SAUGUS — Saugus TV must vacate its current location at Saugus High School by April 17, instead of this summer as originally planned.
With the district’s impending move to a combined middle-high school building on the same date, the demolition of the old SHS building was initially expected to happen later this summer.
Until then, Saugus TV President Al DiNardo was under the impression his team would be able to continue operating out of the old building as usual. It wasn’t until about a month ago that DiNardo said he received notice the station would be required to move out with everyone else come spring.
“I always knew we had to be out,” DiNardo said. “But I was never told a date. In my mind, it would be this summer.”
The news put added pressure on crews working to transform part of the Saugus Historical Society’s Main Street location into Saugus TV’s new home.
“We’ve had to accelerate (the building process),” he said. “People have been working Saturdays.”
Despite added pressure, DiNardo said he’s happy about the move, adding that the station’s current facilities are outdated and in need of upgrades.
However, the move’s newly-condensed timeline means his team will have less time to familiarize themselves with a new broadcast rack that’s been ordered for the new location.
“The way I’d describe it is, if you were to get a new phone today, how quickly would you know the software and the updates? It would take you probably a few weeks to know any sort of new technology,” he said. “We have to train our employees, so hopefully we’ll get the broadcast rack in by April 2 — that’s our goal.”
DiNardo doesn’t expect the move to hold up operations too much, adding the worst-case scenario is that some meetings taped during the transition period may only be available online.
“We’re hoping we can continue to have the rebroadcast on TV and, of course, the live feed,” he said. “That’s everyone’s goal, but we don’t know yet. We’re working towards that.”
