Student Operated Enterprise

In 2022, KISS-TV will celebrate it 50th anniversary. The bold concept of a student-operated television was brought to life by John Schmidt who was soon joined on the high school faculty by Rick Clear, a UC/KISS-TV graduate then a Ball State graduate who returned to Union City to help elevate the program. Today Brian Merrill, also a Union City alumnus and Ball State graduate who returned home, to lead the 21st Century KISS. 

     These traditional Ball State links help drive today's collaborations. 

     Today, KISS-TV is a an established regional broadcasting power, covering events countywide and live-streaming via internet to an audience nationwide.

KISS-TV alumni have gone on to successful careers in the field of broadcast communication: on-air talent, research, reporting, content creation, content editing, production and operation of multiple technologies.

      Some KISS-TV education is specific and technical, but graduates stress the importance of the "soft skills": becoming comfortable and confident with public speaking, effective writing, and working smoothly in a team environment. 

     These skills have supported success in education, public service, journalism, business leadership, law, marketing, sales, customer service, public relations, and a host of others.

 Vision Corner will provide space for KISS-TV to double in size, in part to expand existing services, but also to prepare for technology initiatives that do not yet exist. The importance is shown by KISS-TV's successful adoption of the Internet as a communication medium. The initial KISS-TV audience was limited to cable subscribers in the small town of Union City. Today, the KISS-scope is literally worldwide. 

     The educational impact is profound: student awareness of expanded possibilities and early student orientation to and comfort with the technology.

     Expansion of KISS programs will include additional career directions inspired by the internet: podcasting, programming, web-design, social-media marketing, and cyber-security, 

KISS-TV has established real-world commercial relationships with businesses and organizations, for example producing videos that announce grand openings or upcoming events. The downtown location and increased capacity will support increased interaction with the business community.

     The pieces will also be in place for adult education in fields such as marketing and public relations where Vision Corner can support live production.