New state-of-the-art BYU Broadcasting Center dedicated

PROVO — BYU celebrated a major milestone Friday when the new BYU Broadcasting Center was formally dedicated.

The center is a major boost to the broadcast program for students at BYU. But this state-of-the-art facility goes beyond that and KBYU, the university's PBS affiliate.

Six BYU-related stations broadcast from the new building to an audience throughout the United States and across the world, on cable and satellite.

The new broadcasting building has spacious TV studios, control booths and the best in broadcast equipment. University officials say it will allow BYU and its owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to produce uplifting content for a much wider audience.

"The emergence of BYU Broadcasting has been dramatic and positive for the university, but also for the church — an addition that has become an important blessing for millions throughout the world who yearn and search for media content that is decent, praiseworthy and uplifting," BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson said.

The new broadcasting building also brings together under one roof all of the TV and radio stations owned by BYU, which until now have been scattered on the campus.

"These buildings have been built to take advantage of the wonderful and miraculous technology that will enable the university and the church to reach the hearts and the minds of members and friends across the globe," said President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the church's First Presidency.

And the new broadcast facility is equipped to keep up with changing technology.

"Of course, broadcasting as we know it today and what it will become tomorrow would not be possible without the continuing explosion of information technology operating behind it," President Eyring said. "Not only is that technology critical to the operation of the broadcasting facility, but to nearly every facet of this university."

The new broadcasting facility is also a key player in the BYU football program's move to independence. BYU Broadcasting will have the rights to rebroadcast ESPN games on the same day the game is played. BYUtv will also broadcast at least one football game live each season.

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