As we reflect on this past year, we want to speak directly to you: the PEG stations, city teams, and community media communicators who make local transparency possible every single day. At Switchboard Live, our mission has always been to simplify live streaming so you can focus on what matters most: keeping your communities informed, connected, and confident. This year, we’ve introduced several important updates to help you do just that:
by Yervant Keshishian Sales Engineer, Authorized Trainer & Technical Director, Varto Technologies, Inc
Varto Technologies is proud to welcome the Jersey Access Group (JAG) to our East Rutherford facility on September 24. This year, we are highlighting solutions that address two of the most common challenges PEG broadcasters face: delivering consistently clear audio and keeping production crews connected in real time.
by Yervant Keshishian Sales Engineer, Authorized Trainer & Technical Director, Varto Technologies, Inc
https://jagonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/yervant.png
This month, Varto Technologies is excited to host the Jersey Access Group (JAG) meeting at our office in East Rutherford, NJ. As a company committed to supporting local access stations, we’re eager to share practical demonstrations and innovative ideas to help you enhance programming, engage your community, and streamline workflows.
By Paul A. Distefano, NE Regional Sales Manager, DeSisti Lighting
Paul A. Distefano
I joined DeSisti in 2019, and before I made my first sales call for them, there had been an ongoing debate. DeSisti has always been a premium product, preferred by broadcasters, and is used in broadcast studios from small markets to networks. With our patented optics, we generally outperform our competitors with superior white CCTs (Correlated Color Temperature), very high CRIs (Color Rendering Index), and higher output at lower wattages, across our entire product line. Of course, that high standard of quality comes with a commensurate price. Thus, the debate.
by Andrew Collinsworth, Account Executive, Granicus
Have you heard of Granicus? They’ve been serving government since being founded in 1999. Granicus helps organizations run more efficiently, effectively, and transparently. Their video streaming solutions make meetings accessible to the public, wherever they are and on their own devices.
Creating a successful broadcast schedule involves both art and science. Understanding your audience is the foundation for a winning program strategy. Knowing demographics and daily routines (kids aren’t available during school hours, working folks may only view evening broadcasts, seniors and retirees might watch during the day) allows you to tailor your content with more dayparting and encourage “habitual” viewing. Focusing on the Ls: local and live drive viewership. Leveraging technology tools to increase programming, promotion, reach, and accessibility can help grow your audience and keep viewers coming back for more.
In the dynamic sphere of local government, transparency and accessibility are paramount. Ensuring the public has real-time access to government meetings is a critical function of communication teams and video specialists. The challenges of network streaming video are magnified in this setting, where reliability and security are non-negotiable. This is where Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) streaming becomes an invaluable tool.
by Bill Bennett, Media Solutions & Accounts Manager
Your municipality’s broadcasts are key to informing your residents about what matters in their community, and ENCO has products that make your content more accessible to a broader audience with economical, automated Closed Captions and in-room CART displays. We can also help make your productions and playout more reliable via our acquisition of RUSHWORKS, a world-class computer-based video production and playout maker. All this is available via a single, consolidated package with unified US-based support.
In the heart of Newark, New Jersey, an exciting development in the world of PEG (Public, Educational, and Government) broadcasting is about to unfold. Cologna Productions, a local media company known for its innovative approach to broadcasting, is set to take center stage at the next Jersey Access Group (JAG) meeting. The focal point of their presentation? A groundbreaking platform they’ve been developing for the past two years, aptly named NJGOVTV.
By Joel Feinberg, Chief Executive Officer, de Wolfe Music USA Inc.
De Wolfe Music was founded in 1909 by Meyer de Wolfe. Now at 113 years old, we are a full-service music company offering a production music library, custom composition, sound effects, and commercial music clearance services. Although the company is still independent and family-run, de Wolfe has achieved worldwide recognition and our music can be heard in countless films, TV shows, advertisements, and more.
Posted: December 9, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Smarter Workflows for Community Stations: Switchboard Live’s Year of Updates
By Rudy Ellis, President, Switchboard
Dear JAG members,
As we reflect on this past year, we want to speak directly to you: the PEG stations, city teams, and community media communicators who make local transparency possible every single day. At Switchboard Live, our mission has always been to simplify live streaming so you can focus on what matters most: keeping your communities informed, connected, and confident. This year, we’ve introduced several important updates to help you do just that:
Posted: September 16, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Smarter Broadcast Workflows – Audio & Comms Tools for PEG Stations Demo at September 24 meeting
by Yervant Keshishian Sales Engineer, Authorized Trainer & Technical Director, Varto Technologies, Inc
Varto Technologies is proud to welcome the Jersey Access Group (JAG) to our East Rutherford facility on September 24. This year, we are highlighting solutions that address two of the most common challenges PEG broadcasters face: delivering consistently clear audio and keeping production crews connected in real time.
Posted: September 23, 2024 by Doug Seidel
Elevating Your Local Broadcasts: Strategies and Tools from Varto Technologies
by Yervant Keshishian Sales Engineer, Authorized Trainer & Technical Director, Varto Technologies, Inc
https://jagonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/yervant.png
This month, Varto Technologies is excited to host the Jersey Access Group (JAG) meeting at our office in East Rutherford, NJ. As a company committed to supporting local access stations, we’re eager to share practical demonstrations and innovative ideas to help you enhance programming, engage your community, and streamline workflows.
Posted: April 18, 2024 by Doug Seidel
The Debate is Over, and the Result is……… What PEG Stations Have Been Waiting For
By Paul A. Distefano, NE Regional Sales Manager, DeSisti Lighting
I joined DeSisti in 2019, and before I made my first sales call for them, there had been an ongoing debate. DeSisti has always been a premium product, preferred by broadcasters, and is used in broadcast studios from small markets to networks. With our patented optics, we generally outperform our competitors with superior white CCTs (Correlated Color Temperature), very high CRIs (Color Rendering Index), and higher output at lower wattages, across our entire product line. Of course, that high standard of quality comes with a commensurate price. Thus, the debate.
Posted: March 19, 2024 by Doug Seidel
JAG’s new video partner: Granicus
by Andrew Collinsworth, Account Executive, Granicus
Have you heard of Granicus? They’ve been serving government since being founded in 1999. Granicus helps organizations run more efficiently, effectively, and transparently. Their video streaming solutions make meetings accessible to the public, wherever they are and on their own devices.
Posted: February 14, 2024 by Doug Seidel
Programming Best Practices “Crafting Compelling and Engaging Local TV”
by Jesse Lerman, President/CEO, TelVue
Creating a successful broadcast schedule involves both art and science. Understanding your audience is the foundation for a winning program strategy. Knowing demographics and daily routines (kids aren’t available during school hours, working folks may only view evening broadcasts, seniors and retirees might watch during the day) allows you to tailor your content with more dayparting and encourage “habitual” viewing. Focusing on the Ls: local and live drive viewership. Leveraging technology tools to increase programming, promotion, reach, and accessibility can help grow your audience and keep viewers coming back for more.
Posted: January 22, 2024 by Doug Seidel
Enhancing Public Access to Government Meetings with SRT Streaming
by Dana Healy, Vice President, Sales, Cablecast
In the dynamic sphere of local government, transparency and accessibility are paramount. Ensuring the public has real-time access to government meetings is a critical function of communication teams and video specialists. The challenges of network streaming video are magnified in this setting, where reliability and security are non-negotiable. This is where Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) streaming becomes an invaluable tool.
Posted: December 1, 2023 by Doug Seidel
ENCO Systems- Continuous Access Realtime Translation
by Bill Bennett, Media Solutions & Accounts Manager
Your municipality’s broadcasts are key to informing your residents about what matters in their community, and ENCO has products that make your content more accessible to a broader audience with economical, automated Closed Captions and in-room CART displays. We can also help make your productions and playout more reliable via our acquisition of RUSHWORKS, a world-class computer-based video production and playout maker. All this is available via a single, consolidated package with unified US-based support.
Posted: October 18, 2023 by Doug Seidel
NJGOVTV: Revolutionizing PEG Broadcasting with a Difference
by Ed Cologna, Cologna Productions, Pres.
In the heart of Newark, New Jersey, an exciting development in the world of PEG (Public, Educational, and Government) broadcasting is about to unfold. Cologna Productions, a local media company known for its innovative approach to broadcasting, is set to take center stage at the next Jersey Access Group (JAG) meeting. The focal point of their presentation? A groundbreaking platform they’ve been developing for the past two years, aptly named NJGOVTV.
Posted: November 7, 2022 by bduthaler
Enhancing Your Programming with Music
By Joel Feinberg, Chief Executive Officer, de Wolfe Music USA Inc.
De Wolfe Music was founded in 1909 by Meyer de Wolfe. Now at 113 years old, we are a full-service music company offering a production music library, custom composition, sound effects, and commercial music clearance services. Although the company is still independent and family-run, de Wolfe has achieved worldwide recognition and our music can be heard in countless films, TV shows, advertisements, and more.