CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Darrious Hilmon was making his rounds inside the CAN TV offices in Chicago's Medical District.
“This is our main studio, Studio A is where it all happens,” he said.
He's only been on the job for 18 months, but he doesn’t seem like the new kid on the block.
“Hi, this is Carol, she's our programming director. Everything going OK today, Carol?” he said. “I already know that, in my career, this is going to be the best job of my life.”
Hilmon grew up in Detroit. He learned from local news anchors how to conquer a lisp and a stutter.
“My babysitter never was paying attention to me,” he laughed. “I had a lisp and stutter, so words were difficult for me. I remember watching public television at 12 o’clock in Detroit on Channel 2; Beverly Payne would host the 12 o'clock news, and I would mouth the words. This was one of my first influences.”
He said it's no surprise to him to be heading up a TV station.
“I knew I had to graduate and get out of Detroit,” he said. “I graduated high school early. My high school teacher knew my destiny even before I did. The University of Michigan said I was too young, at 16, to attend college.”
He smiled: “Underestimate me, that'll be fun.”
Hilmon came on board as executive director in March 2022. Since then, he's overseen the building of a new website, has regular programming and brought CAN TV into the livestreaming world — the latter of which is something he said has made a huge difference.
“Since we launched in September of last year, we have had 40 million live stream viewers,” he said. “Twenty-seven million this year. We also launched our programs Monday through Fridays, as well.”
Hilmon has also led the production of several new CAN TV original programs and specials that directly address inequalities in society including: “The Marginalized: Working While Black,” which explores the history of social and racial hierarchy in American society and highlights the challenges social stratification presented to Black Americans who pursue lofty professional ambitions. Another one, “Trajectory of Hope: Stories of the West Side,” highlighted the lives and narratives of Chicago’s West Side communities and residents — stories that often go unseen.
Hilmon said what makes community television unique is its ability to tackle the tough topics on a long-form platform.
“[Public TV] was the original YouTube,” he said. “I used to watch it for hours when I was a kid.”
Hilmon said they find their topics from embedding community producers in the neighborhoods. CAN TV has taken on trans issues, book banning, minority issues and systematic racism. He added that it's about taking on the tough conversations.
“We are a place where people can have platforms,” he said. “It is very intentional. It is elevated conversations, shared community, hyperlocal news and public affairs. That is the power of community television.”
CAN TV is celebrating 40 years in the community, and it has come a long way from the basement perception that fans of “Wayne's World” may recall. In 2015, CAN TV relocated from the West loop to the Chicago Medical District. It has new equipment, new facilities and a new control room.
Hilmon said local news, local programming is more important than ever.
“Original programming is CAN TV saying, ‘We aren't just here to receive tapes and provide training, but we know, as a media partner, as a nonprofit, we have an accountability as well,’” he said. “Five nights a week, we know that if it's not happening anywhere else, we are having the conversations [and] talking with our community.”
Hilmon said the larger thing is when people who remember watching CAN TV in their youth tell him that they didn’t know CAN TV was still running.
“I want to change that,” he said. “We want people to know where we are on the dial, where we are online and that we are an important part of this community.”
As he looked ahead at the challenge of TV, technology, community and accountability in the 21st century, he remembered how many times as a kid he was told he “can’t” do something. Perhaps it’s poetic that he now runs a place that can: CAN TV, a role he takes seriously, but humbly.
“There is such a beauty and appreciation that me — Darrious Darnell Hilman — is considered a difference maker?” he said. “I accept it but then the kid in me is going, 'Really, come on. Really?’ We've done well.”
CAN TV provides 4,000 hours of programming a month and is streaming on cantv.org.
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