The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) has announced that Eastman Credit Union (ECU) has invested in Radio Bristol’s Farm & Fun Time to increase the show’s live video streaming capabilities with a generous donation of $15,000. This commitment from ECU was vital in securing state of the art equipment that will ensure good video quality for streaming. ECU, a long-term community partner with Radio Bristol, became the title sponsor in August of 2016 by committing $100,000 over five years to the program.
“The Farm & Fun Time show is doing a fantastic job of preserving our region’s rich music heritage in a way that also promotes economic growth. We’re anxious to see how live video streaming will enhance viewership and garner national and international interest,” said Olan O. Jones, CEO and President of Eastman Credit Union.
Tickets to be part of the studio audience for Farm and Fun Time events consistently sell out, as is true for the November and December editions of the program. With the help of ECU the shows will stream live from Radio Bristol’s Facebook page. November’s Farm and Fun Time featuring John McEuen and The Brother Boys live video stream received a total of 2,255 views so far; the video is still up on the page an available for viewing.
“Community partnerships are essential to the success of our organization. They help us deliver quality programming of which our region can be proud,” said Leah Ross, BCM Executive Director. “We are very grateful to Eastman Credit Union for their continued support of the Birthplace of Country Music.”
“Eastman Credit Union’s generosity and vision has been vital in making Farm & Fun Time a success,” said Radio Bristol Producer and program host Kris Truelsen.”Radio Bristol is very excited for the new capabilities we we will have to bring this incredible show to a larger audience. We look forward to Farm & Fun Time becoming a nationally recognized program largely due to the support of Eastman Credit Union.”
The Farm and Fun Time Christmas Ball with special guests The Secret Sisters and Jill Andrews takes place on Saturday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m. and will stream live video on Radio Bristol’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/WBCMRadioBristol.
Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time is a revival of the former WCYB radio program which aired from downtown Bristol in the 1940s and 1950s. Farm and Fun Time features a variety of segments including jingles written
and performed by house band Bill and the Belles, a farm feport, an heirloom recipe segment, and nationally touring artists.
Tickets to be part of the studio audience for the January and February Farm and Fun Time events are on sale now at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org/events. Special guests Flatt Lonesome and Uncle Shuffelo & His Haint Hollow Hootenanny will appear on Farm and Fun Time January 11, 2018. Willie Watson and Larry Sigmon & Martha Spencer will join the show’s lineup February 8, 2018.
Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time radio show is recorded before a live audience and is broadcast live as well as via webcast. Radio Bristol can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 100.1 FM in the Bristol area, online at ListenRadioBristol.org, and through the station’s free mobile app.
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