Ferris Sports Update TV Show Reaches Major Milestone With 400th Show This Week
Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris Sports Update, a popular Ferris State University television program, reached a major milestone this week.
A half-hour interview show profiling Ferris State Athletics, the Ferris Sports Update program aired its 400th episode on Wednesday (Feb. 25) evening on WFQX Fox 32 across Northern Michigan. The show is currently midst its 16th season of broadcast coverage and dates back to its origination in 2010.
The show is produced by Ferris State University's Television and Digital Media Production (TDMP) students in partnership with the Bulldog Athletics Department. A total of 28 weekly episodes typically air each season covering both the fall and spring semesters.
"This is a major milestone and is the result of a collaboration that began in 2010," said faculty advisor and department chair Glen Okonoski. "The show demonstrates and exemplifies the core values at Ferris State University of collaboration, excellence, learning and opportunity. It has a far reach and represents the university well while expanding the brand."
The 30-minute program is taped and produced in a studio within the Interdisciplinary Resource Center (IRC) Building on the FSU campus. In addition to airing on Fox 32, the show also airs weekly in the Grand Rapids area on WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.) along with on Xfinity Cable on the Grand Rapids Community College access channel.
Along with the broadcast coverage, free live on-demand streaming of the show is also available over the internet on a continuous basis at www.FerrisState.tv. Segments of the show are also utilized via the official FSU Athletics website and multimedia portal at FerrisStateBulldogs.com along with various university social networking platforms, including YouTube (@FerrisAthletics).
The host of the show is Associate Athletics Director Rob Bentley, who also serves as a local radio voice for the Bulldogs and is in his 26th year working for Ferris State Athletics. The show is produced and directed by senior students in the TDMP program.
"It's been exciting to be part of the show for so many years and it provides us with an excellent platform to showcase our coaches, student-athletes and teams," said Bentley. "This offers tremendous visibility for Bulldog Athletics and is an important part of our multimedia and broadcasting efforts."
Ferris Sports Update affords a unique opportunity for Bulldog fans to get information pertaining to Ferris State athletics while also providing insight from the respective FSU varsity athletic programs from its coaches, student-athletes and support staff. The show includes features on Ferris State student-athletes along with selected highlights from Bulldog Athletics events.
"I believe the collaboration we have with this program is a "win" for all areas in benefiting current students, attracting new students and representing student athletes and programs across many parts of Michigan and the Upper Peninsula," said Okonoski. "Our students function as a team in the studio, fulfilling each role necessary to create the show, and there is added importance placed on their learning when they know their product will be seen by a wide audience.
"We hope fans continue to tune in and see the professional production and engaging stories that are told on a weekly basis," he added.
The students in the class producing the show are under the direction of Okonoski with assistance from engineer Bill Jung along with faculty member Andrew Tingley.
Funding for the show is made possible thru a joint effort between FSU Athletics, the Ferris State Admissions office, University Advancement and Marketing along with the College of Business Dean's Office.
"I'd like to personally thank the departments who contribute financially to support the broadcast of this show," Okonoski said. "In doing so, they are supporting a rich, experiential, practical and valuable learning experience for students. This show is a win, win for Ferris State University and his achievement is a cause for celebration."
The full 400th episode can be found at this link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH-4qzSVMpc