Going live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Eagle Eye TV is here, broadcasting sports, news and entertainment live from the Student Center each week.
Started in 1992, Eagle Eye TV, which began as an offshoot of the University Program Council, grew into its own student organization, setting up in one room inside Foy Student Union.
Today, with the help of about 30 members and eight staff, Eagle Eye has spread its wings inside the Student Center, utilizing a studio and professional equipment to bring live broadcasts to students and alumni.
As the only television station in Alabama produced entirely by students, Eagle Eye offers three live shows each week.
Shows may be viewed online, in the Student Center or on local campus televisions, including an HD channel that was added in February of this year.
While previous systems did not allow Eagle Eye to broadcast live, an update installed to its system in 2009 gave it the capability to do so.
With this new system, Eagle Eye is expanding, taking advantage of these new possibilities.
"One of our goals this year was to create more content," said Kathryn Johnson, channel producer and junior in radio, TV and film. "We went from just being on campus to having a whole HD channel, and so we wanted to create more shows."
Johnson said that all they produced last year was news, but now they are producing a sports show and "The Prowl," a show she created.
The show takes the form of an entertainment talk show that features a variety of local news, entertainment and guests from Auburn's campus.
Such guests have included SGA President Kurt Sasser and local band The Good Doctor.
Each show runs between 15 and 30 minutes, with minimal time for commercial breaks.
This keeps the staff busy with stories and making sure they have enough content to fill the time slot.
As one of the new additions to Eagle Eye, "The Prowl" has received positive feedback from students.
Ben Woolnough, station manager and senior in biomedical sciences, said he puts in more than 35 hours a week at the station, and the rest of the staff comes close to that as well.
While those who work at Eagle Eye have the freedom to develop stories the way they want, the station is professional in the execution of each broadcast, making sure every detail is correct, down to each word on the teleprompter.
Woolnough said every member at Eagle Eye has become somewhat comfortable with all aspects of the station, regardless of the original position they wanted, making even the anchors jacks-of-all-trades.
"I love doing what I do, though, and I wouldn't trade this job for the world," said Paul Stockman, sports director and senior in broadcast journalism. "I enjoy interviewing and getting to know people, and it's nice to interview people like Gus Malzhan because if I have a pressing question I want answered, I get to ask."
While many of the students involved in Eagle Eye come with a background in RTVF, the station is open to all students and always looking for volunteers.
"Don't be afraid to join," Woolnough said. "It's a little intimidating at first, and there are some technical terms, but it is a lot of fun."
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