Take dedicated volunteers, an audio board, one video camera and what do you get?  A fully functioning podcast booth at AOC.  Members Ian Auzenne and Mike Baldwin plan on podcasting their first program this week right here at Acadiana Open Channel.  Both volunteers share an interest in podcasts and are ready and willing to train other volunteers about the media outlet. 

"Setting up this podcasting booth is giving AOC another way to serve the community.  We plan on using the facility for ourselves but we would really like to get others invovled as well," Auzenne said.  

Auzenne is a podcasting veteran.  By setting up this booth, he hopes to continue a past program of his that was started while he was a student at Princeton University.

If you would like to learn more about podcasting please contact us at (337) 232-4434 and we will get you in touch with Ian or Mike.   

Honors and accolades flowed like a river Saturday night at the Petroleum Club as Acadiana Open Channel gave recognition to volunteers and producers for contributions throughout the year.

The event was the Annual Viddy Awards Banquet. Program producers, volunteers and supporters attended in huge numbers, actually setting an attendance record.

Programming Winners are:

BEST LIVE PROGRAM - Insight Into Mental Health

BEST PRE-RECORDED PROGRAM -  HGTV

BEST PUBLIC INTEREST PROGRAM - Holding Accountable 

BEST ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM -  La Galerie

BEST MUSIC PROGRAM -  Digital Soul Showcase

MOST WATCHED RELIGIOUS PROGRAM -IDMR

BEST CREW - Holding Accountable

BEST SET -  Get It Growing,

BEST NON-ENGLISH PROGRAM - Nuestro Mundo Latino

BEST DIRECTOR - Brother J

VIEWER'S FAVORITE PROGRAM - IDMR

BEST OPENING SEQUENCE -  Concerned Citizens for Good Government, Ken Holleman

Production Awards were given to:

Rookie of the Year -  Russell Cormier

Volunteer of the Year - Duke Hillard

Producer of the Year - Nicky Picard

 Photos and video of the event will be posted shortly.

Thanks to everyone for the OUTSTANDING SUPPORT!!

Qualified producers have chosen their timeslots for next season. Now comes the work of building out the program schedules and finalizing the Producer files for the series period beginning July 1st.

So far we've had 50 Series Programs vying for timeslots. Of these 50, 48 were able to get one of their first 4 choices. We had only 2 producers so far who've had to make timeshifts beyond their first choices. This is a remarkably high use of time for an access the size of ours. Major Props to William McFarlain, Program Coordinator for making it easy and efficient.

The staff is going over memberships and file updates to insure that everyone is properly qualified. Producers who selected or who wish to select have until the close of business Friday, May 22, to come into the office to get their situation squared away. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE UPDATED AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS PAID THROUGH THE SERIES PERIOD.

Series Producers will have replay schedules and promotional tips in a few weeks. Once you know what your schedule looks like. . . PROMOTE it! We'll help.

Thanks for a great allocation day! Here's the breakdown.

Festival International was here.

Unbelievable crews and volunteers made it a huge success!

Thanks to everyone who helped.  Festival Staff and Board, Larry Habetz with Gulf Coast Sound, Kris Wotipka, Glenn Baudoin, Samuel White, Boosie Ferguson, Jacob White and Sarah Ellis for making the production so fluid and efficient. Also thanks to the AOC volunteers who handled the cameras and worked production with us. Everyone contributed to making this the best festival ever!

From the Executive Director

Some Updates on some of the Current Issues facing AOC. Otherwise known as information that effects producers and their programs.