Lower Merion Public TV To Ditch Tapes

While Lower Merion and Narberth’s public access channel has evolved in its five years, it has yet to enter the digital age. The channel, run by Narberth resident Irene McNeil, still produces programs using good old fashioned video tapes.

The Way It Was

 “The good thing with tapes is we never have any disasters,” McNeil said. “We always have the originals.”

It’s not that she’s intimidated by the technology; it just simply wasn’t available when she was in the market.

“In 2007, digital was still very rare,” McNeil said. “We feel like it’s been around forever, but it hasn’t.”

The Switch to Digital

But the switch is in McNeil’s plans, along with moving the channel into a space in the community and working more closely with local schools and universities.

“We’ve barely scratched the surface of what this channel could be,” she said. “In two years, we’ll definitely be digital.”

Although she’s more comfortable working with tapes, the president said she sees the benefits of making the switch.

Digital Benefits

“The equipment is lighter, much smaller,” she said. “I don’t think there will be too much added training either.”

Going digital, McNeil added, will hopefully increase community involvement because it eliminates the need for intimidating equipment.

“All people will need are their phones,” she said. “It’s pretty amazing.”