12/31/19
12/31/19
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,20 DECEMBER 27-JANUARY 2, 2020 BTR
12/31/19
12/31/19
Michael Max Knobbe, executive director of BronxNet with staff and kids at the Holiday Open
House on December 4. Photo Courtesy Michael Palma
BronxNet celebrates new south
Bronx studio at the HUB
BY JASON COHEN
BronxNet opened its third location
this summer and a few weeks ago, held
its fi rst open house event for the community
there.
On Wednesday, December 4, Bronx
residents, organization leaders, educators,
elected offi cials and BronxNet
producers and staff gathered to celebrate
its newest studio and media center
at the Hub in the south Bronx.
“People love the space,” said Michael
Max Knobbe, executive director
of BronxNet. “We’re just ramping up
services. “We’re connecting with the
people and the community of the south
Bronx.”
The new BronxNet at the Hub space
on the second fl oor at 2825 Third Avenue
has a fully equipped studio, equipment
that Bronx residents can borrow
to shoot on location and post-production/
editing stations for producers to
fi nalize their productions for broadcast
.
Residents who completed training
workshops at its Lehman College
or Mercy College facilities have full
access to the studio and equipment.
Production classes are also available
at the new location, to provide others
with the skills they need to produce
their own content for broadcast on
BronxNet channels.
In the summer and fall, it held internships
for students from The Community
Board Athletic Leadership
League, (CBALL), where the kids were
taught editing and production for
eight weeks. Next month, there will be
workshops on in studio and fi eld production.
Knobbe explained the facility was
vacant for a long time and after doing
a community assessment, they signed
a two-year lease for the space.
They have built a pop up studio,
which has been used at Fordham Plaza
and at the Bronx Night Market. The
students also painted a mural on the
side of the building, which says, “We
are the south Bronx.”
“It’s really introducing them to
many aspects of media and how to interact
as a team,” he said.
BronxNet will produce some special
episodes of its ‘On Bronx’ signature
shows such as OPEN, Perspectives
and Bronx Buzz, from the new
Hub location. Programs will bring attention
to issues around health, education,
and community development and
showcase arts and events happening
in the neighborhood.
According to Knobbe, he and his
staff are looking forward to the development
of a permanent 14,000 square
foot studio, La Central at Westchester
and Brook in 2021.
Currently, the south Bronx studio
is only 4,500 square feet, so the new
one will allow them to offer more programming
and training.
“The space is unique,” Knobbe
commented. “This is a vibrant area,
the south Bronx. BronxNet is here to
serve and offer access to the community.”
Michael Max Knobbe, executive director of BronxNet speaks at the Holiday Open House on
December 4. Photo Courtesy Michael Palma