University of Arkansas Television Gets Major Upgrade

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Students work in the newly upgraded UATV control room.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas Television, in the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas, has been upgraded with state-of-the-art high definition equipment for all studio productions. This new equipment will allow UATV, programming to mirror the industry standard in any television broadcast or video production field.

UATV can be viewed at channel 214 on Cox Cable in Northwest Arkansas, channel 22 on the U of A campus and uatvonline.net. “This new system is basically a quantum leap in quality and capability,” said Michael Crawford, broadcast engineer for student media. “These upgrades include dozens of new pieces of equipment. Everything from a new HD video switcher, HD graphics system, HD video playback and replay systems, LCD video monitors, LCD teleprompters, a 32-terabyte media server, digital audio mixer, newsroom and scripting system, new remote broadcast capabilities and much more.”

The new technology means more than improved quality for viewers.

“This equipment will also ensure University of Arkansas students can compete in the workforce,” said Steve Wilkes, director of Student Media. “This will prepare them with the skills they need to get internships and jobs in the industry.”

"It's extremely helpful,” said Logan Jung, a senior broadcast major from Memphis, Tennessee. “Now when I interview for broadcasting jobs, I can tell them that I've used professional level equipment that you'll see in the real world. The upgrades to our studio and control room will make me better prepared once I graduate from the U of A.”

The new technology will not only help students in the workforce, it can also help recruit students to the journalism department.

“When students came in from big high schools, our outdated equipment put a damper on the initial reaction,” said Robyn Ledbetter, U of A journalism instructor and UATV advisor. “We are making a huge step with this upgrade. It really raises the bar for overall departmental esteem and pride for this state-of-the-art facility.”

The 20-year-old studio, until recently, was still using some equipment dating back to the inception of UATV.

“We’ve gotten a lot of miles out of the old Buick,” said Larry Foley, chair of the Journalism Department, referring to the studio equipment. “But after awhile it’s hard to get parts for the old Buick.”

UATV has come a long way from the initial live broadcast in 1995.

“It has evolved from a broadcast journalism lab to a student-run television station,” Foley said.

Up until a few years ago, UATV shared television time with local public schools. Now, UATV students have their own station to air their work.

“When I was a freshman here there was no nightly news,” Ledbetter said. “Our channel has gone from canned programming to programming 24/7 with a live news broadcast Monday through Thursday.”

UATV now produces programming around the clock, and viewers can watch these programs anywhere in the world at uatvonline.net.

Foley had long career in broadcast journalism, and UATV has a special place in his heart.

“UATV is the thing that I am proudest of in my entire career,” Foley said. “It’s where (students) learn broadcast journalism, and they learn to work together and make something of high quality. They find their way down there, and I am really proud of where we are.”

The $300,000 upgrade was initially paid for by the Division of Student Affairs with the stipulation that the money will be paid back over time through the collected student media fees. The  new studio sets were designed by the Lance Schroeder Studios, with Gilbert Emuge creating the new UATV logo and other graphics. The overall installation was handled by The Field Shop in Little Rock.

Student Media and the  Journalism Department will host an open house from 3 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the basement of Kimpel Hall to show off the UATV studios.