Somerville Community Access Television, known as SCATV, received two national awards from the Alliance for Community Media, according to an announcement from SCATV and the Alliance's website.

Competing against community access broadcasters from around the country, the Somerville cable station received the Overall Excellence in Public Access Award for a station its size (with a budget between $350,000 and $600,000.)

This is the seventh time SCATV has won the award since 2005, according to the announcement. It recognizes the diversity and quality of SCATV's programming.

In addition, "The Somerville Alderman Debate," a special episode of SCATV's "Greater Somerville," received the Democracy in Action Award.

Hosted by "Greater Somerville's" Joe Lynch, the October episode was a debate between the seven candidates running for an at-large seat on the Somerville Board of Aldermen.

It featured questions from a panel of local journalists representing Somerville Patch, Somerville Journal, the Boston Globe and Somerville News.

Wendy Blom, executive director of SCATV, directed the episode, and it was edited by Gordon Nelson. KyAnn Anderson, a co-host of "Greater Somerville," Gwyn Ables, Vaughn Simkins, Donald Sweatt and Bill Trudell were part of the crew.

The Alliance for Community Media will hold an awards ceremony in Chicago in July.

You can read more at access-scat.org.