MTV goes to College

mtvU (formerly College Television Network or CTN) is a TV channel of MTV networks which is sent to many college and university campuses across the U.S. Typically, TV monitors are set up in the student center or students' union building, especially in the cafeteria or game room. CTN originally began as a venture that installed video jukeboxes at these locations (Wikipedia).

The channel features music videos that are not shown on regular MTV as well as news updates from MTV News and CBS news. The news features are produced exclusively for the college market, with information on how to get jobs and interships, travel abroad info, and any other news that is directed at college students. mtvU can currently be found on over 730 college campuses, reaching over 6.5 million students in dining halls, student lounges, fitness centers, and dorm rooms.

What makes mtvU unique is the fact that it is not only a television station, it gives students access to concert tours and on campus events. mtvU brings celebrities to fill in as professors and hooks students up with opportunities to see and even interview their favorite bands. Every semester, mtvU looks for the best talent on college campuses, in any area, whether it be music, film, animation, anything. mtvU also has grants that they give away to deserving college organizations that are making a difference in their communities.

The mtvU website is extremely interactive, featuring live videos on their homepage with other featured bands and music. There are also several places for students to submit their work, including an opportunity for students to win an mtvU Student Filmmaker Award, similar to an MTV movie award. Another significant feature on the website is the section for activism. There are documentaries and other information about current world issues, such as the Genocide in Sudan to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. The purpose of this section is to educate students, but to also show them how they can get involved.

mtvU is a great way to market to college students. Colleges that use the service have it all over the campus. It is used on campus televisions, but also becomes interactive when mtvU brings concerts and other special events to the campus. mtvU has internship opportunites and also hires campus representatives, in order to create a buzz. Campus reps have direct involvement in in marketing the mtvU network and brand experience to their campus. As mtv probably knows, students can often be the best marketing. By hiring students to represent mtvU, they can spread the word on the television network as well as events and opportunities that mtvU has to offer.