My Journey as a Self-Taught Broadcast Technician: From a Church Projector to Mainstream Television

My Journey as a Self-Taught Broadcast Technician: From a Church Projector to Mainstream Television

“Every expert was once a beginner who refused to stop learning.”

There are moments in life that quietly change our future. For me, that moment wasn’t inside a television studio or a university broadcasting classroom. It happened in a church.

I’ve always admired television. Whenever I watched a live broadcast, a church service, or a television program, I found myself asking questions that many viewers never think about.

How do the cameras work together?

Who controls what appears on the screen?

How are song lyrics projected?

How does everything happen so smoothly?

Little did I know that those simple questions would begin a journey that would eventually lead me into professional television broadcasting.

Where It All Began

My broadcasting journey started at Tesano Baptist Church in Accra, Ghana after I received an invitation from Rev. Esmeralde Kuttin-Nuamah.

The very first thing that captured my attention wasn’t the preaching.

It wasn’t the music.

It was the projector.

I became fascinated by how song lyrics and sermon presentations appeared perfectly on the projector screen. While others focused on the service, I was trying to understand the technology behind it.

That curiosity became the foundation of everything that followed.

Learning by Serving

As I became more involved in church activities, I started assisting Rev. Esmeralde with the Home Cell Ministry and the Alpha Course.

Part of my responsibility during our evangelism outreaches was taking photographs using a small Sony digital camera.

Every Sunday, I selected the best pictures, arranged them into a PowerPoint presentation, and submitted them to the church media team for projection during the offering time.

Looking back, I didn’t realize it then, but I had already begun my journey into media production.

PowerPoint became one of the first software applications I taught myself.

Soon afterward, I discovered Windows 7 Movie Maker, which allowed me to create more engaging presentations with transitions, animations, and music. It made my work easier and inspired me to continue learning.

Curiosity Opened More Doors

Because of my regular interaction with the church media team, I became friends with Ken, who managed the media department.

He was always willing to answer my questions and share his knowledge.

Sometimes, all a learner needs is someone who is willing to encourage their curiosity.

That encouragement made a lasting difference in my journey.

A New Church, A Bigger Responsibility

Eventually, through the Alpha Course ministry, we planted a new church at Bubiashie (Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Bubiashie-Atico.)

When Rev. Esmeralde retired voluntarily, Deacon Samuel Kwabena Asante was assigned to lead the church.

Unlike many church leaders, he had a strong interest in technology.

Although we worshipped in a classroom, he wanted our services to have the same quality of media presentation as Tesano Baptist Church.

One day he asked me how much it would cost to purchase a projector and projector screen.

I gave him the estimated cost.

His response surprised me.

“Come for the money and buy them before Sunday’s service.”

There was only one problem.

I had never used the church presentation software called EasyWorship.

Sunday was approaching quickly.

Failure wasn’t an option.

YouTube Became My Classroom

I immediately called Ken and asked him the name of the software.

After downloading EasyWorship, I spent hours watching YouTube tutorials.

I practiced until I became comfortable enough to operate it.

By God’s grace, that Sunday we successfully projected song lyrics and sermon presentations for the very first time at Amazing Grace Baptist Church.

That experience taught me one lesson that has remained with me throughout my career:

You don’t have to know everything before accepting responsibility. Sometimes responsibility forces you to learn faster than you ever imagined.

Growing Through Church Media

From that point onward, I became responsible for the church media department.

I continued learning about projectors, presentation systems, audio-visual workflows, media organization, and production techniques.

Occasionally, media teams from Lakepoint Baptist Church in the United States visited Tesano Baptist Church to conduct media training sessions.

I attended these sessions whenever I had the opportunity.

Each training added another piece to the puzzle.

My confidence grew.

My technical skills improved.

Most importantly, my passion for broadcasting became stronger.

My First Opportunity in Television

One of my assistants (Joel aka JK) at Amazing Grace Baptist Church believed in my abilities and recommended me to Akuafo TV.

That recommendation changed my life.

I joined the station as an MCR (Master Control Room) Operator.

Walking into a real television station felt like a dream coming true.

Although the environment was completely different from church media, many of the principles were surprisingly familiar.

Church media had unknowingly prepared me for television broadcasting.

Never Stop Learning

Working in the Master Control Room wasn’t enough for me.

I wanted to understand everything.

I wanted to know how the studios worked.

How cameras were connected.

How switching happened inside the Production Control Room (PCR).

How signals travelled.

How programs reached viewers at home.

Whenever I wasn’t working, I watched tutorials on YouTube, studied broadcasting workflows, and asked experienced engineers questions.

Instead of limiting myself to one role, I immersed myself in every aspect of television production.

Eventually, I became responsible for IT, Technical, and Production operations.

My IT Background Made the Difference

Before joining Akuafo TV, I had completed a Diploma in Systems Engineering at IPMC College of Technology.

My IT background gave me an advantage.

Understanding computers, operating systems, networking, and troubleshooting helped me quickly understand the technical side of broadcasting.

I soon realized that modern broadcasting isn’t just about cameras.

It’s also about servers.

Networks.

Storage systems.

Automation software.

Streaming technologies.

Signal processing.

Broadcast engineering is where information technology meets media.

Entering Mainstream Broadcasting

Later, Akuafo TV was acquired by Ignite Media Group, and the entire MCR team joined the new organization.

The new environment was on another level.

Instead of one studio, we now had six television studios.

Each studio had its own Production Control Room (PCR).

All studio feeds were routed to the Master Control Room.

The MCR managed playout systems for both Metro TV and Original TV.

Everything was larger.

Everything was more complex.

Everything demanded continuous learning.

I also had the privilege of working with Mr. Annan, who headed the Technical Department.

He believed in giving people opportunities to grow.

He saw potential in me and encouraged me to explore new technologies, ask questions, and become better every day.

That support accelerated my growth as a broadcast technician.

Why I Call Myself a Self-Taught Broadcast Technician

People sometimes ask me where I studied broadcasting.

The truth is simple.

I didn’t attend a broadcasting school.

I learned through curiosity.

Through volunteering.

Through serving in church.

Through YouTube tutorials.

Through reading.

Through asking questions.

Through making mistakes.

Through observing experienced professionals.

Through countless hours of practice.

And most importantly, through God’s grace.

Learning never stopped.

It still hasn’t.

Why I’m Starting This Blog Series

Broadcasting is changing faster than ever.

Traditional television is evolving.

Radio is becoming digital.

Streaming platforms are transforming how audiences consume content.

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping production workflows.

Cloud broadcasting is becoming the new normal.

Over the coming months, I will share what I have learned from working in church media, television production, Master Control Rooms, Production Control Rooms, streaming technologies, and broadcast engineering.

Some articles will be technical.

Others will tell stories from behind the scenes.

Some will explain how television stations operate.

Others will explore the future of broadcasting and how technology continues to reshape the industry.

Whether you are a student, an IT professional, a church media volunteer, a content creator, or simply someone curious about what happens behind the cameras before a program reaches your television screen, I hope you’ll find something valuable here.

Join Me on This Journey

This is only the beginning.

Starting in July 2026, I will publish at least one broadcasting article every month here on abkarikari23.tech/, covering traditional television, radio broadcasting, streaming platforms, broadcast engineering, media technology, and the future of broadcasting.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens inside a television studio, a Production Control Room (PCR), or a Master Control Room (MCR), or if you’re interested in following the journey of a self-taught broadcast technician, I invite you to subscribe to my blog and follow me on my social media platforms.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

The best stories, and the best lessons, are still ahead.