SUNDERLAND — The local television station has moved across the river — from a small building on Elm Street in South Deerfield’s village center to the second floor of the town’s offices.
“There’s tons of space, and it’s not claustrophobic,” said Chris Collins, general manager of Frontier Community Access Television, standing in afternoon sunlight Tuesday pouring through large windows in one of four rooms that make up about 1,500 square feet of usable space — 600 square feet more than FCAT’s former South Deerfield office.
“They’ve given us a great deal. It’s as good for them as it is for us. This space was just sitting here,” Collins said, noting the building has an elevator making it handicapped accessible.
FCAT’s station covers Sunderland, Deerfield, Conway and Whately.
In years’ past, the four rooms — in the back section of the building, near an elevator — have had a few different uses including as classrooms, and a ballet studio.
The move comes after “the better part of a year and a half looking for something affordable in Deerfield,” he said. Looking ahead, Collins said the local station plans to repaint the walls, install air conditioners, and put in new carpeting.
Then, “with capital from the latest Comcast contract,” Collins wants to buy new cameras and possibly green screens — moving the old cameras to Frontier Regional School for student use.
With the upgraded equipment and larger space, Collins continued, residents of the four south county towns can expect more programs and opportunities. “We’ve never had a regular series of classes for older people who want to make TV,” Collins said.