2008 Woodie Awards
Campus radio, TV station off the air for weeks
Equipment troubles, lack of general manager cause problems
By: Michelle Oyola
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: News
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Webster University's radio and television stations are currently both inaccessible to students due to technical difficulties, but both media outlets are working to fix the problems.
Gorlok Television (GTV), a student-run station, is again having trouble with Firefly, its broadcaster that controls scheduling. Firefly's hard drive failed about two weeks ago. GTV had similar problems with Firefly in Fall 2004, which resulted in dead air time.
KGLX's Web site was down for most of November, but it is now back online. The Web site offers station scheduling. However, some portions of the site haven't been updated since February 2004. Barry Hufker, KGLX's faculty supervisor for 16 years, said there is no way for students to listen to the station right now. However, a technical system renovation coming soon could make KGLX accessible anywhere.
Will Godfrey, Webster's administrative support specialist in information technology, has been working with Hufker to improve KGLX's audio streaming methods. Currently, students can only access KGLX through Windows Media format, but this feature on the Web site isn't functioning.
"Whatever solution we eventually use, it will likely change or expand the formats in which the stream is offered," Godfrey said, "perhaps enabling users to receive KGLX broadcasts with Real or QuickTime media players as well."
Godfrey said the short-term goal is to stream KGLX audio in the same format used now, but to make it more manageable and less complicated.
Both GTV and KGLX are planning Web site updates and new programming for the spring semester.
GTV sent Firefly to Cornerstone, a company it has contracted for repair work. Chris Abreu, station manager, said Firefly breaks down every one to two years, because it wasn't made for continuous broadcast and GTV airs 24 hours a day. Firefly went down about two weeks ago and Abreu said he isn't sure when they will receive it back. Repairs usually take two to three weeks and about a week and half has passed since the hard drive was sent in, he said.
Gorlok Television (GTV), a student-run station, is again having trouble with Firefly, its broadcaster that controls scheduling. Firefly's hard drive failed about two weeks ago. GTV had similar problems with Firefly in Fall 2004, which resulted in dead air time.
KGLX's Web site was down for most of November, but it is now back online. The Web site offers station scheduling. However, some portions of the site haven't been updated since February 2004. Barry Hufker, KGLX's faculty supervisor for 16 years, said there is no way for students to listen to the station right now. However, a technical system renovation coming soon could make KGLX accessible anywhere.
Will Godfrey, Webster's administrative support specialist in information technology, has been working with Hufker to improve KGLX's audio streaming methods. Currently, students can only access KGLX through Windows Media format, but this feature on the Web site isn't functioning.
"Whatever solution we eventually use, it will likely change or expand the formats in which the stream is offered," Godfrey said, "perhaps enabling users to receive KGLX broadcasts with Real or QuickTime media players as well."
Godfrey said the short-term goal is to stream KGLX audio in the same format used now, but to make it more manageable and less complicated.
Both GTV and KGLX are planning Web site updates and new programming for the spring semester.
GTV sent Firefly to Cornerstone, a company it has contracted for repair work. Chris Abreu, station manager, said Firefly breaks down every one to two years, because it wasn't made for continuous broadcast and GTV airs 24 hours a day. Firefly went down about two weeks ago and Abreu said he isn't sure when they will receive it back. Repairs usually take two to three weeks and about a week and half has passed since the hard drive was sent in, he said.