On air with Met-TV: The budding student-led television network at TMU

Students have a new platform to showcase their creativity and develop their skills in the television industry: Met-TV. Founded in early 2022, the student-run television network will serve as a one-stop shop, where they air and produce content for students, by students across a variety of genres. The network will also allow students to participate in all aspects of television production and showcase their talents to a broader audience.

Establishing a university-wide television network has been a long-standing idea at TMU, which has witnessed the success of several networks, most recently RUTV. After a period of dormancy spanning eight years, a group of students led by RTA Media Production alum Jacob DeSouza have rekindled the initiative. 

DeSouza founded, conceptualized and formed the current infrastrucrure of Met-TV in 2021, including hiring team members, rejuvenating the social media accounts, and accumulating funding from the Society of the Creative School and the Student Initiatives Fund.

Under the leadership of this year's president of Met-TV, Sabrina Pontello, the all-female executive team was determined to leverage the knowledge and expertise they have acquired throughout their degree program towards a worthwhile cause. With that in mind, they embarked on developing a university-wide television network to provide a platform for entertainment that also enables students to gain relevant industry experience. Pontello's motivation to undertake the role of president was fueled by the network's potential to impact the lives of students positively, transcending diverse faculties and programs.

"The executive team made up of myself, and seven other students were exploring ways in which we could gain more relevant industry experience," expressed Pontello. “We wanted to create a platform where students could develop their skills, express their creativity and gain practical experience in the television industry."

As Pontello remarked, building the network took a lot of work. "There were some barriers to starting a TV network from scratch, but we had guidance from faculty members that was helpful," said Pontello. "We had to buy and build the website and the streaming platform, and oversee the overall vision and direction of the network and essentially had to make all of the pieces fit."

Building industry experience: how Met-TV empowers students to learn and grow

In addition to being a hub for student-produced content, Met-TV is also a practical way for students to earn Creative Practice Hours and gain hands-on industry experience. As the network is entirely student-run, the team is also allowed access to funding that they may not qualify for if the project were to fall under the RTA School of Media with faculty support.

"Met-TV has been a wonderful student-driven project that has given students the opportunity to create content and share with the community," remarked Media Production Director Karen Sebesta. "The leadership team has been passionate and well organized and have operated this project completely as volunteers. A platform like this gives RTA students a way to earn Creative Practice Hours and get more experience in all areas of production and leadership."

Capturing student's creative vision

The network offers various shows catering to a diverse range of interests and has had over 100 students work on television content in a production capacity. Met-TV opens pitch submissions twice a year for students to pitch new ideas for scripted, unscripted, or live event productions. Students can also submit their own content year-round to be featured on the network's website.

"As VP of Production of Met-TV,  I love to see any genre of show that students are ambitious or passionate enough to produce,' remarked VP of Production Ainsley Cherry. "I would say comedy is my favourite student-produced genre on Met-TV. We currently have on 12 student-produced and Met-TV original shows streaming (external link, opens in new window) , as well as eight more in production, bringing our total shows to 20! We also have additional student projects submitted as syndicated content, and short films produced during the Met-TV 48-Hour Film Festival!"

Most recently, Met-TV has partnered with the School of Journalism to release Met-TV News & Entertainment, providing students with a unique opportunity to be a part of a live-to-tape multi-camera production. The teams also hope to have the network running at hubs across the campus to share the network university-wide.

The team hopes to get as many people as possible involved in the network and to build a reputation and legacy that lasts long after the current team has graduated. 

"It would be wonderful if Met-TV could become a staple of creativity and growth on campus," remarks VP of Operations Ailey Yamamoto. "I hope we can continue offering all of these diverse opportunities for years and years to come, so that current and potential students can see Met-TV as the perfect place to learn and create something they're proud of. 

I think we've got a lot of work ahead to solidify it, but it's going to become something that really exemplifies the creativity and drive of the community."

"We'd love to get as many people as possible involved in this network and to build a reputation and legacy that lasts long after we've graduated," commented Pontello. "It would be amazing to go online in five years and say 'hey, we were a part of that'."

Interested in learning more about the student-run television network? See what shows are currently available by visiting the official Met-TV website (external link, opens in new window) .

 The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.