ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan and the City of Ann Arbor’s Community Television Network have formed a new partnership to provide University programming to MediaOne viewers.

UMTV, the campus cable system sponsored by the U-M Information Technology Division, will begin airing selected UMTV programming over CTN’s Cable Channel 8 beginning in January.

Under the joint venture, recent major campus events such as the U-M presidential inauguration and the M-Quality Expo presentations will air on CTN. Other innovative programming efforts will demonstrate non-traditional uses of the two systems, such as public school classroom interaction with university professors and laboratory resources.

Beginning Jan. 2, UMTV programming will air on CTN Cable Channel 8 on Fridays, 1-3 p.m., and Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m.

“This is a terrific pairing of the two cable systems,” said Jose-Marie Griffiths, the University’s chief information officer and executive director of the Information Technology Division. “This partnership increases the University’s capability to provide valuable and timely information of significant interest to both the Ann Arbor and University communities.”

According to CTN Cable Administrator Hap Haasch, “This collaboration fits nicely into CTN’s plans for programming development, and demonstrates that the city and University can work together for mutual benefit.”

CTN manages public, educational and government access channels for the City of Ann Arbor (Cable Channels 8, 9, 10 and 11). Serving Ann Arbor since 1973, CTN’s facility is located in the lower level of the Edison Center at 425 S. Main. Its main mission is to provide studio, editing, camcorder, and producer training workshops to Ann Arbor residents and non-profits at no charge.

Michael Berger, video projects leader for UMTV said, “We have spent the last several years expanding UMTV’s infrastructure across campus. Now by completing this physical interconnect to MediaOne via CTN to the Ann Arbor area, we are able to reach a broader audience interested in U-M information.”

UMTV is a 60-channel campus cable television system available in all residence hall rooms and in numerous offices, classrooms and meeting rooms in more than 80 U-M buildings. UMTV features live campus events and innovative programming from numerous U-M schools, departments and selected cable networks. The system’s uniquely decentralized design allows information to be broadcast across campus from a diverse venue of locations.

For more information about UMTV, call (734) 647-3419. Additional information about UMTV programming can be found on the Internet at: http://www.itd.umich.edu/umtv/.

For more information about programming and the free community media resources available through the City of Ann Arbor’s Community Television Network, call CTN at (734) 769-7422.

Jose-Marie Griffithshttp://www.itd.umich.edu/umtv/U-M News and Information ServicesUniversity of Michigan