Cheers and applause greeted the four hosts of "College View," as the TV show opened to its first live audience Monday at Scheumann Stadium.
About 50 students turned out for the taping of the show, enticed by the offer of free pizza and a raffle for a $500 prize, executive producer Ashley Counts said.
"I wanted a crowd," Counts said. "We did [the raffle] to get our name out there."
Cortlan Booker, a Ball State University football captain, drew a ticket and freshman criminal justice major Amanda Wilson won what Counts called the ultimate tailgating package. Wilson won a grill, a portable bar, a cooler and a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart, Counts said.
She said initially she just wanted an interview with football head coach Brady Hoke, but eventually she decided to tape the entire show from the stadium.
"[Hoke] is the most amazing man I've ever met in my life," she said. "He is so positive and into Ball State football."
The interview airs during the episode, she said.
The telecommunications department has been producing "College View" for three years, but past shows have been taped in the studio and focused on national collegiate news, Counts said.
"We wanted a different view based at Ball State," she said. "Really, we wanted to target people in the dorms to let them know all the new things going on."
Counts said she was only expecting around eight people, so she was excited about the turn out.
This week's episode concentrated on Ball State football. Booker was joined on-camera by fellow captain Dan Gerberry. Both were asked about the recent stadium renovations, the team's games so far this season and Saturday's game.
The audience was instructed by "quiet please" and "make some noise" signs, giving the show a live-audience feel. During breaks, Counts told the audience how the taping would take place.
Counts said she plans to keep having live audiences at least every other week. She also plans to record live from locations such as Park Hall, the front of the Atrium and in front of the Letterman Building.
Senior business administration major Joel Sheets said he heard about the show through Facebook. He said he enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to other students.
"I was interested because I didn't even know Ball State had a TV show," he said.
Counts said the show airs regularly 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. It can be viewed on-campus on channel 57 and off-campus on channel 61.
On air8:30 p.m. WednesdayOn-campus channel 57, off-campus chanel 61
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