Sun Devil Television
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| SDTV | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Tempe, Arizona | |
| Branding | SDTV |
| Channels | 2 (CCTV Cable) analog |
| Affiliations | MTVU |
| Owner | Arizona State University |
| Founded | Video Broadcasts Began in 1995, Teletext Broadcasts Began in 1992 |
| Call letters meaning | Sun Devil TeleVision |
| Website | www.asuwebdevil.com/sdtv |
Sun Devil Television (On-Air Identity: SDTV, Channel 2) is an independent, student-operated television station based in ASU's campus in Tempe, Arizona.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early Years
Although SDTV did not began to broadcast programs until Fall 1995, it physically began in 1992, when ASU's Residence Life Department wired all on-campus housing with basic cable. Six channels on the cable system were set aside for University use, and Channel 2 was given to Residential Life to disseminate information through the on-campus dormitories. During this time, Channel 2 operated as a teletext service, showing a few low quality, scanned .bmp images via a set of rotating text-screens with information about the university calendar and various events while the campus radio station, The Blaze, played. It was managed by the University's Information Technology (IT) department.
In the summer of 1993, Kolby Granville, VP of Public Relations with the ASU Residence Hall Association, discovered Channel 2 as a promotional tool and asked the IT Department to post text screens promoting events organized by the Residence Hall Association. On a fateful day, Granville, faced with a vacationing IT Department, figured out how to operate the text-screen program himself and, once granted access, the IT department opted not to take it away. This was the beginning of student-run text-screens on Channel 2. The first video broadcast was in Spring 1994, when Granville experimented with the video card in the back of the computer that ran the teletext program. He discovered that the computer was able to play video programs, played two minutes of rented copy of Alice In Wonderland over the Channel, and called a friend in the residence halls to confirm it was airing.
[edit] Move From Teletext To Video
In Fall 1994, with $12,500 from ASASU for equipment and each Hall Council's rollover budget for movie rights, Channel 2 truly became a television station, showed three movies per night. Weekly student produced programs included KASRV and The Farce Side Comedy Hour. Permanent funding occurred Spring 1995 when the Arizona Board of Regents raised the RHA fee by $1.50 per semester, per student. Teletext program lived on during the day (they were discontinued in 1999).
In 1996, as VP of Activities for ASASU, Granville entered into an interclub agreement whereby his budget would pay the entire SDTV movie rights budget for the year, $8,500, and SDTV would provide a single text-screen that stated SDTV was partially sponsored by ASASU for the year.
In 1997, Channel 2 moved to its current office in the Matthews Center, and joined the Student Media (then called Student Publication) in August of 1998. All main ties with the Residence Hall Association were severed that same year (although minor ties still remain to this day).
[edit] Hill Era (1998-1999), Beginning of SDTV
In 1999, Hoyt Hill, a graduate student from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication, was hired as the station's first general manager.
During Hill's tenure as General Manager, student programming continued to develop, and some of them survive still to this day. The name SDTV was developed during this time by Hill. The current format of broadcast also started at this time, when the teletext service that began since the station's launch was replaced with music video programs from MTV's University Broadcasting arm.
[edit] Klee Era (1999-2002)
Student Media was unable to find a graduate student replacement for Hoyt after his graduation in 1999, so David Klee, a sophomore political science major, took the position of General Manager.
During his three-year tenure, the station offices moved to its current location, and the size of its volunteers were expanded from two to nearly two hundred.
Student-produces programs continues to thrive during this time, and the station also received donated equipments from various sources, including two Canon camcorders, with one donated by Kolby Granville.
In 2000, SDTV News, a local daytime news update, began broadcasting. Also, the station purchased its first Macintosh G4 Final Cut Pro editing system, greatly expanding the student programming potential.
Bylaws were written during this time and an organizational structure was developed with a General Manager and Station Director as the top managers, followed by a news director, promotion director, and staff of seven volunteer department managers that were each responsible for a specific operational aspect of the station.
[edit] Garrison Era (2002)
After David Klee graduated in May, 2002, Aron Garrison, a senior broadcast business/management major, became the station's third General Manager. Aron doubled the amount of student programming on SDTV's airwaves each day, and saw the purchase of a second Macintosh editing system along with the first major purchase of studio equipment to help supplement SDTV news and other productions.
[edit] Schuler Era (2002-2004)
Kelly Schuler, a sophomore broadcast business/management major, followed Garrison as General Manager in December, 2002.
During her tenure, Schuler further expanded the amount of student programming on the station, and put SDTV through its first major reorganization since its bylaws were written in 2000.
Schuler streamlined the organizational structure, and created a set of five paid positions that were ultimately responsible for all aspects of the station, eliminating the need for a large set of volunteer managers. During this time, Schuler also worked hard to cooperate with The State Press and ASU Web Devil on a number of projects and created the SDTV website on the Web Devil portal.
One of Schuler's hallmark accomplishments was the creation and distribution of the first ever Sun Devil Television TV Guide, which was a huge success for the student station. Also, under Schuler's management, the station also held its first major event, "The Big Ass Lawn Bash", and organized other major events such as live giveaways and the ASASU Presidential Debates.
[edit] McGuire, Pignotti, and Velaski Era (2004-2006)
The station has continued to grow under the tenures of Jeff McGuire, Arthur Pignotti, and Brandon Velaski, and brand new programs have also been made. In recent years, sports and news programs have become the dominant programs on-air, and improvements in graphics and presentations have also brought the quality of broadcasts to a level unimaginable when Channel 2 started as a teletext service. It was during this time SDTV successfully executed its first live transmission. TV personality Ian Schwartz conducted a live interview with “Saw” director James Wan, screenwriter Leigh Whannell and Jigsaw the Puppet . McGuire and Pignotti's technical skills were an integral part in this landmark live broadcast.
[edit] Passaro Era (2006-Present)
In May 2006, Media producion major Jason Passaro became SDTV's eighth General Manager. He began a reform program for the station, and began by concentrating on having as much new programming as possible. During this time, new shows of all genres were produced, including one show that is hosted by a campus student best known for auctioning off his body as advertising space on eBay. During 2006 Michael Lisi redesigned the SDTV set with the help of his wife and friend. Lisi, a Channel 2 news anchor, expanded the size of the studio as well as refined the aesthetic look. One of the major changes was handcrafted metal work and a new station logo.
On October 27, 2006, the station made its second live television transmission test. A live election night results broadcast, the first ever for SDTV, was produced on November 7, 2006.
[edit] Programming
[edit] News
SDTV News is the only program in the station to be produced on a daily basis, and can be considered as one of the more dominant program genres on the channel's schedule. (other programs take longer to produce). The news airs around noon each day, and in one-hour intervals thereafter until 6 p.m. local time.
In fall of 2005, the news presentations received extensive reforms under the management of news director Kunal Patel. A department volunteer at the time, Kenny Wong, initiated these new changes into the news and evolved the format into what it is today. The reforms continued after Wong became News Director in January of 2006. The reforms included the addition of news graphics and innovative ticker bar features. These changes have made the news exceptionally better in quality. Continued reforms and changes to news presentations were made after Jordan La Pier took over the News Director position in August 2006.
SDTV also airs Cronkite NewsWatch, a professional news program made by advanced journalism students in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication during prime time hours every week.
[edit] Sports and Light Entertainment
A dedicated team of volunteers are responsible for the sports department at SDTV. Depending on the time, they would produce programs about the relevant teams of the time. The programs include interviews with star players, game updates, and other discussions in regards to the season.
Likewise, a dedicated team of volunteers produces two light entertainment programs at SDTV. In 2005, light entertainment programs became less prominent, as the channel becomes dominated with sports and news programs. However, this situation is beginning to turn around, as the station begins to produce more light entertainment programs.
[edit] Scheduling
The station broadcasts some form of programs (be it student produced or MTV feeds) 24 hours a day. Student-produced programs officially begins at noon each day with the broadcast of the flagship news program, which is repeated every hour until 6PM, when two student-produced shows are shown. This is followed by a feature movie at 7PM. The programs aired during 6PM and 6:30PM are repeated at 9PM and 9:30PM. Afterwards, two feature movies are shown, at 10PM and 12AM respectively. Afterwards, the station closes down, and rejoins MTVU's music programs.
[edit] Members of the SDTV Board of Governors
The terms of all Board of Governor members expires at the end of each semester.
[edit] 15th Board (January-May 2007)
- General Manager- Jason Passaro
- Station Director- Howard Henley III
- News Director- Jordan La Pier, Nissania Trujillo
- Promotions Director- Honora Swanson Bober
- Productions Editor- Christopher Ly
[edit] 14th Board (May-December 2006)
- General Manager- Jason Passaro
- Station Director- Kenny Wong
- News Director- Jordan La Pier, Nissania Trujillo
- Promotions Director- Honora Swanson Bober
- Productions Editor- Christopher Ly
[edit] 13th Board (January- May 2006)
- General Manager- Brandon Velaski
- Station Director- Evan Doherty
- News Director- Kenny Wong, Nissania Trujillo
- Promotions Director- Daria DelColliano
- Productions Editor- Jason Passaro
[edit] 12th Board (May-December 2005)
- General Manager- Authur Pignotti
- Station Director- Evan Doherty
- News Director- Kunal Patel
- Promotions Director- Amanda Worthy
- Productions Editor- Jason Passaro
[edit] List of General Managers
[edit] Pre-SDTV Period
- Kolby Granville (1994-1995)
- David Waller (1995-1996)
- Mike Jiggs (1996-1997)
[edit] SDTV Period
- Hoyt Hill (1997-1999)
- David Klee (1999-2002)
- Aron Garrison (May-December 2002)
- Kelly Schuler (2002-2004)
- Jeff McGuire (2004-2005)
- Arthur Pignotti (May-December 2005)
- Brandon Velaski (January-May 2006)
- Jason Passaro (May 2006-Present)
