WYTV Channel 33 will launch an over-the-air digital channel, MY YTV, by Sept. 5, its general manager, Dave Trabert, announced June 13 in the Realty Building downtown. The new channel should see WYTV hire another six employees: reporters, videographers, salesmen and other staff, he said.

Trabert also announced the first floor of the building would become the home of the second satellite studio of WYTV's news operations, the first opened four years ago in the Tribune Chronicle building in Warren.

The parent of WYTV, Chelsea Broadcasting Co., New York City, will spend "well into the six figures," Trabert reported, to convert what was last a political campaign headquarters into a television studio. There WYTV reporters can edit and broadcast live stories involving City Hall and the Mahoning County Courthouse.

WYTV will lease 1,200 square feet from USA Parking, the president of USA, Lou Frangos said. He's still discussing with Jason Loggiero, owner of the Bean Counter, that next-door restaurant's need to expand. There will be adequate room for both should Loggiero decide he needs more space in the Realty Building, Frangos said.

Denise Powell, president of James & Weaver Office Environments, 22 W. Wood St., will design the studio. Frangos proposes that a huge glass wall separate the studio from the rest of the first floor, allowing Bean Counter patrons to watch reporters and video editors work there.

"We're just in the beginning stages," Powell said afterward. James & Weaver has gotten only as far as "a footprint of the office space." Frangos will provide WYTV with "a white box," the shell of the office. Once that is completed, James & Weaver will work with Channel 33 in the layout and wiring of the studio.

On hand to congratulate WYTV's decision to locate a studio downtown, and express gratitude to Chelsea' chairman and chief executive officer, Paul Goodman, were Mayor Jay Williams, First Ward Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., Thomas Humpries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Chamber, and Jan Seidler, executive director of the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp.

The comments Trabert and Goodman delivered to the audience were, in varying degrees, self-congratulations on Chelsea's (and WYTV's) vision for the future combined with their commitment to serving the Valley. The general manager also teased elected officials that the new studio will put its reporters closer to officials in City Hall and the courthouse and make it easier to keep them under scrutiny.

On a more serious note, 33's news director, Pat Livingston, said proximity should make it easier for city and county officials to be interviewed at greater length on the expanded news programming MY YTV intends to offer.

MY YTV will offer a 10 p.m. newscast seven days a week, Livingston said, and the content will differ significantly from what WYTV airs at 11 p.m. "We're still developing the content," the news director said.

Both MY YTV and WYTV will broadcast 24 hours a day, Trabert said, the latter expanding to 24/7. From 8 to 10 o'clock each weeknight MY YTV will air two hours of original programming from the Fox Network, programming he described as "prime-time soap operas" with 13-week runs. Saturday nights will offer recaps of what transpired weeknights.

"Our goal is to get as much original programming [on MY YTV] as possible," Trabert promised, and obtain a slot on each of the Valley's cable TV companies so viewers can watch the new station on that venue. "We need access on cable," he stated, and expects to announce "in a month or so" what those slots will be.

Mayor Williams said WYTV's announcement demonstrates the television station's tag line, "We believe in this Valley," is more than a slogan. He welcomed Channel 33's expanded presence in Youngstown and invited its staff to report on "and be part of the good news as we break it. We appreciate your commitment. We appreciate your investment."