On the Air!
Channel 6 Community Television (CTV) has served area residents with truly local programming since 1994—sharing the meetings, events, celebrations, sports, and stories that keep St. Clair, Marine City, and the surrounding communities connected. Our mission has stayed the same from day one: local programming, created for—and shaped by—the people who live here.
The Beginning (1994)
In 1994, Paul Dingeman, then cable commissioner for the City of St. Clair, ensured that Harron Communications (now Comcast) followed through on its franchise agreement commitment to support a local origination station. Dingeman and a dedicated core group of volunteers received the station’s first equipment later that year. It was limited—one camera, one microphone, and an S-VHS playback deck—but it was a start, and it was enough to begin building something special.
The City of St. Clair provided an office (first floor) and two spare offices (second floor) in the Community Center on Fourth Street for use as offices and studios. The Office/Control Room housed Panasonic MX-50 switching equipment, the community bulletin board system, and playback equipment used to deliver programs to Harron Cable (later Comcast).
Early sets and backdrops were built the community way—resourcefully. Backdrop frames were made from 2” x 2” wood and covered with donated automobile seat-cover fabric. For the first few years, CTV had just a few backdrop colors: dark blue, gray, and light brown. Lighting was equally creative: household flood lights (the kind used for outdoor Christmas displays), spotlights, and power strips formed the first “high-tech” lighting grid. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked—because the volunteers made it work.
The Main Studio was a small, unusual space—just 13’ x 17’—located on the second floor in a separate building from the control room, making communication and setup a fun challenge. A second room upstairs served as a “Sports Set.” Cameras were on wheels, so crews physically moved cameras, lights, and microphones between rooms to produce community television that—at the time—was cutting-edge for a local station.
The community bulletin board was on the air for about two months before the first program was produced. In October 1994, Paul and his volunteers recorded their first program on the construction of the Imagination Station playground in St. Clair. That first production remains a meaningful part of local history—and is preserved in our archives today.
A Tale of Two Cities
About two years after programming began airing in St. Clair, Marine City began originating local programming as well. As conversations grew about broader community coverage, the idea emerged to strengthen programming that reflected the shared communities—especially the East China School District, which serves both St. Clair and Marine City.
A proposal was eventually made to the City Councils of Marine City and St. Clair to combine programming efforts and franchise-related operating support in order to operate the two channels more effectively. Today, both the St. Clair and Marine City Channel 6 stations originate from the St. Clair studio.
The East China School District—which does not receive franchise income from cable providers—agreed to participate financially alongside the cities, helping establish a shared operating budget for Channel 6. Since the earliest agreements, East China Township and St. Clair Township have also become financial partners, joining the collaborative support that makes local programming possible.
Online Community
In 2000, CTV took an early step into digital community media with the launch of a website. Bruce Holladay created the first cable6.org site in 2000 and maintained it through 2004. In 2004, Tom Kephart redesigned the site and maintained it through November 2005.
In later years, Bruce returned to the project to create a more user-friendly layout and to expand the growing video-on-demand experience. CTV’s commitment to online viewing has continued to evolve—because local programming matters even more when people can watch it on their schedule and share it with others.
Merger Means More Variety (2004)
In 2004, St. Clair and Marine City community television merged operations. When the East China School District built the new St. Clair Middle School on Yankee Road, space became available at the East China Education Center (301 N. Sixth Street) in St. Clair. CTV moved into the former wood shop area—a space that provided room for studio production, engineering, and offices, and supported the station’s continued growth.
The move and build-out were a true community effort. The Main Studio expanded to 35’ x 35’, supporting one permanent set and several temporary sets over time—such as the Focus set, a health program set, Sports Zone, an interview set, and green screen capabilities. A permanent lighting grid was built by Bill and Joe Karas of Karas Plumbing using pipe purchased by Channel 6 and plenty of hands-on work. Local support continued with painting, furnishings, and improvements through community partnerships and creative solutions that helped CTV grow without losing its grassroots spirit.
The space grew into a functioning production hub: a studio control room, editing capability, an engineering bay, a duplication/work area, and office/green room space. CTV’s evolution has never been about flash—it’s always been about making local programming possible through collaboration and commitment.
Live Video Online
As viewing habits changed, CTV expanded beyond traditional cable schedules. CTV has continued investing in online access—building out video-on-demand and improving the ways residents can watch, rewatch, share, and preserve local programming. Local content becomes even more valuable when it’s accessible anytime—especially for families, alumni, and community members who may not be able to watch a live cable broadcast.
CTV Today
From those early days of one camera and a single playback deck, CTV has become a true community media hub. Today, Channel 6 helps residents stay connected to what matters most—community events, local government, school activities, and stories that don’t always appear on regional stations.
The goal remains what it has always been: local programming made by and for the people who live here.
What We Cover
CTV programming evolves with the needs of the community, but often includes:
- Local government meetings and civic updates
- Community events—parades, festivals, and celebrations
- East China School District coverage and student-related content
- Local sports and community highlights
- Interviews and community features
- Public service programming and community announcements
Watch Options
CTV continues to expand access so viewers can watch when and where it’s convenient. In addition to cable programming, CTV has invested in online viewing options so residents can catch programs after they air, share them with others, and revisit local history through archived video content.
A Community-Powered Station
CTV exists because of partnerships and community support—cities, townships, the school district, local organizations, sponsors, and volunteers who care about local storytelling. Whether you’re a viewer, sponsor, volunteer, or community partner, your support helps keep community media strong and accessible for everyone.
Looking Ahead
Community television is more important than ever. CTV remains committed to:
- Improving online and on-demand viewing experiences
- Preserving local history through archived programming
- Highlighting local voices, students, organizations, and small businesses
- Continuing to upgrade production tools, workflows, and training opportunities
We’ve Only Just Begun
This station’s history matters—and it’s still being written. This page is part of an ongoing update, and newer milestones and details will continue to be added. We’re proud of where CTV started, grateful for everyone who helped build it, and excited about what comes next.
