October 5, 2024

The Needham Channel

Your Town…Your Neighbors…Your Television!

The Needham Channel and the Needham Community Television Development Corporation

The Needham Channel is the local access television and production studio for the town of Needham, managed through the Needham Community Television Development Corporation. Our studio is located at 257 Chestnut Street in Needham, MA. We are generally open Monday-Wednesday from 8:30am-6pm, Thursdays 9am-7pm, Fridays 8:30am-5pm and Saturdays by appointment. Our hours do change due to production schedules and town events, so we always recommend calling before making a trip to our studio. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact us by phone at: (781) 449-6964 or by email at: info@needhamchannel.org.

How do I get coverage of a news story or event? Have a tip for our newscast? We are always looking for new stories to pursue for our weekly show, The Needham Channel News. Call extension 1 at 781-449-6964 or email news@needhamchannel.org. to make contact with our staff. Keep in mind that our newscast is largely staffed by volunteers, so the more advanced notice we have, the better!

We also have an exciting new venture that combines the ongoing community coverage of the Needham Channel News with web-based reporting on the town and community. Needham Local combines video features with written articles on town topics, events and people. It also hosts our Events Calendar which seeks to showcase those happenings that make Needham special. There are no costs associated with posting an event on our calendar, so if you are organizing a community event, we want to hear from you!

How do I get a show on the air? Show ideas are always welcome at the Needham Channel. While we are interested in hearing what you would like to SEE, we are even more interested in hearing what you would like to DO! Volunteers and interns are what keep The Needham Channel running. If you would like to get involved with a production, or if you are a Needham resident who would like to start a program of your own, call Programming Manager Mike Levin at 781-449-6964 x6 to set up an appointment or email mlevin@needhamchannel.org. . We will provide training, expert advice and most of the resources you would need to get your show underway. If there is a show from another community that you would like to share with the Needham Channel, become a local sponsor. All it takes is a willingness to drop by the station, fill out some paperwork, and to have your name aired in connection with the program you would like to see.

How can I post an announcement on your channel? Announcements for the Needham Channel’s Community Bulletin Board can be submitted by interested individuals and non-profit organizations. New community announcements appear every week on all of our channels and streaming sources. If you would like to have an announcement placed on our channel, send an email to cbb@needhamchannel.org. There is no cost for this service, but we do recommend sending the announcement at least two weeks in advance of any event. As mentioned above, we also welcome you to submit events for our event calendar on needhamlocal.org

When will my program be on? When watching the Needham Channel, it is not always obvious when to tune in for a particular program. Our station is not considered large enough to have on screen listings with our cable providers, which can make DVR recording difficult. However, it has never been easier to find out when your program will be on! Simply choose a channel (Community, Education, Municipal  or TNC-HD) and type in the name of the program you would like to see. You may also browse our listings in a schedule format. Finally, some of our programs are available for instant viewing on our “Watch Programs” page and on our new, free Roku app.

How can I buy a copy of a program? Sometimes you just want a copy of a program to watch at your leisure, or share with friends and family. Most of our programs are available for purchase. The cost is $15 for most DVDs and $20 for most BluRay duplications or for a digital copy in .mov format. How do you request a copy? Simply contact us at The Needham Channel, and we’ll get the ball rolling. The usual turn-around time is a week for most requests. Payment is upon receipt, and is by cash or check only. We do not accept credit cards at this time.