The mission of CTN Studios is to provide viewers with the best in local programming. We do this by being active in the community - covering topics important to residents such as local news, political candidates, sporting and performance events. We then broadcast our programming on cable TV in a timely manner. Unfortunately CTN programming can only be found on cable TV since they help fund the programming whereas Satellite companies do not support community television.

We bring you the essence of what makes our city and surrounding communities such a great place to live!

Our History...

The City of Coon Rapids began producing cable TV programming in May of 1986. The start included training videos and Live election coverage. Government programming quickly grew to include regular Council and Planning meetings, City Council Comments, Coon Rapids Profile and programming featuring city departments.

At the beginning of 1997, Coon Rapids pulled out of an 8-City Cable Commission and became a single Cable TV community television entity. The City Council approved taking over community access from then Meredith Cable, now Comcast. This allowed the city to expand programming to three separate channels, Channel 15, 16 and 19.

Channel 15 focuses on community programming including news, sports, concerts, and feature shows. Channel 16 focuses on government programming including city of Coon Rapids, county and state issues. Channel 19 showcases programming from other access stations as well as other professional programming emphasing education and wellness. Channel 14 was added later as a community information board for non profit events and listings.

In December of 1997, we received a new mobile production truck. This vehicle acts as a mobile production facility that possesses the latest in digital technology and allows us to cablecast sporting events, concerts, parades and other community based events.

After numerous new upgrades and several new hires, we were busting at the seams in our studio within the Coon Rapids City Center. One small studio, one edit suite and five full-time employees made work a bit congested. With this in mind, we began the arduous task of building a new place for ourselves.

CTN Studios moved into our new state-of-the-art facility on the campus of the Coon Rapids City Center in November of 2001. The building is over 8,000 square feet and boasts: two studios with a central control room, master control, a voice-over room, tape storage room, four edit suites, and a generous office area. We now have a two stall garage to protect our mobile production truck from the elements and also network with it in order to use it as an additional edit suite.

In 2007 the station purchased a second larger production truck. The older equipment from the smaller truck was moved into the new larger truck while the studio control room equipment was moved into the smaller truck. This allowed for the most efficient use of resources as now the "control room truck" can roll out to cover events when the studio is not in use! On several occasions both trucks are covering events on the same day!

In 2011 the new larger truck was re-equiped with HD technology for higher quality productions and additional future revenue generation capabilities.

In our short history, we have won more than 30 regional and national awards. CTN is committed to bringing our viewers the best in neighborhood television through continuing to upgrade our equipment and always striving to keep our programming up-to-date, fresh and with our viewers in mind.

Awards...

CTN Studios is proud of the many awards it has received over the years. In 2012 CTN Studios received several different award recognitions, including a National 3^rd place NATOA award for overall station programming; National 2^nd Place NATOA Award (News); National 2^nd Place NATOA Award (Sports); National 1^st Place Hometown Award (News Series); National 1^st Place Hometown Award (Sports Entertainment); National 1^st Place Hometown Award (Live Sports Coverage); and a Midwest Regional Emmy Nomination (Sports coverage).

In 2011 CTN Studios was already honored with 3 first place National Hometown Awards for community tv programs. Winning categories and programs included: (1) Live Format- professional, "Live Girls Hockey: Coon Rapids vs Irondale"; (2) News- professional, "CTN News"; and (3) Sports Coverage - professional, "Live Prep Football: Andover at Coon Rapids". There were almost 1,100 total entries from around the country this year.

In 2010 CTN Studios had more recognition than ever before. The station recieved its first two Regional Emmy awards, 1 National Hometown Award and 3 national NATOA Awards including best government station in the country!

“The Cardinal Way, Learning to Fly” won the Emmy in the Community Access Edited Program/Sports category. This CTN Studios original program follows the local Coon Rapids Cardinal Football team on a few days of training camp. CTN Studios staff was offered uncensored access to the coaches and players and a real sense of what the experience is like. “Radiant Remodel” won the Emmy in the Community Access Edited Program/Government or Military category. This CTN Studios original program “brings to life” a new government endeavor started by the City of Coon Rapids. Like many cities around the nation, the City of Coon Rapids has had several home foreclosures. To help combat the problem and attract new buyers into the market, the city decided to re-invest in neighborhoods by purchasing a few foreclosed homes, remodel them, and showcase the changes to the larger community.

In the NATOA Awards The Coon Rapids cable station was recognized with the top award for overall excellence in government programming for a mid-sized station. “CTN News” and “Radiant Remodel” programs were also honored with first place awards. CTN Studios also received recognition for two other programs, “Live Cardinal Football Coverage” took 3^rd place in the Live sports category and “Talk of the Town” received an honorable mention in magazine format series.

The overall excellence honor awarded to CTN Studios was in recognition of the original programming created by the station. The composite entry submitted included everything from government meetings and programming to sports, news, features, events and documentaries.

The 2010 National Hometown Award was in the Live format category for the CTN Studios production of "St. Paul Saints Pro Baseball vs El Paso".

In 2009 the station was recognized nationally with a first place award at the Hometown Video Festival. Football: Coon Rapids at Osseo, won for best sports coverage in the professional division. The station was also notified that our coverage of the Coon Rapids at Osseo football game has been nominated for a regional Emmy award from the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. A nomination means that the body of work being considered was judged high enough to meet the Emmy award criteria!

In 2008 the station won 2 first place awards at the Hometown Video Festival. The program winners were LIVE Football: Centennial at Coon Rapids, for best in live coverage and Sportsnight for best sports entertainment program.

In 2007 the station won 4 first place awards at the Hometown Video Festival held right here in Minneapolis MN. Girls Hockey: Coon Rapids vs Cloquet was the top winner in the professional Live Format category. Talk of the Town was also a first place winner in the professional magazine category. Baseball Tribute took top honors in the professional music video category and Old School Promo received the first place award in the program promo category.

In 2006 we received 3 awards in the professional categories at the Hometown Video Festival in Boston Massachusetts. Sportsnight was the top winner in the professional sports entertainment category. Our coverage of the Blaine vs Coon Rapids playoff football game was also a first place winner in the professional sports coverage category. CTN's coverage of the Summer Concert at the Dam featuring Monroe Crossing received an honorable mention in the professional coverage of Performing Arts. There were almost 2,500 entries!

In 2005 we received a record 4 first place awards in the professional categories at the Hometown Video Festival in Monterey California. CTN News was the winner in the professional news category. Sportsnight was the winner in the professional sports entertainment category. Our coverage of the Blaine vs Coon Rapids playoff football game was also a first place winner in the professional sports coverage category. CTN's coverage of the Summer Concert at the Dam featuring One World received first place in the professional coverage of Performing Arts.

In 2003 we received several recognitions at the Hometown Video Festival in Washington, DC. Talk of the Town was the winner in the Talk Show Entertainment category and a mobile truck sports shoot of the Coon Rapids vs. Elk River football game won in sports event coverage category. Sportsnight received an Honorable Mention for Sports Entertainment Program.

Previously we received awards from the Hometown Video Festival in July 2001. CR News was the winner in the professional news category while Sportsnight, Conversations and a mobile truck production of the Stage Door Dancers: Fosse 2000 all took home honorable mentions from the ceremony.

The Alliance For Community Media sponsors the yearly event. The Hometown Video Festival is the oldest and largest festival celebrating the accomplishments of local video producers.

Funding...

The City of Coon Rapids does NOT use general tax dollars to fund the activities of CTN Studios but instead, generates departmental funding through cable user fees. These fees are found listed on your cable bill as a 5% franchise fee and a P.E.G. fee (Public, Education and Government). These fees, combined with the revenue generated from our sponsorship program, and production service projects provide the funding necessary to operate CTN Studios.