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In an era where young people are more comfortable communicating through technology than face to face, YBA uses the subjects of pop culture, sports, and weather to create dialog among young people under the age of 19. The camera motivates and exposes the kids to see themselves as the world sees them. Once enrolled in the exclusive YBA 60 hour curriculum, your child’s confidence will soar, their speech will improve, and your child could become the next star discovered on the Internet!
The beginning:
In 1995, New England Cable News launched the nation’s first live sports talk show called Kid Company’s SportsWorld airing weekly on Sunday’s at 7PM. Co-produced by Kid Company’s Jody Snider and NECN’s Jimmy Young, the program won a New England Emmy Award in 1996 for Best Sports Special with Drew Bledsoe. Young and Snider trained young people under the age of 16 to be the anchors, reporters, and on air talent for the program that aired over 144 half hour programs from 1995-1999. Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Bobby Orr, Cam Neely, Roger Clemens, Mo Vaughn, US Gymnast Shannon Miller, and many others were guests on the call in program that discussed social issues with the audience and the young reporters.
The Re-birth:
Young Sportscasters of America was founded in July of 2008 when Jimmy Young was hired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s Hope Line program teaching communication skills for life to a group of 15 kids at Madison Park High School in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Young’s mentor Jimmy Myers visited the school over the six week, 12-hour program that transformed shy, reserved, city kids into show hosts, sports and news anchors by the end of the program.
In October, of 2008 Young Sportscasters of America moved into its current location of 81 Speen Street in Natick and welcomed 7 students into its first 8-week program. In January of 2009, the Salem Five bank arranged American League MVP, and Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia to be interviewed by YSA graduates 15 year old Alex Reimer from Natick, and 10 year old Derek Supino from Lynnfield. The interview was covered by both major daily newspapers, the Boston Herald, and the Boston Globe, and by TV stations WCVB TV5 & WHDH TV7 in Boston.
In February of 2009, Young Sportscasters of America welcomed its first auditions for non-sportscasters, and Young Broadcasters of America was formed with a full twenty-hour training curriculum. Peabody Access TV contracted YBA to run a 4-hour boot camp at their facility and attracted 15 young people to their location, many became regular on air talent at the local origination cable channel. An affiliation with Boston Casting generated a series of auditions in March of 2009 that enticed dozens more young talent to sign on with YBA for their training.
On March 15th, KSports Sunday, YBA’s first half hour live sports show, streamed its audio and video on the internet through UStream a free streaming service , 9 viewers logged on to watch.
In April, the first episodes of Trendy Teen Tv were produced, a program that delivers the hottest trends for teens, in fashion, arts and entertainment, make up and hair designs, and also featured YBA’s first comedy act, the Crazy News.
Episodes of Trendy Teen Tv are made available on YBA’s You Tube Channel, YoungBroadcastersUSA. On line views of these programs are in the thousands and continue to grow.
On April 20th, Back Talk, an hour-long sports talk show for kids launched a six month run on four local radio stations in the Boston area, WBNW 1120AM, WPLM 1390AM, WESO 970AM, and WCAP 980AM. Patriots nose tackle Vince Woolfork was the first phone guest, Andre Tippett NFL Hall of Famer was the first in studio guest, and reformed steroid abuser Tony Mandarich rounded out the first week with 12 different kids in studio as hosts, and reporters. Other guests on the show during that nightly run of programming included American Idol Finalist and BC basketball player Ayla Brown, former World Boxing Champion Vinnie Pazienza, members of the Boston Breakers professional women’s soccer team as well as many media members including YBA instructors Jimmy Myers, WCVB TV5’s Bob Halloran, and Jerry Trupiano.
During the summer of 2009, Young Broadcasters of America held three week long day workshops at its facility in Natick bringing intense 30 hours of training to area youngsters. Camp Bauercrest in Amesbury Ma. contracted YBA to offer daily sports broadcasting electives six times during the summer. Once again, Peabody Access TV hosted a five-day summer camp at its facility on the North Shore, Jimmy Myers, Chris Collins, ESPN’s Jennifer Williams, and Bob Halloran all made guest appearances at the five-day camp.
In September of 2009, Back Talk moved to YBA studios in Natick and continues to produce a nightly sports talk show for kids from 7-8 every night Sunday-Friday.
Now delivering an average of 5,000 live viewers from coast to coast every night, Back Talk is starting to build a following on the Internet. On October 26th, a record 2834 viewers tuned in to watch Back Talk, and that was UStream’s 3rd most popular program (out of over 1500!) that night.
In November of 2009, Launch Capital made the first institutional investment in the future of Young Broadcasters of America paving the way for more success in 2010.
