ACL's Website

By Jessica El-Khoury

Austin City Limits will have a new identity worldwide next year. Across the Atlantic and Pacific people will be able to view shows by a click of a button – and viewers won't have to worry what time their show airs at their local affiliate.

"The Web is another way that it allows us to be creative and reach out to our fans and we can make ACL a really cool fun thing" said Emily Joyce, associate producer of ACL.

Joyce, who will be leading the new interactive Web site production this summer, said the Web site will be "like another broadcast outlet or broadcast channel," which conform to PBS guidelines, while building its own ACL site. One challenge that ACL, and other PBS programs, have is that all local PBS stations, all 348 of them, choose what time to air individual shows. Shows on networks, like ABC, CBS, or NBC, have one time to air individual programs, so that viewers – and advertisers -- know what time to tune in.

The site will offer a new portal for fans to watch a show at their own convenience. Fans will be able to post their opinions on the site's new interactive forum feature. Also, ACL personnel will be able to make announcements about tapings, or maybe about new DVDs coming out. In addition, the new site will have more video and audio clips. Ultimately, in the long-term, the hope is for the entire show to be posted, perhaps limited to the week it airs.

Joyce will be managing all the content once the site is up and running; other staff members will provide photos and text.

"It is a huge effort, there will definitely be people helping out," said Joyce.

Joyce began as an intern at KLRU in 1997, her last year of as a photojournalism major at the University of Texas at Austin. One call from Co-Producer Jeff Peterson gave her the opportunity to become the production coordinator of all KLRU programs. The idea of becoming a producer seemed far-fetched.

"I always thought, 'Wow! That would be a fantastic job to be one of the producers of Austin City Limits,'" Joyce said. "But it pretty much has been the same staff for about 20 plus years, so I said, 'It's great, but that will never happen,'" remembered Joyce.

In the spring of 2002, along with being "at the right place at the right time" landed Joyce the assistant producer position at ACL and about a year later was promoted to associate producer. Joyce was responsible for managing the office and doing a lot of post-production tasks, like logging video footage. Also, she worked with the talent. But now the Web site will be her top priority.

Joyce's biggest challenge, both at KLRU and at ACL, is working with a limited budget.

"Now I have this brand new computer. I just got it yesterday… one that actually does what I need to do for my job," she said.

"Up to that point, it was always hand-me-downs," she said, laughing.

For years, the budget didn't allow for an improved Web site. The team of producers decided that the Web site would be a great asset and allocated more money for the production of the new site. The approximate dollar amount for the Web site development and maintenance this year will add up to a little over $50,000.

With the new site, Joyce is hoping to post an entire show the week it is airs. But before that happens, issues about copyrights and artist approvals must be resolved.

"I really think that the talent that we had on the show really defines who we are and our reputation," she said. "And that it is really eclectic."

One of her all time favorite bands and a joy to work with was Wilco. Also a definite highlight was Dolly Parton.

"She was just so bubbly and fun and lovely," recalled Joyce.

Even though being a "new member" to ACL, Joyce feels that she has quickly became a part of the 32-years family.

"We are definitely like a family-- especially the producers," she said.

But this "new" family member will soon help the world see the treasures – video and audio clips -- that ACL has accumulated for 32 years.

Emily Joyce discusses plans for the ACL website