BYU NewsNet - Bringing BYU Broadcasting under one roof

Video by Allisa Thomas / Daily News at Noon

On a sunny spring afternoon the future of BYU Broadcasting was realized when ground was broken for the new BYU Broadcasting Building on Thursday.

President Cecil O. Samuelson welcomed the crowd saying, “I think this [facility] will have a critical role in taking the message of BYU and the gospel around the world.”

The tone from all the speakers was one of immense gratitude.

“Very many have contributed so very much,” President Samuelson said.

Rex G. Maughan, a member of the Executive Committee of the President’s Leadership Council, referred to the project as a miracle, commenting on the time, planning, patience and hard work it took to get the project to this point.

“One of the things I have prayed for,” said Elder Ballard, “is that I may live long enough to see this building built.” He then went on to address the work that needs to continue and referred to BYU Broadcasting as, “a voice that will be heard around the world, the voice of the Lord.” He also talked about it being a powerful tool against the adversary.

The event took place in the parking lot just north of the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum on the north end of campus. The groundbreaking was by invitation only, comprised of mostly donors, dignitaries and friends of the university, but was open to the media.

The audience was treated to a musical number titled, “Channels in the Air: A Fanfare on High on the Mountain Top,” by a brass ensemble from the BYU School of Music.

After the benediction the participants moved to the spot for the actual groundbreaking. Elder Ballard, President Samuelson, members of the President’s Leadership Council and other dignitaries took up their blue and white shovels and broke ground for the new facility.

The structure was designed by VCBO, a Salt Lake architecture firm. Construction will be completed by Okland Construction of Salt Lake City.

The planning of the building was several years in the works and will be funded completely by donors.

The 100,000 square foot BYU Broadcasting Building will be comprised of three levels. The first level will include TV production studios, audio and video editing space and a master control area. The second floor will house radio studios, web/new media department and space for producers and programming staff. The third floor will mainly be executive offices, human resources, accounting and marketing.

BYU Broadcasting was born in the summer of 1948 when the newly formed BYU radio club began broadcasting to an audience just beyond the edges of the Provo campus. More than 60 years later, over 45 million households in Utah and across the United States receive programming from Brigham Young University through the services of BYU Television, BYU Radio, KBYU Television and Classical 89 KBYU-FM. In addition, countless households internationally access programming via BYU Television International, the internet, cable and satellite.

According to the BYU Broadcasting Web site, the objectives are: training students in broadcast technology, increasing community education, providing uplifting programming, serving an audience of alumni and friends of Brigham Young University, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those with similar interests and values and supporting the ongoing missionary efforts of the LDS Church.