Ashland Town Hall is cablecast with guests Mayor Cathy Golden, City Administrator Brian Almquist and council president Susan Reid.

June 3, 1991: Ashland Cable Access moved to lower cable tier. Located now on TCI Cablevision’s Channel 9.

May 1-3, 1992:  Ashland Cable Access hosts Alliance for Community Media’s Northwest regional Conference at SOSC. 175 people from six states attend. First-ever live broadcast from the SOSC Music Recital Hall for “Best of the Northwest” Video Festival awards show. Seven Best of the NW video awards are won by Ashland Cable Access staff, students and community producers.

April 6, 1993:  Ashland Cable Access moved from Media Center jurisdiction to that of Extended Campus Programs under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Talbert.

April 21, 1993: Ashland City Council votes to establish a 60 cent per month PEG Access fee on cable subscribers to increase financial support of Ashland Cable Access.

July 22, 1993: Ashland Cable Access receives prestigious “Community Communications Award” from the Alliance for Community Media at its national convention in Atlanta, Georgia in recognition of outstanding achievements in institutional access.

August 1, 1993: Ashland Cable Access Commission votes to change name to Rogue Valley Community Television (RVTV) to better reflect its expanded mission in Jackson County.

December 1, 1993: RVTV switched from microwave transmission to fiber optic cable and added additional channels of 30, 31 and 32 in addition to Channel 9.

January 27, 1994: City of Medford began monthly live call-in program, “Medford Forum” in anticipation of joining cable access partnership, promoted and paid for by City Councilman Mel Winkelman.

February 15, 1994: Awarded a $25,000 grant from Southern Oregon State College Foundation to upgrade instructional television equipment. The largest grant ever awarded to a single campus department.

March 14, 1994: Beginning of monthly live cablecasts of Ashland School District Board of Directors meetings from the Ashland Civic Center.

July 11, 1994:  TCI Cablevision and City of Ashland reach agreement on implementation of PEG Access Fee payment schedule ending 18 months of discussions.

September 1, 1994: 60 cent per month PEG Access fee on Ashland cable subscribers goes into effect with all funds earmarked for RVTV operations.

September 20, 1994: RVTV’s activates Channel 31, a new county-wide bulletin board service offering community announcements and programming information

March 3-5, 1995: RVTV celebrates its 5th Anniversary with three consecutive nights of live programming featuring students, public users and RVTV partners.

May 14, 1995: RVTV Students, Staff and Community Producers are awarded 9 Best of the NW video festival awards during the Alliance NW Conference in Pocatello, Idaho, the most ever.

September 7, 1995: Ashland Cable Access Commission approves reorganization of RVTV operations between SOSC and the City of Ashland and votes itself out of existence. SOSC will be operator of local cable channels via service contracts with the City of Ashland.

October 15, 1995: RVTV’s Master Control Room is placed on line after extensive remodeling including the installation of new audio board, racks, playback decks and other features.

January 8, 1996: RVTV Studio Control Room is completed and placed on line after extensive weekend remodeling project led by Dr. Tom Hartkop and a group of volunteers including Mark Chilcoat, Joe Brett, Pete Belcastro, Suzi Aufderheide, and Peter Cipes on audio. Installation of Grass Valley Switcher, new audio board, and Toaster Graphics system.

February 28-March 1, 1996: RVTV celebrates its 6th Anniversary with three consecutive nights of original live cable program featuring the people who make RVTV work, students, volunteers and program hosts and guests.

May 15, 1996:  RVTV completes construction project for five additional editing rooms. Work overseen by Peter Cipes. Gives RVTV seven private editing rooms.

October 7, 1996: RVTV completes a contract with Tech-Com International for design of renovated Master Control Suite.

November 12, 1996: RVTV signs contracts for borrowing $100,000 in State COP funds and completes design for Master Control Suite renovation costing $162,000.

January 5, 1997: RVTV cablecasts three consecutive hours of live programming relating to the New Year’s Day Flood with cooperation from the City of Ashland, community producers and local news media.

February 26-28 1997: RVTV celebrates its 8th Anniversary with five consecutive nights of live programming including AMS, AHS shows for the first time.

May 15, 1997: RVTV’s new automated master control center goes on-line programming for the first time on its own. Old system shut down and dismantled.

May 22, 1997: Department of Communication faculty meet with adjunct faculty members — who also are television news professionals — at the RVTV studio. These instructors, who are all from Medford broadcast affiliates, will be teaching classes in a new academic concentration which emphasizes television news and sports information beginning the Fall of 1997.

June 12, 1997: RVTV’s $162,000 Master Control Center dedication took place with President Reno, Brian Almquist and Kevin Talbert cutting the ceremonial ribbon. RVTV becomes the first community-based media facility in the USA capable of sending programming to both a land-based and wireless cable system.

July 2, 1997: Public Access Channel 31 began playing its first community-produced programs at 5pm. Public access programming seen M-W-F evenings. Community bulletin board operates when programs end.

July 17, 1997: Medford City Council votes 5-3 for a television services contract with RVTV. Worth approximately $61,000, it will provide for operation of Government Channel 30 and public access support.

July 13, 1997: Ashland’s Parks Commission begins televised monthly meetings from the Ashland Civic Center after completing contract with RVTV.

December 1, 1998: Joe Rossi is hired as public access training coordinator indicating an expansion of RVTV public services.

Monday, January 12, 1998: RVTV launches Government Channel 30 featuring government-related programming for the cities of Ashland and Medford and Southern Oregon Education Channel 33 in cooperation with KSYS. RVTV cablecasts on four separate channels. RVTV Channel 9, Government channel 30, Public Access Channel 31 and Education channel 33.

March 3-5, 1998: RVTV celebrates 9th anniversary celebration with special programs March 3, 4, 5, 1998.

May 2, 1998: Joe Rossi wins RVTV’s second Hometown Video Award for Travel Exchange. Pete, Joe Brett, and Suzi win Best of the NW award for 1997 Ashland Flood Special Programs and Pete and Joe win for City of Ashland’s Powering Up program.

May 8, 1998: RVTV and Lithia Springs School sign memorandum of understanding linking the two facilities together via cable for expanded programming and community access use.

May 21, 1998: RVTV and Associated Students of SOU sign memorandum of understanding creating KSOC cable radio. It airs on channel 31 and is the community’s first public access/student cable radio station.

October 1, 1998: KSOC the community access radio station begins operation on RVTV Community Access Channel 31 as a student and community cable radio station.

March 2, 1999: SOU Curriculum committee approves change in academic program to include a Video Production Minor independent of Communication Department. Dr. Mark Chilcoat becomes part of RVTV staff.

May 1, 1999: RVTV staff, community producers and students win five Best of the NW video awards including Overall Excellence in Government Access from Alliance for Community Media NW during Ashland conference.

April 29- May 1, 1999: RVTV hosts the annual conference of the Alliance for Community Media Northwest Regional Conference. 125 people from six states attend.

May 1, 1999: RVTV’s Joe Brett and Don Hill produce the annual Best of the Northwest Video Awards show live from the Music Recital Hall on RVTV Channel 9

June 30, 1999: Suzi Aufderheide resigns from her position as Community Access Coordinator after serving as volunteer and coordinator/trainer for five years.

September 28, 1999: Video Production Minor begins with full classes.

October 1, 1999: Cynthia Salbato is hired as Community Access Coordinator

December 29, 1999: The first-ever live cablecast is held by the Jackson County Commissioners at the courthouse auditorium. Commission Chair Ric Holt gaveled the meeting to order at 9:30am, making Jackson County the third government to become part of the RVTV family.

February 2, 2000: RVTV began cablecasting on the Ashland Fiber Network cable system on channels 9, 30 ,31, 33. RVTV now cablecasts over three systems, Charter Communications, AFN and some on Want TV

March 15, 2000:   Go-ahead given for the remodeling and move of KSOC from the SU basement room to a new enlarged facility across from the SU Arena to cablecast public access cable radio for SOU students and the public.

April 8, 2000: RVTV staff, SOU students and community producers win seven “Best of the NW’ Video Awards from the Alliance for Community Media, NW region. 264 entries were received in 17 categories. Winners included. Dino Rossi, Joe Rossi, Pete Belcastro; Joe Brett, WAMS, Aaron Torres, Jeanne O’Brien, Robin Lawson. Awards presented at regional conference in Seattle, Washington.

September 1, 2000: David C. Johnson is hired as Community Access Trainer, and introduces a new 10-week Television training program that incorporates RVTV’s first successful mentor teaching program.

November 7, 2000: Rogue Valley Community Television produces a five-hour live election night coverage.  Included were candidates, elected officials, former news reporters etc.   The program aired from 7-midnight and was live at both the RVTV studio and at Medford City Hall.

May 7, 2001: RVTV public access hosts the first annual CAT (Community Access Television) Awards live on RVTV Channels 9 & 31.

May 10, 2001: The new president of SOU, Dr. Elisabeth Zinser makes her first public appearance in Southern Oregon by appears on the 75th Anniversary of SOU Week and was interviewed by five students.

July 10, 2002: Jackson County Board of Commissioners award RVTV an $81,000 equipment grant to be used for the outfitting of an RVTV Remote Production Truck.

July 18, 2002: Media engineer David Meade dies suddenly at his home during the week of RVTV’s live production at the Jackson County Fair.  We miss David very much.

November 5, 2002:   RVTV hosted four hour Election Night program live in three separate facilities.   Election programming was held in Ashland at the RVTV studio; Medford at the new Jackson Co. Election Center; and in Grants Pass at the Basker Auditorium.

February 6, 2003: Southern Oregon University announces that RVTV will be moving to a newly construction 10,000 square foot building at the corner of Webster and Stadium streets with construction expected to begin in April and completion by Fall.

May 16, 2003   Annual CAT Community Access Television Awards are presented during live cable TV program.

June 20, 2003  The Medford City Council votes 7-0 a new two-year plus two year renewal for public and government access TV services for the city.

August 20, 2003  Construction begins on the new RVTV Multimedia Center at SOU.  Adroit Construction is general contractors.  Total cost to build and equipment the facility will be $1.13 million dollars.  The building will be 8,500 square feet of space.

September 15, 2003 Nena Scuderi-Fox is hired to work part time in Community Access

December 3, 2003, RVTV shuts down library site after 13 years, 11 months and 3 days of operation.   Move to new Multimedia Center begins.

December 15, 2003,  5pm,  RVTV master control begins operation in new multimedia center building for the first time.  Four channels play in DVD format for the first time with Joe Brett operating the system from a home computer.

January 5, 2004  RVTV Multimedia Center opens to the public after five month construction period.   First live studio program in the new facility takes place at 6pm with Dr Kevin Talbert and Jim Teece hosting “Tech Talk.”

April 12, 2004   The first-ever use of the new Remote Production Truck (Mobile One) as RVTV televised the Pear Blossom Festival Parade live on Channels 31/15 from downtown Medford.  Charter Communications provided the cable drops.

June 12, 2004   RVTV televises SOU 78th Commencement ceremony LIVE on CABLE from Raider Stadium on the SOU campus on channels 31/15 for the first time ever.  Charter provided the cable drop and an all student crew used the remote production truck for the event.

September 27, 2004  Classes begin in the new Media Arts Concentration (Video Production and Film) in the Department of Communications, leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication.  Howard Schreiber and Dr. Mark Chilcoat are both full time instructors, housed a RVTV.

October 7, 2004   The first-ever Public Access Training Course begins in Josephine County.  Class is taught by David Johnson and is held at RCC.  Bob Haber assists with the class and equipment check out.

October 23, 2004  The first-ever live sports production at RVTV takes place at Raider Stadium.  SOU vs Willamette football game is cablecast live on AFN and replayed on all channels.  Paul Collins produced the event.

November 2, 2004  RVTV presents Election Night 2004 live from Ashland, the new Jackson County Library in Medford and the Basker Auditorium in GP.  From 6:30 to 11:00pm students, volunteers and RVTV staff cablecast live election coverage from three locations.

Wednesday, December 1, 2004  The first-ever live internet video feed from the state capital in Salem to RVTV takes place.  Gov. Kulongoski’s budget news conference is cablecast on channels 14 and 30 using the internet and streaming video.  A project of Legislative Media, DAS and RVTV.  Live legislative events are scheduled to begin in 2005.

Monday, January 10, 2005  Live coverage of the Oregon Legislature begins airing on Cable channel 30 and 14, using Live Internet Streaming Media feed between the state capital building and RVTV.

Monday, January 17, 2005  Mark Butterfield joins RVTV as Government Producer, responsible for the production of live government meetings in Ashland, Medford and for Jackson County.

Saturday, February 5, 2005 Live cable TV coverage of first-ever SOU basketball doubleheader takes place with an entire student crew of announcers (VP399) and technical crews (VP372).  SOU beats Warner Pacific men 52-48, Women lose to WP 53-47.

Saturday, May 7, 2005   16th Annual Community Access Television Awards.   Live televised event with honors to the following:  SOU Students: Jerris Smith, Andrew Ainsworth, Melissa Tepper; AHS Student Aaron Mofit;
Jim Ragland Award to David Bruce; and RVTV Special Recognition to Lt Tim George and Lt Bob Hansen of the Medford Police Department.

Thursday, June 23, 2005     RVTV Community volunteers begin the 16th consecutive season of televising Ashland City Band Concerts from Lithia Park.  RVTVs longest running remote production dating to 1990.

Friday, July 1, 2005  Nena Scuderi-Fox becomes the Public Access Coordinator with the departure of David C. Johnson.

Monday, July 4, 2005  RVTV community volunteers make the first-ever RVTV entry in the Ashland Fourth of July Parade.  Nena Scuderi-Fox coordinated the event and assumed the position of Public Access Coordinator on July 1.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005 RVTV hosts the Southern Oregon University Foundation Board of Trustees for a meeting and presentation on Media Arts and RVTV.  This was the first-ever meeting by the Trustees at RVTV.

Friday, March 24, 2006  The Community Access Television Awards took place at RVTV Multimedia Center, Produced for the third year by Nena Scuderi-Fox. Access Mentor/Producer Michael D. Fox is presented with the James Ragland Award and Chris Keasby & Mikhail Pinyo are awarded with the Ashland High Student of the Year Award.

Monday, July 31, 2006.   RVTV took over 24-hour access and programming of Cable Channel 9.  So Oregon ESD had operated Channel 9 daytime since the 1950s.  RVTV now has programming access on a full time basis on three local cable channels, 9, 14-15. Mark Butterfield takes on the Public Access Instructor duties from Nena Scuderi-Fox.

Friday, October 20, 2006  Tim Bewley leaves RVTV.  Staff reduced to five FTE. Nena Scuderi-Fox is given the job title Administrative Manager, covering the administrative and accounting duties for RVTV while continuing as Public Access Coordinator. Michael D. Fox becomes the Public Access equipment check-out person.

Friday, March 26, 2007 The 2007 CAT Awards were held at the RVTV Studio, produced again by Nena Scuderi-Fox. Access Mentor/Producer Dennis Vickoren was awarded the James Ragland Award.

Tuesday, May 31, 2007   Media Arts Awards Night as Clint Bowers received RVTV student of the year award, John Bartell received the Media Arts student of the year, while Sharon Johnson of OSU Extension received the RVTV Special Recognition Award.

Saturday, June 29, 2007Mark Butterfield leaves RVTV as the government producer and Public Access instructor in Ashland.

Monday, August 1, 2007, Ashland Mayor John Morrison hosts Ashland Town Hall, becoming the second local mayor to moderate a city government talk show.

Monday, August 6, 2007   The City of Grants Pass RFP was received by RVTV for construction of video equipment in the council chambers and for government TV services, ending a long community battle over Government TV.  Brandon Givens hired as RVTV Government Producer, replacing Mark Butterfield.

Thursday, August 9, 2007    Pete Belcastro leaves RVTV after 18 years.  Belcastro was the first employee of Ashland Cable Access Channel in 1989, and helped to guide RVTV over the years into a regional PEG Access Center deliving thousands of hours of local programming.
Belcastro leaves RVTV having won 8 Best of the NW Video Festival awards, more than any other person.  He will continue to host various government programs after leaving RVTV.