BYU Broadcasting: State-of-the-art building will produce content to ‘bless families’ lives’

PROVO — The new slogan for BYU Broadcasting, "See the Good in the World," takes on new meaning from Derek Marquis' third-story office.

His floor-to-ceiling windows in the new Broadcast Building offer a panoramic view of the Marriott Center, LaVell Edwards Stadium and hundreds of homes where he knows families are watching BYU-produced and -distributed content.

"We really do believe that this facility can be a light on the hill," said Marquis, managing director of BYUtv and BYU Radio, as well as KBYU-TV and KBYU-FM. "We'll be transmitting the light to the four corners of the earth, and the technology allows us to do that."

The light he talks about may be a BYU football game or a devotional address. Or perhaps a documentary, cooking show or panel discussion. Yet no matter the theme or format, the streams of information flowing from the new building just east of the Marriott Center will be positive, uplifting and fun.

"We want content coming into homes that blesses families' lives," Marquis said.

Historically, BYUtv programming has been directed toward alumni and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the building and a new focus allow for greater worldwide reach, said Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Seventy, chairman of the content committee for BYUtv.

"The new building is wonderful, the technology going into the building is fabulous, and the important thing now is the focus on what we do inside the building and the content that's going to be broadcast," he said.

The goal is to create a "safe haven" channel where families of all faiths and backgrounds can feel comfortable watching programs together, said Elder Maynes, a general authority of the LDS Church. And for the first time, BYUtv has contracted with Nielsen ratings to monitor viewership and provide insight as BYU develops new programming.

The building, which will open officially in early December, represents a major milestone, having first been discussed in the mid-1980s when KBYU was feeling crowded in the Harris Fine Arts Center. While the new building was being planned, BYU Broadcasting was temporarily moved to a building in south Provo.

During those early discussions, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve was a significant force in establishing a vision for the building.