Novi Community Relations Department Builds a State-of-the-Art TV and Podcast Studio

Located in the heart of Novi, the city’s Community Relations Department recently revamped an old storage area, frequently referred to as the “dungeon,” into an innovative TV and podcast studio. Affectionately named the “Studio No.VI,” this initiative took just over a year to complete, from concept design to final construction.

The project began in August 2023 and officially concluded in February. The $800,000 venture was covered by public, educational, and governmental (PEG) funds. These funds come from federal fees charged to cable consumers, specifically a 1% PEG fee that is included within cable bills.

The transformed 1,000-square-foot space now houses three distinct sets that allow for a variety of programs and recording formats. Among them are a green screen, a primary set with a video wall, and a station with a standing monitor. Despite this diversification, all the equipment can be quickly and easily shuffled around to provide the desired backdrop.

Currently, the studio is being used for engaging content creation like “Update Novi,” a monthly chat with the mayor, and “After the Gavel,” a recap of each City Council meeting. In addition, the “Now You Novi” podcast and various other city-related shoots are produced here.

Trevor Walega, video production specialist for the city of Novi, emphasizes the efficiency of the new system. “This studio is essentially a one-man operation. One of the biggest benefits of the studio is that it saves a tremendous amount of time that was earlier dedicated to setting up and tearing down equipment each time,” he explains.

Before the establishment of the studio, it took two to three hours to produce an episode of “After the Gavel”. However, with the studio set-up, the process from start to finish reduced to 15 minutes.

In addition to offering increased efficiency, the Studio No.VI opens up ample opportunities for an array of production. Whether it is producing content for the city’s social media channels, website, or cable channels, or hosting Q&A segments and photo sessions, the studio is a one-stop-shop for all of Novi’s storytelling.

The most applauding factor about this entire project is that it was realized without imposing any burden on the taxpayers. The funds used were already accumulated as a result of federal law and dedicated entirely for video operations. It just underlines the commitment Novi takes in being an efficiently run city.

Looking forward, the city plans to upgrade the City Council chamber using PEG funds, as the meetings held there are televised and the chamber needs a technology update.