Educational Telecommunications
The department of Educational Telecommunications provides public service broadcasting to the community, professional training for students, and creates and distributes media content that serves WKU and the citizens of Kentucky.
We are responsible for the operation of WKU Public Radio, WKYU-PBS, The Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network, and WKU's two CATV systems.
In addition, we provide video production services for the campus constituency and outside organizations. In addition to our professional staff, we employ many WKU students part-time, allowing them to gain valuable real-world experience.
WKU Public Radio
WKU Public Radio is a regional network of four radio stations, with studios and offices on the WKU campus:
- WKYU-FM 88.9, Bowling Green
- WDCL-FM 89.7, Somerset
- WKPB-FM 89.5, Henderson/Owensboro
- WKUE-FM 90.9, Elizabethtown
- plus live webstreaming at wkyufm.org
Founded in 1980, WKU Public Radio serves a population of 1.3 million people, providing high-quality news and information services to more than 60% of Kentucky as well as southern Indiana and northern Tennessee. WKU Public Radio presents news, information, cultural and entertainment programs, with a particular focus on issues of importance and interest to our region.
WKYU-PBS
WKYU-PBS, Western’s Public Television Station, broadcasts informative, educational, and culturally diverse television programs within a high-quality, non-commercial broadcast format. WKYU-PBS broadcasts on Channel 24 to a population of over 250,000 citizens of Kentucky and is carried on over 20 cable systems throughout south-central Kentucky.
The Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network
The Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network serves as the production and distribution unit of Educational Telecommunications to provide network-quality coverage of Western Kentucky University athletics. Each year HSSN originates 15 to 20 Hilltopper men’s and women’s basketball games. These games are carried not only on WKYU-PBS, but are also seen nationwide through a distribution agreement with Fox College Sports Network, providing Western’s athletics a national exposure to over 43 million households.
Campus Cable Systems
The Department of Educational Telecommunications operates the two Western Kentucky University campus cable TV distribution systems. “Academic Cable” provides cable television services to classrooms on campus for educational purposes. “Western Cable” is the television service that is distributed in the residence halls on campus. This service provides over 40 channels of entertainment and information to the resident students of WKU.
WKYU Production Services
Our Production department provides production services, not only for our on-air product, but also produces high-quality videos and video-based learning products for the university and organizations throughout Western’s service area. Our award winning production staff has the expertise to provide our clients with outstanding video programs to meet their varied needs. Visit the Services pages for more information.
WKYU-PBS Receives National Award for Energy-Efficient Lighting System
The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) honored WKYU-PBS with its Enterprise and Innovation Award this October in recognition of the conversion of WKYU's television studio lighting system to a state-of-the-art LED lighting system.
The NETA Enterprise and Innovation Award recognizes emerging service models reflecting the evolution from legacy services to public media. According to NETA, "WKYU-PBS and Western Kentucky University embody the reason for the award. Faced with an all too familiar problems these days – a tight budget, and conscious of long-term capital expenditure needs, theirs is an innovation based on necessity. The judges were deeply impressed with WKYU's willingness to rethink, adapt, and problem solve...to provide a state-of-the-art solution."
Earlier this year, WKYU-PBS received a regional Emmy award in technical achievement for the LED project.
Charles M. Anderson Public Broadcasting Fellowship Recipient Announced
Cameron Epperson has been selected as the recipient of this year’s Charles M. Anderson Public Broadcasting Fellowship. He will perform his fellowship duties over the summer of 2012 in the WKYU-TV production department, assuming a leadership role in the integration of a new mobile production unit. A Broadcasting major from Louisville, KY, he expects to receive his Bachelor’s degree in 2013. Among his other responsibilities in TV production, Cameron has operated handheld camera for HSSN/Fox College Sports broadcasts since his first semester as a freshman. A highly competiitive award, the Anderson Fellowship was established to allow students to gain in-depth exposure to the professional environment of WKU Public Broadcasting.
WKU Public Radio Earns Record Number of News Awards
The news staff of WKU Public Radio has earned more Kentucky Associated Press awards
than any other radio station in Kentucky, including more first place awards. The award
presentations took place May 21st in Louisville (pictured are Lisa Autry, Dan Modlin, Kevin Willis, and Joe Corcoran).
The WKU Public Radio news staff was honored for excellence in numerous categories, including Best Political Coverage, Best Hard News, Best Sports Special, Best Continuing Coverage, Best Series, and Best Light News Feature.
News Director Dan Modlin says the staff is especially pleased to have earned top honors in so many different categories. “We work very hard to cover a variety of issues that impact the lives of people across the broad region we serve.“
See the complete list of awards.
