by Mandi Kane
Daily Lobo
Dedicated to every aspect of college life, mtvU has recently found a home at UNM.
Formerly the College Television Network, the channel's design reflects the fast pace of students' lifestyles, according to its Web site. It broadcasts seven days a week, 24 hours a day to more than 720 colleges nationwide.
"MTV bought (CTN) a year ago, and we had to rethink everything," said Steven Friedman, general manager of mtvU. "We couldn't just be television anymore."
Friedman said the network threw traditional ideas out the door and designed the channel exclusively for the college student.
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"It is something we want you to watch and tell your friends about," Friedman said. "We want you to feel welcome on your campus."
According to an mtvU news release, one of the channel's first initiatives, "The Cut," empowers students to place a stamp of approval on videos of up-and-coming artists with recommendations to students for free access to download featured tracks on the network's Web site.
The channel also gives students basic advice on clothing, first-year college expectations and tips to score the perfect internship.
"This is a laboratory," Friedman said. "Not for music, but for the students. We want to be able to reach you at a cool point in your life."
In addition to new programming, Friedman said mtvU is also sponsoring several contests, music tours and activities on college campuses across the country.
The "Stand In" contest will surprise students by bringing cultural icons including Marilyn Manson, Jesse Jackson and Frank McCourt into their classrooms to be teachers for a day, he said.
MtvU will also be giving local talent national exposure while looking for the next generation of musicians and entrepreneurs, Friedman said.
The channel will aid in this year's presidential election with MTV's "Choose or Lose," which encourages college students to register to vote. Friedman said the network hopes to bring polling stations to campuses.
He said another goal of mtvU is to recognize the service that college students are doing.
"Close to 94 percent of all activism happens on the local level," Friedman said. "We are giving out a grant every week of the school year to honor those activists."
MtvU can be viewed in UNM dormitories and in the SUB. During "college primetime," at peak hours of the day, students can watch what Friedman called "vintage MTV" with shows such as "Daria," "Celebrity Death Match" and "Beavis and Butthead."
What sets the network apart from others is the idea of showcasing the audience, Friedman said.
"This is all about you," he said. "Who you are, who you date, where you go, what you do, and we want to highlight that."
