About

An Introduction

ABOUT

Since 2005, Watertown Cable Access Corp (WCA-TV) has been Watertown's Public, Education, & Government Access (PEG) station. Our mission is to provide local cable access to the residents of Watertown.

Our Public channel consists of community events, news, and locally produced programming. On our Education channel, you will find school events, sports, library presentations and WHS student produced programming. Our Government channel provides all your gavel to gavel coverage of local municipal meetings, including town council, school committee, zoning board, and more. WCA-TV also streams online 24/7 and all of our videos can be accessed on-demand anytime on our website.

The best part about WCA-TV is that our programming consists primarily of content produced by the Watertown community. All you have to do is complete a few short training sessions to gain access to our studio and equipment. To get you started, we offer several different workshops in field camera and studio production, as well as video editing. You are free to express yourself in a multitude of ways and are not limited to what you can produce.

WCA-TV is always accepting new members, no matter how young or old. And there’s nothing we love more than showcasing our community through the people that make it so unique.

Meet the Staff

Helen Chatel

Helen Chatel

Executive Director

Helen Chatel, Executive Director

Originally from Western Ma, Helen graduated from The College of New Rochelle in New York with a B.A. in Communication Arts specializing in broadcasting.

For the past 10yrs Helen has worked at a Public Access station in CT. Where for the last 7yrs she has been the Executive Director. She is excited about meeting the people and local non-profits in Watertown. Helen also enjoys playing soccer, attending sporting events, wide variety of music, camping and traveling.

Helen can be reached by email  Helen Chatel. Contact Helen for issues regarding the studio and day to day operations of the facility.

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Andrea Santopietro

Andrea Santopietro

Assistant Director

Andrea Santopietro, Assistant Director

Andrea graduated from the New England Institute of Art in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Film making and Video Production.

In college, she directed and produced many short films and documentaries. Andrea also served as a Technical Director for a Brookline-based TV station and worked as an editor for Boston’s leading non-profit, Action for Boston Community Development.

Andrea was originally hired as a videographer at WCA-TV in 2014. Shortly after, she became the station’s Media Outreach Coordinator. She has trained many volunteers and interns who have created original programming on WCA-TV. Additionally, Andrea shoots and edits videos for WCA-TV’s news program, creates many of the graphics used at the station, and does production work for many of the shows and sporting events that air on our channels.

 Andrea can be reached by email  Andrea Santopietro. Contact Andrea to learn about workshops and volunteer opportunities.

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Dan Hogan

Dan Hogan

News Producer

Dan Hogan, News Producer

Dan graduated from the New England School of Communications (NESCom) in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Journalism.

While in school, Dan produced the campus news program, served as sports editor for the school paper, and hosted a weekly radio show on NESCom’s FM radio station. After graduating, Dan worked as a freelance sports reporter at various local newspapers and was an intern for Bleacher Report.

Dan was hired as the News Producer at WCA-TV in 2014. Dan directs, produces, writes, reports, and anchors the sports report for WCA-TV’s news program, Watertown Weekly News. He also directs and produces a monthly long-form interview program called Focus on Watertown. He also does production work and play-by-play for WCA-TV’s broadcasts of high school sports.

 Dan can be reached by email  Dan Hogan. Contact Dan if you have any questions about Watertown Weekly News or have an idea for a story that could be featured!

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Sam Dudley

Sam Dudley

Community Engagement Coordinator

Sam Dudley, Community Engagement Coordinator

Sam graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Video, and Interactive Media and a minor in Sports Studies in 2015.

During her time at Quinnipiac she interned with Wallingford Public Schools in Wallingford, CT creating educational programming for their cable access station. She also worked as a production assistant with D2 Productions broadcasting Quinnipiac hockey and basketball games on NESN and Sports New York.

WCA-TV hired Sam in 2016 as a videographer. In addition to filming town meetings, community events, and high school sports, she produces a number of WCA-TV’s studio shows including Coach’s Corner, A Veteran’s Story, A Conversation With and Inside Watertown. In 2018, Sam became the Community Engagement Coordinator, focusing on developing programs with local residents, schools, and non-profit organizations.

 Sam can be reached by email  Sam Dudley.

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Ashley Hardy

Ashley Hardy

Community Production Coordinator

Ashley Hardy, Community Production Coordinator

Ashley graduated from the New England Institute of Art and received a bachelor’s degree in digital film making and video production.

She produced, acted in and wrote scripts for other students at the New England Institute of Art. During her last year of college, Ashley interned here at Watertown Cable Access and took part in many aspects of news production as well as field camera work. She also enjoys movies, football and writing.

After interning,  Ashley received a part time position as a videographer for WCATV where she took part in filming municipal meetings, high school sports and other town based events.  Ashley is now WCATV’s full time community production coordinator where she takes part in producing in studio productions as well as other creative content for the station.

Ashley can be reached by email  Ashley Hardy.

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James Donovan

James Donovan

James Donovan

James graduated from Endicott College in 2019, where he studied Communications with a concentration in Digital Filmmaking.

He was a part of the on-campus cable TV network, ECTV, and interned with Danvers Community Access Television and McDougal and Duval Advertising. James was the first student at Endicott College to attend New York Film Academy for an eight-week filmmaking program where he wrote, shot, directed, and edited five original films on top of working in a crew on fifteen other projects.

WCATV hired James as a part-time videographer in 2019, where he took part in filming municipal meetings, high school sports, and other town-based events. He has created a multitude of news packages, PSA’s and taken part in the Watertown Weekly News in studio productions.

James can be reached at jamesd@wcatv.org

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Sam Pace

Sam Pace

Sam Pace

Sam P. graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Film, Television, and Media Arts. At Quinnipiac, Sam directed and co-wrote his own short film and produced many other projects. He also has experience filming college sports.

Sam was hired as a part-time videographer in November 2019 and has filmed and edited many Watertown sports games, government meetings, as well as many news packages for Watertown Weekly News.

Sam can be reached at samp@wcatv.org

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Brian Dota

Brian Dota

Brian Dota

Brian graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, with a B.A. in Film, Television, and Broadcasting. Since receiving a part-time videographer position with WCATV in November of 2019,

Brian has been involved in many aspects of news production with Watertown Weekly News. In addition, he’s been involved in field camera work such as filming sporting events, town meetings, and many other events around Watertown. Outside of Watertown Cable, Brian enjoys watching movies, traveling, and photography.

Brian can be reached at briand@wcatv.org

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Victoria Weichel

Victoria Weichel

Victoria Weichel

Victoria graduated from Massachusetts College Liberal Arts (MCLA) with a Bachelor's degree in English/Communications, concentrating in Broadcast Media.

At MCLA, she worked as a reporter and administrator for the college weekly news show, BWN. She also volunteered at Pittsfield Community Television, working on their show The Natural Cook. She also works at Harvard University Athletics as a Video Production Assistant broadcasting on ESPN+ and NESN. Hired in 2019, Victoria is a Videographer for WCA-TV, filming municipal meetings, high school sports, and other events happening in Watertown.

Victoria can be reached at victoria@wcatv.org

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WCA-TV Board of Directors

WCA-TV’s Board of Directors is a volunteer board of directors that are appointed by the Watertown Town Council and School Committee. The Board of Directors governs the cable access channels, and the Executive Director, Helen Chatel, over-sees the day-to-day operations of the access studio.

  • John M. Airasian, President
  • Robert Kaprielian, Vice President
  • Michael Shepard, Treasurer
  • George Skuse, Secretary
  • Chris McKenzie, Member
  • Laurie McManus, Member
  • David Stokes, Member
  • Ninos Hanna, Member

Contact Us

Contact Information