Novi City Unveils Stunning New TV and Podcast Studio

Awesome things are happening in the city of Novi! The local Community Relations Department has expertly turned an old storage space in the Novi Civic Center into a dazzling, state-of-the-art TV and podcast studio. The project was smartly funded using accumulated public, educational, and governmental (PEG) funds.

The innovative studio, now labeled “Studio No.VI,” began construction in late August last year and officially opened its doors to the public this past February. Known less glamorously in the past as the “dungeon,” the transformation is nothing short of incredible. The good news for those paying attention to where their tax income goes is that the studio, which came up to an estimated cost of $800,000, was built entirely using PEG funds.

PEG funds are the annual accumulation of federal fees charged to cable consumers, typically included as a 1% PEG fee in their cable bill. Sheryl Walsh-Molloy, who holds the lofty title of Communications Director for Novi, noted that they’ve been sitting on over a million dollars in PEG funds for a few years now. Something worthy of note here is that these funds are strictly restricted and can only be used for video operations, which is exactly where they’ve been put to use.

Walking into the 1,000-square-foot studio, you’re likely to be dazzled by one of three sets. The green screen, the standing monitor, and a main setup that’s graced by a swanky video wall are all part of the offering. All the gadgetry here is designed to be mobile and can be wheel-chaired around to lend diversity to the backdrops as needed, topped up by around 180 different zones of bright, inviting light.

The Benefits and Impact of the Studio

The studio’s usefulness is only just starting to be tapped into less than six months after we’ve had it, says Walsh-Molloy. She references several ways it has already been put to use, such as the Novi Parks Foundation finding use for it, as well as planned collaborations with Ascension Hospital for a live Q&A segment. Images come alive in the studio, with headshots and photos being taken with stunning clarity.

Trevor Walega, the city’s video production specialist, also chimes in with admiration for his “playground.” He says the new environment has made their work more efficient, saving them hours on shoots because the need to pack and unpack location shoot gear has been drastically minimized.

In the near future, the city’s PEG funds, which continue to accumulate, will be used to upgrade the City Council chamber, doing away with outdated equipment and improving televised content of council meetings. This is indeed an exciting era for Novi, and we can’t wait to see what other incredible transformations are in the pipeline.