LAWRENCEVILLE - Weathers Corporation announces the launch of Gwinnett Broadcasting Company (GBC), Gwinnett's first television channel exclusively serving the entire county. GBC premieres on March 17, 2009, on GBCNOW.com and offers visitors instant access to high-definition news and entertainment programming designed specifically for the Gwinnett community.
"Gwinnett is ready for a dedicated television network," says Seth Weathers, President of the Weathers Corporation and executive producer for GBC. "Gwinnett is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. It's clear that residents need an outlet for their own news and entertainment."
GBC will provide on-the-scene news coverage and community specials, as well as original shows for Gwinnett County's population of nearly 800,000.
All of the station's programming will be available online at GBCNOW.com; initially, new content will be added weekly. "As we move forward," Weathers says, "programming will be added on a daily basis."
GBC formed an advisory board comprising community leaders to help steer the direction of the network and ensure its news coverage and programs serve all sectors of the county. One of GBC's first original series, Gwinnett's Most Wanted, was created in conjunction with the Gwinnett Sheriff's Department. The show, hosted by Sheriff Butch Conway, profiles some of the county's most wanted criminals each month, offering unique insight and evidence that can help viewers identify the fugitives.
"The show is exciting and entertaining-Weathers made sure of that-but the overall purpose is for us to work together as a community to catch these criminals and put them behind bars," Conway says. "The program helps engage the community as well as raise awareness about what is happening on our streets."
Gwinnett Idol is one of the many new shows in production that will debut over the next few months. Gwinnett Idol is a collaboration with Wild Bills and its owner Bill Gentry. The show gives people the opportunity to compete for a chance to open for a national touring act. Contestants will perform live at Wild Bills in front of a panel of celebrity judges, but the final winner at Wild Bills will be determined by fans casting their votes online at GBCNOW.com.
"There are a lot of talented people in Gwinnett, and we want to give them a stage," says Gentry. "This will be a great opportunity for people trying to make their mark as entertainers as well as a way to involve the entire community."
GBC will provide a dedicated source for news, where local anchors and reporters will continually cover stories from around the county. GBC NEWS will debut with news segments such as the progress of the Gwinnett Braves Stadium as well as the unveiling of the Greater Atlanta Christian School's new Long Forum.
"GBC NEWS will keep the entire county informed," says Judy Waters, executive director of the Community Foundation for North East Georgia, "but what's truly unique about this channel is how it will build into a media library documenting the incredible growth of our county. It is a great gift to future generations of Gwinnett."
"The residents of our community are experiencing the same worries and uncertainty that our entire country is facing," says John Oxendine, the Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner. "That's why it is more important than ever to show them all the successes and new growth that continues to take place all around us."
"While ensuring that GBC is a trusted source of information for the community, we also understand how important it is to entertain-production value is key," says Weathers. "Throwing a camera up in the back of the room and pressing record button doesn't cut it anymore; we're not just trying to give people a reason to watch, but also a reason to keep coming back everyday."
The concept of broadcasting television over the Internet isn't a new idea. Sites such as NBC's Hulu.com and other network websites are currently streaming HD programming online. "What sets us apart," says Weathers, "is our commitment and dedication to creating programming that is relevant to our community."
"The radical shift in the way people now consume media online is undeniable," says Weathers. "GBC's news and entertainment is always just a click away. Whether you are at the office or at home, everything GBC has to offer rests at your fingertips."
"GBC is producing the most cutting edge work in metro Atlanta," says Mark Rountree president of Landmark Communications. "Their projects may revolutionize how Gwinnett county residents see ourselves, helping people realize how colorful and dynamic this community really is."
GBC will be funded through ad space and commercial airtime revenue. One of the initial corporate sponsors of GBC is the Gwinnett Medical Center, which will air episodes of Medical Matters on GBC.
"Gwinnett Medical Center's success is grounded in the service provided by our associates and in using the most advanced technology to help heal our patients," says Adrienne Hollis, director of marketing and communications for GMC. "We strive to be as technologically advanced in our marketing outreach as we are in the operating room. That's why we are so eager to support GBC: it is a golden opportunity to tap into the great potential on the horizon of digital media."
Friday
May 23rd, 2025
2:06AM
