WTOP-TV (SUNY Oswego)
 | |
| Oswego, New York | |
|---|---|
| Branding | WTOP-10 TV |
| Slogan | Your TeleVision |
| Channels | Analog: 96 (select programs for all of Oswego County) Digital:
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| Affiliations | none |
| Owner | Student Association at SUNY Oswego General Manager - Joshua Holfoth |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Call letters' meaning | W TOP of the Hewitt Union (the first two studio locations were on the top floor of Hewitt Union); also Top Oswego Programming. |
| Website | www |
WTOP-TV 10 is a student television station in Oswego, New York. Originating on the SUNY Oswego campus and seen on cable channel 10.1 on the on-campus cable system, WTOP is the only local television station originating from Oswego County. It broadcasts from the Al Roker Television Studio in the college's Marano Campus Center. The station is owned by SUNY Oswego and receives funding from the Student Association and outside sales. WTOP is viewable on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week when the college is in session. Aside from its on-campus viewership, select programs are simulcast to Spectrum Cable subscribers throughout Oswego County via public access channel 96 and to viewers worldwide online at http://wtop10.com/live.
The station was started in 1978, beginning as VideoVisions, and has always been entirely student run. It moved from Hewitt Union to its present location 2008.
WTOP offers a variety of programming that covers all interests. During the fall 2009 semester, there were 16 student-produced shows that covered topics from cooking to sports to sitcoms. All of WTOP's original programming can be seen live online. Before on-campus residents had the ability to order premium cable TV services like Home Box Office, WTOP was the only channel on the campus cable lineup offering full-length feature films. The station would typically lease the rights to cablecast approximately 40 movies per semester. Two movies would air each day; one movie at 1pm and 11pm, the other movie at 7pm. At the end of each semester, WTOP would air a weekend-long "Movie Marathon" where students could call the station to cast votes for any of the movies in that semester's lineup. As each movie ended, there would be a brief break where students manning the station would appear live to encourage viewers to keep calling, hold contests to give away prizes or perform skits. After 5-10 minutes, the hosts would countdown to the close of voting, then announce which movie would air next.
Since the fall of 2012, WTOP has been cablecasting exclusively in digital on-campus on channels 10.1 and 10.2. It continues to feed select programs off-campus via analog channel 96.
During the Spring 2015 semester, WTOP started using WSI software for its weather forecast graphics. This provides students the opportunity to use the same weather graphics software in use at many professional television stations at the local and network level.
WTOP offers real-life broadcasting experience for students hoping to break into the field upon graduation. It also offers experience for students in areas such meteorology, sales, business, art, and graphic design. Any SUNY Oswego student who pays the Student Activity Fee can join WTOP by visiting WTOP's website, contacting a board member, or visiting the station in the Campus Center.
WTOP-10 Nightly News[edit]
Live nightly newscasts can be seen Sunday through Thursday at 9:00pm. The newscasts are compiled entirely by students. Weather forecasts are presented by meteorology majors. Each night's newscast is rebroadcast the following day at 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Each newscast also includes a sports segment.
WTOP-10 Sports[edit]
WTOP-10 cablecasts SUNY Oswego athletic games including Men's and Women's Ice Hockey, Men's & Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Field Hockey and Baseball. Sporting events can be viewed on WTOP on-campus or online through the Oswego State Lakers athletics website. Hockey Night in Oswego is WTOP's live hockey show, which broadcasts all home ice-hockey games during the regular season and postseason. Most sports productions include a pregame show, an intermission show, and a post game show. This content is solely produced and broadcast by SUNY Oswego students.
Original programming[edit]
All WTOP original programming is written, produced and directed by students. There are almost 22 different original productions that air Sunday through Thursday, ranging from entertainment or sports talk shows, to comedy sketch shows and more. Most shows are produced in the WTOP studios, but some are shot on-location. The exact number of productions varies from semester to semester depending on student interest and the availability of equipment.
Board of directors[edit]
Since the Fall of 2013, WTOP has been managed by a seven-member Board of Directors, consisting of six Vice Presidents and one General Manager. The Vice Presidents control Human Resources, Engineering and Technology, Operations, Productions, Creative Services, and Finance. Each Vice President is responsible for the operation of their department along with a third tier of Manager positions available for members in each department. The fourth tier consists of general members who are not in management roles.[citation needed]
Prior to this arrangement, WTOP was managed by an Executive Board consisting of a General Manager and several "director" positions (for example: News Director, Program Director, Promotions Director, Production Director, Sales Director, Director of Technology). In the spring of each semester, the General Manager for the following academic year was chosen by unanimous decision from the entire outgoing Executive Board. Once the General Manager was selected, he or she was responsible for interviewing and selecting candidates for all other Executive Board positions.
Notable alumni[edit]
- Kendis Gibson, newscaster now working for ABC News.
- Rob Cesternino, sportscaster who would later become a contestant on two seasons of Survivor.
External links[edit]
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