Biddeford now has yet another hidden gem to add to its crown, a state-of-the-art public asset that will serve residents well for years to come. The new Biddeford Public Access television station opened its doors earlier this month, providing a brand new space in which any resident can host a show, learn the behind the scenes of television production, or just be part of the audience.

It’s a unique asset for the city, one that isn’t found in many others, and it gives residents a chance to really make the most of their public cable channels. The new station is a vast improvement over the cramped quarters at the J. Richard Martin Community Center, from which the last of the equipment is expected to be moved by the end of the month.

While there were only three rooms for the station at the community center ”“ two studio spaces, and one tiny control room that doubled as an office and storage area ”“ now there are multiple rooms for various uses and plenty of space to go around.

The main studio can hold an audience of 40 people and is wired for live broadcasts. A smaller studio for interview-style shows is also available, along with offices, an editing room, a multi-purpose room, dressing room and storage.

Cable TV is a staple in many homes, and part of the deal with the cable companies is that a channel or two will be set aside for public use. Some communities have little more than a calendar or city government and school committee meetings on the air, which, while an important service, do not make full use of the stations.

Biddeford, in contrast, has long had an active public access station with a variety of shows, some with a political bent, and others highlighting community events or businesses, or offering entertainment. Particularly for the homebound, the station is an important connection to the community, as it shows a range of programming from city government to downtown parades.

Now, with this expansion in space and capability, the sky’s the limit for the type of productions that can be put on the air, and we believe Public Access Director Steve Pulos, who has many years of experience running the station, will do a good job of carrying out a strong vision for the channel as it grows.

All residents are encouraged to take part in the station, whether they want to host their own show or learn about cameras and editing equipment.

The city’s decision to purchase the former Knights of Columbus hall for this purpose and invest nearly $500,000 on this project was very progressive, and luckily for taxpayers the cost of the renovation will be coming from the cable company franchise fee paid by cable subscribers, not from taxes. While the process was not without glitches, the end result is a station of which the city can be proud in the long term, as television as a means of communication doesn’t seem to be going away ”“ and the better the facilities, the better the programming can be.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski, representing the majority opinion of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.