From the comfort of their easy chairs, Raymond residents may now watch pre-recorded meetings and other community programming on cable television.
Last Wednesday, both the municipal government and the school department cable channels became operational, less than a year after voters approved the digital recording studio and less than three months after the town obtained the equipment.
Although the studio is not yet capable of broadcasting live, Raymond Town Manager Don Willard expects live broadcasts to begin in mid-May.
According to Willard, once digital filming begins, there will be “a dramatic increase in the quality of playback.” Until then, Network Administrator Kevin Woodbrey must first digitize everything that is transmitted. This process enables the video to be broadcast but the result does not measure up to the sound and picture quality residents can expect when the studio is complete.
Woodbrey has blended his knowledge of computers, system design and construction in order to requisition, install and program the necessary equipment almost single-handedly.
“Kevin (Woodbrey) is exceptional,” Willard said. “We have the highest quality with the least expenditure possible.”
A programming schedule for channels two and three is available on the Raymond Web site, www.raymondmaine.org.
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