Marblehead Community Access and Media, Inc. (MCAM) is a 501c3 non-profit, membership-based organization governed by the MCAM Board of Directors, reflecting the talents, skills, interests, concerns and diversity of the Marblehead community.
Marblehead Community Access and Media, Inc. operates MHTV, can be seen on Comcast, channel 8 and Verizon, channel 28.
“We started about almost 40 years ago as a cable company station. We were run by the cable. But then we became a non-profit in 2009. So, we’ve been a non-profit for more than 10 years now,” said Joan Goloboy, executive director of Marblehead Community Access and Media, Inc.
Similar to but unique than other community television stations, MHTV provides memberships to residents and organizations and trains them to produce their own shows. Membership entitles individuals and organizations to training, equipment and channel time on MHTV. The staff trains and assists community members who wish to produce non-commercial television shows for MHTV.
“First of all, to become a member, you must be a Marblehead resident. Number two, we train you how to make your own show, and we try to make it as simple as possible with easy-to-use cameras, and easy-to-use editing equipment,” Goloboy explained.
Membership is free to seniors and $25 for individuals. It goes up to $75 for business. Goloboy said she missed a show produced by middle school kids called Marblehead Youth News before the pandemic and hoped to get it continued again.
“I do want to say we have probably the most talented staff that we could ever have,” Goloboy said. For a small size of station, they won eight times overall excellence in public access television nationally, and six times overall excellence for Nor’Easter Awards.
A professional staff, along with community volunteers, produces coverage of Selectman Meetings, School Committee Meetings, MHS Sports, and various Town Events. Before the pandemic, the MHTV streamed municipal meetings on comcast. During the pandemic, they recorded Zoom meetings and ran them later.
Goloboy said as a non-profit organization, they also gave out a lot of free memberships, so that they really appreciated donations they got.
MHTV partnered with local businesses to give them higher visibility on television and on website, such as National Grand bank, Salam Five bank and Marblehead Sport shop.
The MHTV studio is located in the Marblehead Veterans Middle School on Pleasant St. For more information, please check their website at https://marbleheadtv.org or at 781-631-8213.
