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Student Produced National Television
For Immediate Release
For Additional Information: Amy Kendall, 801-885-5597

PROVO, UTAH In September, BYU Broadcasting launched a weekly sports show. Unlike other sports desks, True Blue focuses solely on BYU sports. However, the content is not the only difference. The show is also almost entirely student run and produced.

Brandon Despain worked as an assistant producer on sports for BYU Broadcasting for almost two years. This summer, when the sports producer was approached by management and asked to create a weekly show, Despain was recommended to head up the project. Preproduction work began in July and when Despain graduated in August, he was contracted to stay on full-time with BYU Broadcasting to produce True Blue.

Producing enough content for a 30 minute show every week is a big responsibility. To help Despain, BYU Broadcasting also contracted recent broadcasting graduate Toni Cook to stay on. Cook graduated this past April and has worked with BYU Broadcasting for three years. She is now the assistant producer for the show and the head sideline reporter.

True Blue also employs two additional reporters, two editors [Editor's Note: Ahem! My daughter, Jessica, is one of them!] and a public relations director, all of whom are still students at BYU. Despain said the decision to use a crew made up entirely of students was inherent from the beginning.

“If you look at our show, it's supposed to be young, fresh, new so we wanted the young, fresh, new crowd to do it,” Despain said.

Despain also said he does not feel the student crew compromises the quality of the show. He said all of the students work well in the professional atmosphere and produce work at a professional level.

Jarom Jordan reports on a story every other week for True Blue. He said the show is something BYU sports fans have wanted for many years and it is successful because it doesn't simply replicate ESPN's Sports Center. He also appreciates the show for the opportunity it gives him.

“This is the best job that I could have here at BYU as a student, in my opinion,” Jordan said. “How many other student reporters are on a national sports show from a university?”

True Blue offers a one-stop, news solution for all Cougar fans. During the various seasons, the show covers all official BYU sports, including volleyball, gymnastics and others often forgotten by other sports networks. In addition, True Blue also offers fans coverage on club sports, such as lacrosse and rugby. Finally, in order to truly connect viewers with the BYU campus lifestyle, the show covers campus recreational activities. These activities may be initiated or sponsored by various clubs around campus.

True Blue airs on Wednesday nights at 6 and 9 and Thursdays at 5:30pm on BYU-TV.

Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.