MUNCIE, Ind. -- A television program produced at Ball State University is being broadcast by six stations with five others planning to run it later this year.

Indiana Outdoors is a weekly half-hour program featuring Indiana’s natural resources and recreational opportunities. Ball State students, faculty and staff produce the magazine-style show with help from Indiana Department of Natural Resources and WIPB, Ball State’s public television station.

Focusing on historic sites, state parks and natural history of Indiana, “Indiana Outdoors” takes viewers to locations from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River and all points in between.

Telecommunications professor and executive producer Nancy Carlson is pleased the program is aired statewide.

“The show was produced with public television viewers in mind,” she said.

Several stations in bordering states are considering carrying the program as well.

“That is a real testimony to how well the 13 episodes turned out,” she said. “It’s been a long time since Indiana had its own outdoors show on tv. We’ve done fifty-seven stories in the first season -- stories about everything from Frisbee golf to river otters.”

Ball State natural resources professor Don Van Meter and Indianapolis television personality Jill Ditmire host the show.

Indiana Outdoors airs in

• Evansville on WNIN, channel 9, Saturdays at 3 p.m.
• Fort Wayne on WFWA, channel 39, Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
• Muncie on WIPB, channel 49, Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and again on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
• Indianapolis on WTBU, channel 69, Saturdays at 3 p.m.
• Vincennes on WVUT, channel 22, Sundays at 5 p.m.
• Merrillville on WYIN, channel 56, Sundays at 1 p.m.

By Tim Underhill, Electronic Media Coordinator

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Nancy Carlson at ncarlson@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1489.)