Several Saucon Valley area residents are members of a local television production team that was recently recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with five 2017 Emmy nominations at the PPL Public Media Center at PBS39 in Bethlehem.
On Aug. 1, ASR Media Productions received five nominations for excellence in television production for segments that aired between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017 on The PEAK TV, the company’s principal television production.
The PEAK TV is hosted by Mike Mittman and Ashley Russo. Russo, of Center Valley, is president of ASR Media Productions and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning weekly show.
Ashley Russo, president and executive producer of ASR Media Productions and the host of The PEAK TV, and Ken Szydlow, who was co-executive producer on the five nominated segments, reside in Upper Saucon Township and Lower Saucon Township, respectively.
Tina Hasselbusch, who lives in Lower Saucon Township, was also nominated as a writer/director of one of the segments.
“I am so proud of our team,” Russo said. “Their dedication to a superior product was recognized… Sharing the stories of the Greater Lehigh Valley is what drives us each day.”
“The PEAK TV is an intelligent addition to the wide assortment of programming available in the Lehigh Valley,” added Szydlow. “It’s news you can use and allows talented, local videographers an opportunity to feature their work.”
The five nominated segments are:
- “Zoellner Arts Center – Celebrating 20 Years of Arts with Impact”
Category: Arts/Entertainment Program Feature/Segment
Ashley Russo, Executive Producer
Kenneth Szydlow, Executive Producer
Kathryn Wallace, Director of Photography
Abigail Mutschler, Editor - “Tails of Valor: Dogs Helping Veterans Heal”
Category:Human Interest Program Feature/Segment
Ashley Russo, Executive Producer
Kenneth Szydlow, Executive Producer
Kathryn Wallace, Director of Photography
Emily Paulin, Coordinating Producer
Abigail Mutschler, Camera/Editor
Parker Bourassa, Camera - “The PEAK TV” (Season 8, Episode 5 feat. Sixth Street Shelter, The Crayola Experience and St. Luke’s Mental and Behavioral Health)
Category:Human Interest Program/Special
Ashley Russo, Executive Producer
Kenneth Szydlow, Executive Producer
Kathryn Wallace, Director of Photography/Editor
Tina Hasselbusch, Writer/Director - “Martin Guitar: Strumming Through Time”
Category:Lifestyle Program Feature/Segment
Ashley Russo, Executive Producer
Kenneth Szydlow, Executive Producer
Kathryn Wallace, Editor
Emily Paulin, Coordinating Producer
Parker Bourassa, Camera - “Catholic Charities: A Hand Up, Not A Hand-Out”
Category:Public/Current Community Affairs Feature Segment
Ashley Russo, Executive Producer
Kenneth Szydlow, Executive Producer
Kathryn Wallace, Director of Photography
Emily Paulin, Coordinating Producer
Abigail Mutschler, Editor
At the nominations event, Russo thanked numerous local organizations for their support, including St. Luke’s University Health Network, Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, the Archdiocese of Allentown and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Szydlow and Russo also acknowledged and thanked Barry Fisher and WFMZ-Channel 69 for their continued support of The PEAK TV “and the shared vision to focus on the Lehigh Valley as a valued community.”
Two-time Emmy-winning The PEAK TV is a thirty-minute television program that began airing in 2012 and focuses on health, wellness, lifestyle and community.
Hosted by Russo and Mike Mittman, the show features stories from around the Lehigh Valley that educate, engage and inspire viewers.
The PEAK TV airs Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on WFMZ-TV Channel 69 (Service Electric HD Channel 508, RCN Channel 1007) and re-airs Sunday at 5:30 a.m.
The 2017 NATAS Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards will be held Sept. 9, 2017, at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey.