TV2’s news and entertainment staffs will come together Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, to produce a 25-hour live broadcast to benefit Akron Children’s Hospital.
TV2, Kent State Student Media’s student-run television station, is hosting this fundraiser through Extra Life’s web platform. Extra Life is an organization that creates gaming marathons to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. ExtraLife has more than 100,00 members and serves nearly 10 million families across the nation.
“It is so important to give back to the community,” said TV2 general manager Anna Huntsman, ’19. “TV2 is truly a representation of Portage County, and this is the perfect chance to give back.”
The broadcast will be streamed from 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, through 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, on Facebook Live, on Spectrum Cable channel 1025 and on campus on station 2-2. TV2 will use its different news and entertainment segments to show a variety of games mixed with news coverage. News cut ins will be at 12 p.m., 6 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Extra Life games may range from video games, to mobile game, board games, to a flag football game.
Planning a 25-hour gaming broadcast is not easy. Between games, TV2 plans to feature news stories. A cohort of six reporters was selected to create broadcast packages for the show. Each package will highlight someone impacted by Akron Children’s Hospital. The gaming aspect will be presented by actors and anchors from the various shows competing against one another.
Huntsman explained that TV2’s entertainment and news staffs do not interact regularly. TV2 has 18 different shows, ranging from purely entertainment to hard news. Shows cover topics such as sports, pop culture, video gaming, Portage County news and comedy. The 25-hour broadcast is one of only a few collaboration projects.
“This event can be our new election show,” said Huntsman, referencing last year’s seven-hour election coverage, which included all aspects of student media.
Every show on TV2 will have its own one-hour segment to entertain viewers. Some of the segments will be a combination of shows, like the satirical Blurb and hard-news Portage Pulse.
Each team also will create a donations goal. TV2’s goal is to raise $1,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital. At specific amounts, the casts will participate in various challenges, including the YouTube-famous “gallon challenge.” If the group exceeds its overall goal, Kevin Dilley, director of student media, will shave his head.
“Every TV station you watch does something for charity,” Huntsman said. “it is definitely time for TV2 to do the same.”
To contribute, visit TV2's Extra Life donation page.