Students can expect to see a clear improvement in the quality of picture and sound on UATV Channel 3 thanks to a grant awarded to the television station to facilitate technology improvements.
UATV-3, the UA’s entirely student-run TV station, was recently awarded a $75,000 grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, located in Oklahoma City.
Brewster Keith, general manager of UATV-3, said he plans on using the grant to purchase up-to-date equipment, expand the size of the studio and increase correspondence with KUAT, the local television station that broadcasts throughout Tucson.
“”We want to be just as professional as the local television stations, only one that is completely student-run,”” said Keith, a fine arts senior.
Mike Camarillo, Arizona Student Media broadcast advisor, said KUAT helped UATV-3 onto its feet, sharing airtime until UATV-3 could survive as its own station.
Once UATV-3 goes completely digital, the station hopes to once again correspond with KUAT as a more professional and up-to-date program.
“”We hope to create a product to share with KUAT station to share with the rest of Tucson,”” said Camarillo.
Grants from this foundation are awarded to various media organizations that demonstrate ethical integrity and journalistic creativity.
Keith said the station sent a grant proposal along with shows created by the students, proving that the outstanding quality of work done by students was not accompanied by adequate equipment quality.
Keith said for the past eight years, UATV-3 ran on used equipment either donated or purchased from other departments of the university.
The station used an analog sound system and mostly VHS, and the only digital equipment owned by the station were the computers.
The more dated technology inevitably affected the quality of the station’s sound and picture, Keith said.
“”The equipment was holding us back from what we could really do,”” said Keith.
With this grant, Keith hopes to change the station’s old analog system to a full digital format, complete with new cameras.
“”We are hoping to step into a digital era,”” Camarillo said.
Keith said that most students working for UATV-3 have not been informed of the grant yet, but the few who have been notified are ecstatic.
“”It’s an exciting time for UATV-3 students,”” Camarillo said.
David Miller, an anthropology senior, said watching UATV-3 his freshman year taught him a lot about campus happenings.
Keith assures viewers that “”Daily Dose,”” “”Wildcast”” and “”Dorm Room Sports Chat”” will still be broadcasted to the 6,000 students dwelling in UA residence halls, but the sound and picture quality will improve significantly.
