CBI Member Station Profile: Cable 8 Productions at Washington State

This is the first in a continuing series of station profiles by Kate Rath of the University of Pittsburg, student representative on the CBI Board of Directors. In this installment, Kate interviews Scott Shigeoka, vice president of marketing communication and alumni affairs at Washington State.

Station Name: Cable 8 Productions
Station City and State: Pullman, WA
Institution: Washington State University

Describe the programming on your station:

Our programming is amazing and well-rounded. Three new shows which just made it on to our programming are “Against All Odds” (a fighting/Street Fighter scripted show), “Behind the Mic” (a stand-up comedy/reality show), and “WAZZU Cribs” (similar to MTV Cribs, we take a look at Pullman houses/apartments and explore them!). Returning to the programming line up: “Always on the Movie” (a movie/dvd critique show), “Get Hooked Up!” (a funny college dating game show), “Inside the Lines” (our sports show which features local, Cougar and national sports), “Taking on the Issues” (a political talk show featuring issues on the college, local and national levels), “The Mix” (a talk show similar to “The View” but featuring a co-ed cast), and “Video Underground” (a music video show which brings in bands from all over the Northwest area to showcase).

What makes your station unique?

Our organization is functioning because of the students involved. From directing to producing, editing to marketing, sales and budgeting to special projects, the station has been graced with qualified individuals from all over the world. We have a diversified staff and executive board and I personally feel as if everyone involved with Cable 8 Productions has a sense of belonging, somewhat similar to the feeling you have as an alumni of a high school or university. We are proud to be a part of Cable 8 and we show our pride in the high-quality shows we air and the tons of events we put on for our campus. Every student involved with Cable 8 is unique and very dedicated to their positions, in fact it is not uncommon to see students glued to computer screens in the Editing Suites at 5 or 6 in the morning, post-editing their shows.

Our main goal, no matter the circumstance, is to air high-quality shows to the Pullman-Moscow community and every semester we accomplish this goal. Every semester we grow as an organization in size and impact, and I am glad that CBI has seen us demonstrate our qualities as a fantastic student cable station. We have so much talent in our station and I am so glad that someone is taking interest! I am very proud to be a part of Cable 8 Productions and I know I speak on behalf of everyone else involved that they too are proud to be a part of such a fantastic organization.

How does your station prepare students for post-graduate opportunities?

Not only does our station provide hands-on experience but there are also an array of post-graduate opportunities for those involved in the station. Like I said before, when you are involved with Cable 8 you have this feeling of belonging, similar to being an alumni of a university. It is no different when “Cable 8 Alumni” come to campus for speeches and the Murrow Symposium. They recognize that those involved in Cable 8 are dedicated and top-notch individuals who deserve to be placed in the best positions the market has to offer. Last year’s graduation class are working on the same crew for various Hollywood television productions, and we even had undergraduates in the program intern for a Myspace television production (Sorority Forever) this summer.

Being a part of this organization also helps individuals mature and gain valuable experiences and character traits. Department heads, directors and producers, promo and sales managers (etc) are put in positions of mentorship, where they must help (usually underclassmen) students learn specific skills to aid them in fulfilling department contracts. As a result, those on staff and on the executive board gain leadership and character skills. We are always working with the S&A Committee (to propose budgets), local / national businesses, colleges in the university, and various organizations in the Pullman-Moscow area which help us develop interpersonal and business skills. Overall, our organization functions like a real television business and as a result everyone involved gains valuable experience for post-graduate endeavors.

How does your station keep students motivated and involved?

There is that overused saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” Once the horse drinks Cable 8’s water, they are hooked. Not only does everyone involved in Cable 8 have lots of pride for the organization, but they also have a lot of fun too. In and out of the studio, Cable 8’ers are developing friendships that often stick together even past college. Our advisor keeps in contact with alumni from the organization, and alumni from the organization keep in touch with each other. It is because the friendships (and sometimes even romantic relationships) formed because of Cable 8 are so powerful.

Students are always doing something. There is never a dull moment nor a task that doesn’t need to be done within our organization. Students love the ability to have a say in our organization, they love seeing the impact they have as just a single individual on a huge organization. Having the ability to creatively think of ideas, execute these ideas in to reality (with the help of Cable 8) and see it in action on campus/television is a fantastic feeling for not only broadcasting students, but also the students involved in talent, promotions, sales, marketing, and special projects too.

Why do you think collegiate broadcasting is important?

Collegiate broadcasting is very, very important. Collegiate broadcasting builds leaders. Collegiate broadcasting organization are constantly turning individuals in to positive, productive, determined, inspirational and honest leaders. It matures individuals because they are constantly placed in to scenarios which require intense critical thinking and solving, and prepares college students (broadcast majors or not) for the working field and graduate school. The organization works like a community-oriented business. Students a part of collegiate broadcasting organizations help to create events and programming which benefit the community. They learn valuable business skills such as budgeting and budget proposals. Because we are just a student organization which lacks much funding, we learn to be creative and work around such obstacles by finding creative ways to do studio or field shooting (when we don’t have the necessary equipment) and promotions/sales (when we don’t have the necessary funds to do full-blown, regular advertising). Students involved in the stations are constantly creating quality friendships. Everyone within the stations positively encourage each other to maintain high GPAs, keep high motivations and ambitions, and also to just live safe and positive lives. Without collegiate broadcasting, a huge portion of college students would be without an organization that stimulates their minds and helps them grow as individuals.

How has being a member of CBI benefited your station?

Opportunities such as this one, being able to spotlight the talent and hard work put in to our station, is one awesome benefit of being a member of CBI. Without CBI we would not have the countless hours spent by students, creating high-quality television shows, showcased. This is not only true for our station, but for other stations around the nation also. Being able to get that “inside look” on other student television organizations is a fantastic way for us to learn and grow as an organization also. We look up to many stations which are members of CBI and learn a lot from the way they handle their stations. Station managers, department heads and staff members of other various college stations constantly inspire us to keep going and work harder to better our station.

The ability to sign up for national awards and attend conferences are also both individual and station maturing benefits we receive being members of CBI. We also love the mailing lists and “community-like network” that CBI has built between all of the college stations. You guys are the United Nations of the college broadcasting world. You bring us together, you recognize achieving stations, you help stations mature and better themselves and you build a greater community. Cable 8 understands CBI’s awesome reputation in the broadcasting industry and will continue to support CBI’s goals by being an actively involved member.

Please share with us any interesting stories, [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][facts, or events] your station has had.

Cable 8 Productions developed and produced a ‘Bacon Salt’ commercial which aired throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Bacon Salt was developed by WSU Alumnus, its founders looked to Cable 8 (even though we are a student-run organization and not a professional organization) to make its very first on air commercial.

Our President/General Manager, Kanale Rhoden, proposed to his now-fiancé on live television airing over Cable 8. His fiancé, Megan Byrne, happily said yes. Some months later, they are still very happily together and even have a little boy, Liam. (See what I mean about the strong relationships that can be formed from our station?)

Cable 8 Production’s show, Video Underground, working with the rest of the organization and a residence hall on campus, will be throwing a benefit concert for Kristian, a 5-year old son of a Pullman resident, who was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. The benefit concert will feature artists from California, Boise and Pullman and will be hosted on April 3rd, 2009. We plan to raise $10,000 for the family towards Kristian’s medical bills and the family’s local business.

Cable 8 Productions is truly a family as many alumni and current staff work alongside each other on various projects including MySpace’s “Sorority Forever” and Sci-Fi’s “Scare Tactics”! When we say we have great times and build great memories and friendships — WE MEAN IT![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]