Now that we’ve gone over what exactly “going HD” means, let’s take a look at what’s going to happen once the conversion process is complete at the end of October.

Immediately after the upgrade is complete members will be putting on some of our biggest broadcasts of the semester. V.P. of Productions Ian Dwyer ‘17, is excited to have the opportunity to make these broadcasts happen in high definition as opposed to standard definition, “Getting a chance to debut our new HD studio to the campus and the community with these first big broadcasts is really going to be rewarding; they are the first HD broadcasts we are going to do here at WTOP!”

These broadcasts that Ian is talking about are the Media Summit Red Carpet Show, the Presidential Election, and Whiteout.  The Media Summit Red Carpet Show will broadcast live October 27, 2016 right before the annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit.  Last year the summit was hosted by WTOP alumni KSNT News’ weekend meteorologist Christina Reis ‘16 and one of NewsChannel 9’s producers, Robert Hackford ‘16.  They had the opportunity to discuss the panelists and the year’s theme, equality and diversity in the media.

Christina Reis ‘16 and Rob Hackford ‘16, discuss the theme of last year’s summit with Senior Event Director Kalie Hudson ’16

Following the Media Summit Red Carpet Show, a little over a week later will be our Presidential Election broadcast.  This broadcast is going to be massive- Ian Dwyer says that it will be the most involved production of the year, with the aim of pulling off a four hour live broadcast airing from 8 p.m. until midnight.

“[We hope to have] live guests in the studio as well as reporters doing live shots from each of the campaign offices locally in town and Syracuse,” Dwyer adds.  This means all hands on deck with a full crew in the studio and additional members out in CNY reporting live to pull off this broadcast.

With the excitement building for a semester of new productions, Sports Director Morgan Rumpf ‘17 is most excited to see all the advancements the HD upgrade is going to give to WTOP-10 TV’s broadcasts.  Rumpf added that the sports department is in a unique position because they are still putting on live sports broadcasts despite no other production going on, “Before the upgrade is complete the Sports Department has put on 11 broadcasts since September 1, 2016 using our mobile cart unit, with many more still to come.”  “We are so fortunate that WTOP has allowed us a way to continue to broadcast fall sports; Volleyball, Field Hockey and Soccer while the upgrade takes place”, Rumpf says.

Whiteout weekend, which is happening a little later, February 3-4, 2017, will be another major broadcast happening in HD.  This gives everyone a little break with the craziness that will ensue at the end of October and early November with two huge broadcasts happening.  Whiteout is the biggest broadcast of the year for the sports department, it brings together the community and Oswego State students; even alumni come back to Oswego to watch the epic rivalry between the Oswego and Plattsburgh.

The Oswego State Lakers men’s ice hockey team prepares for last year’s Whiteout game

I think V.P. of Productions Ian Dwyer speaks for all members when he says: “I can’t wait to see the communities reaction to our new and improved HD station. The broadcasts that we will be putting on will be the best WTOP has ever seen.”