 Dixon was inspired by a 1989 episode of "48 Hours" profiling a student soap opera at UCLA called "University", which was produced from 1986 to 1990.Entirely student-produced, "Bay State" originally aired on the Boston University campus via closed-circuit television and screenings, was broadcast by the public-access television service Boston Neighborhood Network, and was eventually streamed on the internet.The Boston University College of Communication premiered its own channel, butv10, on February 22, 2006, which includes "Bay State" in its ongoing programming.