ICTV
Ithaca College Television — the world's oldest student-run cable television station. Founded March 3, 1958.
"Your Choice. Your Channel."
CBI Video Channel of the Year · 2025 · 1st Place
About ICTV
The world's oldest student-run cable TV station.
At 8 PM on March 3, 1958, a new television station by the name of WICB-TV hit the air on Channel 2 — the local public access channel. The first of its kind in the United States, it was built on the idea that a student-run station could provide real, impactful experiences in TV broadcasting while being a safe space to experiment and learn.
In 1959, ICTV broadcast the first live outdoor telecast in the Ithaca area — an Ithaca College vs. RPI baseball game. Evolving from WICB-TV to ICB-T and finally to Ithaca College Television, ICTV has been innovating and leading college television ever since.
"A safe, inclusive, diverse, and educational home for future media leaders."
— Connor Smith, ICTV Recruitment Night Keynote
Now a nationally ranked program within Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications, ICTV produces over 20 weekly shows every semester — spanning news, sports, entertainment, and scripted content.
The station broadcasts on Spectrum Cable Channel 16, reaching 26,000 Tompkins County households, and streams live on ictv.org. Recognized by College Broadcasters Inc., the Broadcast Education Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, College Media Association, and the New York State Broadcasters Association, ICTV continues to climb to new heights each year.
My Role
Station Manager, 2024–2025.
I joined ICTV in the fall of 2022 as a camera operator and reporter. With no prior TV experience or knowledge, I was just a business management major looking for a way to get involved. Two years later, I was hired to be Station Manager, and have the chance to leave my legacy on the organization.
As Station Manager, I oversaw the full operation of the station — leading 450+ student volunteers and 12 executive staff, managing 24 live and prerecorded weekly broadcasts, and serving as the public face of ICTV at industry events, community partnerships, and awards ceremonies.
I also served as a three-semester Producer and multiple-semester director & anchor for Newswatch, ICTV's flagship live news program, in addition to executive producing Election Night, our 24-Hour Giving Day Broadcast, and ICTV Special Reports.
"One thing I've always thought highly of this program is how it allows everyone to have a shot."
— Connor Smith, Station Manager Application
By The Numbers
ICTV at a Glance
Student Volunteers
Weekly Broadcasts
Shows Per Semester
Cable Households Served
As Station Manager
Key Initiatives
Leadership
Led 450+ students & 12 exec staff
Oversaw 24 live and prerecorded weekly broadcasts across news, sports, entertainment, and scripted formats for Spectrum cable and digital platforms.
Operations
46 new organizational guidelines
Authored and implemented new standards to modernize station ethics, inclusivity practices, and operational procedures across the full organization.
Community
Relaunched the Pegasys Awards
Revived ICTV's relationship with Pegasys public access television and gave the keynote speech at the awards ceremony, representing the station's 66-year legacy to a wider Ithaca audience.
Growth
First-ever alumni fundraising campaign
Spearheaded ICTV's first mass fundraising and alumni outreach initiative, establishing a new channel of support and community engagement for the station.
Career Progression
From Camera Operator to Station Manager in Two Years.
May 2024 – May 2025
Station Manager
Led the full operation of ICTV. CBI Video Channel of the Year. ICTV Senior of the Year.
Jan 2023 – May 2024
Producer — Newswatch
Content-produced 30 minutes of live local and national news weekly. Wrote AP style stories, built rundowns in ENPS, oversaw cast and crew of 30.
2023 – 2025
Anchor & Host
From delivering live news at the desk and giving weekly unscripted weather forecasts, to breaking down election results as a political analyst and hosting specialty broadcasts — these were the roles that put me in front of the camera consistently and shaped how I communicate on air.
2023 – 2025
Director
Directed segments across news, sports, field reports, and promotional content — calling shots in the control room, coordinating cameras, and shaping the visual rhythm of live broadcasts and recorded productions.
Jan–May 2024
Correspondent — ICTV Reports
Field correspondent for ICTV's long-form investigative and feature reporting program.
Fall 2022
Camera Operator · Reporter · Assistant Producer
Entry point — no prior TV experience. Newswatch and Good Day Ithaca.
Programming
Student ideas. Student crews. Student television.
ICTV operates across five departments, all student-run, airing on Spectrum Channel 16 and streaming at ictv.org. Over four years, I worked across nearly all of them — as a producer, anchor, director, and correspondent before stepping into the Station Manager role.
News
Journalism & Reporting
Live and recorded news programming covering local, national, and campus stories. Encompasses weekly newscasts, long-form investigative features, field reporting, and digital-first storytelling.
Sports
Athletics Coverage
Game broadcasts, highlight packages, studio shows, and sports commentary covering local, regional, and national athletics — from Ithaca College and Cornell University games to broader sports news and analysis.
Entertainment
Talk, Variety & Lifestyle
Talk shows, cultural programming, interview formats, and lifestyle content that reflects the interests and voices of the Ithaca College community and the broader Ithaca area.
Scripted
Narrative & Fiction
Fictional, narrative content written and directed by students — series packed with comedy and drama, produced end-to-end within the station.
Development & Specials
New Shows & Live Events
Development oversees new show creation, from concept through pilot to series launch. Specials handles the station's major standalone productions — election night coverage, giving day marathons, community broadcasts, and live events outside the regular schedule. As Station Manager, I oversaw all of the station's biggest single-night productions.
Notable Productions
Work I Executive Produced
November 2024
Election Night & Election Center 2024
Live election night coverage and voter guide special — ICTV's flagship annual production.
Watch on ictv.org ↗April 2025
24-Hour Giving Day Broadcast
ICTV's first-ever 24-hour marathon broadcast — a live fundraising event spanning an entire day.
Watch on YouTube ↗Spring 2025
ICTV Special Reports
Long-form investigative reporting series. Executive produced and oversaw field production across multiple segments.
Watch on YouTube ↗Recognition
Awards & Honors
College Broadcasters Inc. · 2025
Video Channel of the Year
National recognition for ICTV under Connor's leadership as Station Manager — selected from 280+ competing stations across the country.
ICTV · 2025
ICTV Senior of the Year
Recognized by ICTV membership for outstanding contributions, leadership, and dedication to the station across four years of involvement.
ICTV · 2024–2025
Outstanding News Producer
Awarded by ICTV for news production work during the 2024–2025 year on Newswatch.
In The Frame
Your Choice. Your Channel.
Watch ICTV.
Stream live, catch up on shows, and explore 60+ years of student television from Ithaca College.