CitrusTV is the completely student-run television studio of Syracuse University and SUNY ESF in Syracuse, New York . It was founded in 1970 and has more than 350 student members.
67-470: The organization is not a station, network or channel and does not broadcast its own programming, except for online streaming. Instead, CitrusTV provides programming, both live and taped—primarily to its website, Spectrum Sports , and the Orange Television Network, which is the university-controlled station available in all campus buildings on channel 24.2. The organization was founded in 1970 as
134-474: A comedy show which had a format almost identical to that of Comedy Central 's " The Daily Show ," which did not come on the air until the 1990s, though "Newswatch" was frankly derivative of the "Weekend Update" segment of " Saturday Night Live ," which premiered in 1975. Several of the shows including Newswatch 'bicycled' their tapes over to Syracuse Cable TV, and had them aired on the cable TV system's Public-access television channel. Another long-running show
201-738: A grant from the New York State Council on the Arts to run the Artist Visitation Program where students could work with video artists from around the state exploring the nascent use of video technology as a formal art medium. By the mid-1970s, the Synapse Artist Visitation Program expanded into the new Newhouse Communication Center, working at night and mostly on the 2" video tape machines editing artistic works shot on small format recorders. In 1977, Synapse ended its use of
268-521: A most unexpected manner. SU announced that they had accepted a very substantial grant, which would further develop the photography program of Light Works Community Darkrooms. Unfortunately, Light Works was physically located directly next to the UUTV studios in the Watston Theater complex. Light Works was hungry to acquire the UUTV real estate for their upcoming expansion, and their newfound grant money provided
335-537: A new building for the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications . On November 11, SU held a hearing before a panel of three tenured faculty members at an undisclosed time and location to reconsider Cantor's decision to disband HillTV. On November 30, the panel reversed the Chancellor's decision and reduced the punishment to a suspension and one year probationary period and required HillTV to undertake steps toward re-organization to prevent such an issue from arising in
402-540: A new website, citrustv.com . Viewers can watch CitrusTV shows and find information about supporting and joining the studio. In September 2022, the University Union announced the return of UUTV, for the first time in 18 years. It will be utilized to release behind-the-scenes video footage of UU events in collaboration with the Orange Television Network (OTN). The Operations Department keeps the station equipment and facilities in order, takes care of repairs, and requests
469-460: A new website, while also rebranding the station with a new logo. CitrusTV has partnered with a variety of local and national stations to provide content to CBS Sportsline, InsideLacrosse.com, Time Warner Cable Sports and Syracuse.com. In August 2011, CitrusTV completed a multiyear process of upgrading its studio and field equipment from Standard Definition to High Definition. It began producing content solely in 1080i, continuing to provide video to
536-476: A separate "board." Despite this oversight, the station usually ran autonomously. There was also a faculty advisor nominally responsible for oversight. The station remained entirely run by students, who programmed the station and produced television programming in-house, including a nightly half-hour news program. UUTV also occasionally aired X-Rated films in the early 80s, largely to generate publicity. Early student productions included "Newswatch," (1977–1984),
603-724: A separate company, all three stations were correspondingly re-branded to begin with "Time Warner Cable" instead of just "Time Warner". The Buffalo and Rochester stations were rebranded as Time Warner Cable SportsChannel in fall 2012, adopting a logo similar to the newly established Time Warner Cable SportsNet in Los Angeles. Likewise, the channels were rebranded "Spectrum Sports" in September 2016 when Charter Communications purchased Time Warner Cable. Spectrum Sports ceased operations on October 5, 2017. Locally originated programming mostly ended in June;
670-461: A similar arrangement). University Union secured just enough funding for turntables, a mixing console and other basic broadcast necessities and WERW moved into a "real" studio over the summer of 1987 in Watson Hall just across the hall from WJPZ. The station was originally heard only through television monitors and over low-power FM. By the early 1990s, WERW operated via carrier current on 750 AM and
737-521: A simulation of a professional radio station, in order to provide communications students attending the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with vocational training. It started, unlike WERW, as a low-power AM station with 100 milliwatts on 1200 AM with its antenna atop Day Hall, but later began broadcasting with an Federal Communications Commission issued license utilizing 100 watts on 89.1 FM on February 2, 1985. WJPZ did find some favor among students at Syracuse University and amongst Top 40 fans in
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#1732881359889804-534: A tape collection with copies of works produced through the programs. They actively encouraged wide distribution of the produced work, especially broadcast. In 1977, Synapse left Watson Theatre, leaving behind the color production studio and campus cable system. Synapse forged an association with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications , with which it shared its production equipment and studio facilities, and continued one of its functions as an independent production house for experimental video, allowing access to
871-584: Is part-owned by Charter) generally only has rights to the same games in the New York City metropolitan area . However, it may have access to other Big East games to show across the full viewing area, particularly in basketball. WERW (student radio) WERW (1670 AM ) is an independent student-run, free-format radio station at Syracuse University that broadcasts on the Web. The station programs an eclectic format similar to many other college radio stations in
938-582: Is reviewed to avoid further controversies. In April 2006, the station provisionally regained its recognition, and by September of that same year was granted full recognition by the university. CitrusTV now makes its content available online in addition to traditional cablecasts through the Orange Television Network and across the central New York region on Time Warner Cable Sports channel 13. In November 2006, CitrusTV began to offer some programming via podcasting . As of 2023, these podcasts are exclusively available on Spotify . In November 2008, CitrusTV launched
1005-847: The Binghamton market. Also in December 2006, Time Warner SportsNet (TWSN) was established by Time Warner Cable in Rochester by acquiring rights to teams owned by the Rochester Sports Group : namely the Americans (ice hockey), Knighthawks (indoor lacrosse), Rattlers (outdoor lacrosse) and Raging Rhinos (soccer). Some of those teams had previously aired on other Time Warner channels, such as WRWB (the cable-only WB affiliate on channel 16 which has since has been sold to WHAM-TV ) and Time Warner's overflow channel, channel 98. In June 2007, TWSN obtained
1072-558: The Orange Television Network and are posted to the station's website and YouTube channel. Over the years, the station has won multiple awards for its news broadcasts and breaking news coverage. In 2016, the New York State Associated Press Association awarded CitrusTV's News Live at 6 at 6:00 first place in the category of Best Regularly Scheduled Local Newscast in the college division. The award
1139-567: The upstate New York area. The stations, which were owned and operated by Charter Communications through its acquisition of Time Warner Cable in May 2016, were available in Rochester , Binghamton , Syracuse and Buffalo . The network broadcast a variety of local college and minor league sports games and was the de facto successor to the Buffalo-based Empire Sports Network . Unlike most regional sports networks, Spectrum Sports
1206-484: The "Orange Television Network") that contained content that some people found offensive because of racial and ethnic jokes. HillTV immediately removed the show's episodes from its Web site, and shortly afterwards issued an on-air apology. The controversy sparked a letter to the university community by Chancellor Nancy Cantor , and the story was also picked up by the Syracuse Post-Standard , local TV stations and
1273-544: The Associated Press. On Oct. 20, in a greatly debated and controversial decision, Nancy Cantor revoked HillTV's status as a recognized student organization, breaking the history of HillTV by punishing more than just the 'Over the Hill' team. The HillTV Web site was removed shortly afterwards. Cantor claimed she would "create a new, responsible television station." Current and past HillTV members, many faculty members and members of
1340-507: The Community Darkrooms, and the first color television studio on the SU campus, edit rooms, and offices to teach and promote portable video production. Students designed and built the cable television system connecting large TV monitors in most campus buildings. They named the program Synapse, and soon began looking for funds to sustain the students, many of whom were now graduating. They secured
1407-625: The Fishboy. The station also continually broadcast a sports-talk show, and each semester ran " The Bio Answer Show ," in which University biology professor Marvin Druger would broadcast the answers to that evening's biology exam, so that the large number of students taking the class would not have to wait several days to find out how they did on the test. "The Rhythm," a popular music video program created by undergrad Dawn Jordan featuring music and interviews from R&B, Rap, Reggae and Urban Contemporary artists,
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#17328813598891474-715: The Syracuse (Central New York) feed. In addition to local sports (listed below), Time Warner Sports was also affiliated with ESPNEWS , which was usually carried during the midday period while that network was provided to regional sports networks for filler programming. Paid programming airs on the channel in the overnight hours. Most first-choice Big East basketball and football games produced by ESPN Plus aired exclusively on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel in its broadcast territory, including any that involve Syracuse University. Additionally, Spectrum Sports rebroadcasts Syracuse University games televised by other ESPN networks. SNY (which
1541-662: The Syracuse University Union student-run video program through its kickoff event "Alternatives in Communications Media" featuring a lecture by Marshall McLuhan, a concert by the Jefferson Airplane, and its main event, the "Multimedia Phenomenon" in Manley Field House. In 1972, University Union was granted the former Watson Dormitory dining hall as an interim UU center, with funding to construct a theater,
1608-423: The UUTV programming as long as it complied with some rudimentary decency standards. There were a few shows that could not clear the decency hurdle, but for the most part, all of the UUTV programming eventually found its way on to public-access. The nightly newscast (Campus 7 News) and the once-a-week morning show (Sun Up) both did this, along with most of the station's entertainment and sports programs. Campus 7 News
1675-527: The United States of America, with blocks of programs featuring underground rock music, world music, folk music, occasional news, and some political or public affairs programs. The online station can be streamed at its website. The station was formed by the largest student-run organization on campus, University Union, after a controversy involving the other student-run station, WJPZ-FM . WJPZ had incorporated as an independent entity broadcasting Top 40 music in
1742-532: The Watson studio and formalized its association with the Newhouse School continuing its NYSCA post-production program following a National Endowment for the Arts grant to control 2" video editing by computer. Watson studio and the cable television system were now run again only by students as UUTV. UUTV and Synapse were conceived as a center for experimental video productions using the "portable" video equipment that
1809-409: The absence of university oversight, and no ratings to fret about, UUTV became a fertile ground for experimentation and learning. In some nominal sense, UUTV had returned to its Synapse roots. Over the years, there was sporadic controversy about the station's funding. Some student government members thought that the student fee should not be funding educational opportunities for those students working at
1876-521: The campus Orange Television Network—the first American college campus cable station in High Definition. Video is posted online in 720p and 1080i resolutions. The upgrades were made financially possible through the Student Association and its co-curricular student fee, which is paid separate from tuition. Significant contributions from parents, studio alumni, and students themselves also supported
1943-440: The campus' closed-circuit TV network did not dampen the enthusiasm of the students at UUTV. The organization continued to attract record numbers of students and regularly produced a full complement of news, sports and entertainment programs every semester. During this time, SU exercised almost zero oversight over the station, which empowered students to experiment, learn, have fun, and create any type of show their hearts desired. With
2010-592: The carrier current broadcast on 750 AM had been abandoned. WERW began to simulcast its programming on the Web in early 2001. A few years later, the 1570 AM transmitter began to broadcast a dead carrier signal when the cable that ran from the studio to the transmitter was cut or damaged from corrosion. In 2002, WERW released an album of music from local artists in conjunction with the campus record label. In early 2010, WERW split from University Union and became an independent student organization. " W hat E veryone R eally W ants" began to be used as an alternate meaning for
2077-600: The community and to video artists, as well as producing some of its own productions. In 1981, SU had become dissatisfied with the curricular component of their relationship with Synapse. While executive director Henry Baker made a proposal that redefined the educational aspects of the Synapse Program, SU rejected the plan and elected to terminate the program. Synapse moved off campus and closed in November 1981. The color production studio and campus cable system were taken over by
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2144-567: The demonstrations in Washington. In 1974, wishing to expand its offerings, Synapse sought and received outside support from the New York State Council on the Arts. Artists in a visiting artists program visited Synapse and used the facilities for the production of video art pieces for several more years. Other projects included Carl Geiger designing and building new electronic image making tools and producing an elaborate experiment called “Multi-Origination Dance Piece." Synapse maintained master edits and
2211-441: The early 21st century, Internet distribution of UUTV programming became technologically practical, and the station found a new outlet to distribute their programming. In early 2004 UUTV, led by general manager Eric Fleming, split off the University Union, and became a separate student organization: HillTV. Later that year, the university trialed the Orange Television Network (OTN), which in a partnership with Time Warner Cable , gave
2278-544: The former Empire studios on Indian Church Road in West Seneca . The channel replaced former local-interest channel "Time Warner 13." TWSN hired former Empire host Jim Brinson in the spring of 2008; Brinson returned to Western New York after a stint as the morning co-anchor at KOHD in Bend, Oregon and hosts programs as well as handles play-by-play duties. In March 2009, after parent company Time Warner spun off Time Warner Cable as
2345-558: The future. Requirements under this decision included a name change for the station, as well as several forms of oversight. The panel also ruled that the university, including the Chancellor and members of her cabinet, must take responsibility for "Over the Hill." Chancellor Cantor's task force for a "new responsible television station" made suggestions to HillTV management about how to create a more diverse and welcoming environment for all campus members instead of creating an entirely new television station. The station had planned to return under
2412-492: The idea for an alternative radio station to exist under the University Union umbrella. They joined forces with SU freshmen Pete Wesenberg, Kyle Rosa, and Shane Francis, who also wanted to start a radio station. Baier became the station's first General Manager and Lori Teitler the first music director. The original turntables and records were those of the University Union members and its free-form format initially consisted of indie rock, rap and alternative dance music. In response to
2479-589: The independent student radio station, WJPZ . The Watson Theater complex was renamed the Robert B. Menschel Media Center , in recognition of the Light Works donor. Though the UUTV studio and office spaces were now significantly smaller, the station did benefit from a new complement of production equipment that was purchased as part of the relocation. In effect, SU administration had forced UUTV (and WJPZ) to accept an implicit deal that traded real-estate for new equipment. In
2546-416: The industry equipment and to appreciate all that goes into producing a successful newscast. From this, students are well prepared in meeting deadlines and collaborating in a newsroom environment. The News Department produces News Live at 6 , a live, 30-minute newscast at 6:00pm five days a week, as well as CitrusTV NOW , a live 5-minute news brief at 4:55 pm. These shows stream live online, broadcast live on
2613-416: The largest student-run organization on campus, University Union, which also programmed film screenings, concerts, speakers, and later established a radio station, WERW (We are UU). The television station was reorganized as University Union Television, or UUTV . Though technically under the control of University Union, the station had its own management, which reported to those in charge of University Union as
2680-543: The legality of showing them over the campus cable system was never clear. Many eyebrows were raised when UUTV showed several recent theatrical releases even before HBO had screened them, including " Raiders of the Lost Ark ." During this period, the station was on the air approximately seven hours per day, seven days per week. In 1989, an organization called " U-Net ," an association of college-based broadcasters, began showing some of UUTV's productions at various colleges around
2747-468: The most basic level. As all of the campus dorm rooms were re-wired for commercial cable TV, the campus closed-circuit TV network was pushed out of the dorm rooms and relegated to the "dorm lounge areas." It became logistically difficult for students to view the campus network. As TVs quickly became a standard fixture in every dorm room, students rarely watched TV in the dorm lounge areas, and the campus closed-circuit network faded into obscurity. The demise of
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2814-406: The name 'CuseTV, but that title was reportedly rejected by the university due to trademark concerns. In 2006, the television station was able to re-open under a new name: CitrusTV. During that time, the station focused on renewing its culture by altering its approach on recruiting new members and improving the attitude within the major departments. In addition, they implemented changes on how content
2881-458: The nation, including "Null and Void." This led to a clip of "Null and Void" appearing on the national show " Entertainment Tonight ." During the early 90s, UUTV established a relationship with the Syracuse cable TV franchise that enabled nearly all UUTV programs to be aired on the City of Syracuse's cable system public-access channel. During this time, the public-access channel was happy to accept and air
2948-521: The network waited until October to cease operations to fulfill its commitment to professional baseball coverage. Existing programming on the network was merged into Spectrum News and migrated to online platforms. Spectrum Sports aired a wide variety of local sports programming. To suit local interests, and because of rights issues, some events are carried only on the Buffalo, Rochester and/or Syracuse feeds. Binghamton, Utica, and North Country viewers receive
3015-516: The network's ability to cover sports outside of Buffalo . As a result, Syracuse University dropped Empire and instead signed a contract with Time Warner to carry their games on a separate channel, which became Time Warner Sports. Time Warner added some other sports events from local college and minor league sports teams to create the channel, which was initially only offered in the Syracuse area. In December 2006, Time Warner Sports expanded southward into
3082-419: The political and monetary support that they needed. SU administration was eager to accept the Light Works grant, and only nominally aware of UUTV's activities. Consequently, the original Watson Theater television studio was completely gutted to make room for the Light Works expansion. The UUTV studios and offices were moved down the hall and squeezed into a space that formerly housed the original UUTV offices and
3149-466: The programming, including dormitory lounges, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications , and the basement of the E.S. Bird Library . At its peak, the system had over 100 monitors able to receive the programming. Early founding members included Carl Geiger and Bill Viola , who helped build the cable system. In 1972, Synapse began operating in Watson Hall . A color three-camera television studio
3216-490: The purchase of new equipment. Operations oversees all engineering and computer/networking functions of CitrusTV. The Web and Digital Media Department is responsible for all of CitrusTV's online presence - including the encoding, organizing, and uploading of videos and other content, and maintaining and promoting a presence on social media. Working in CitrusTV's own studio, students rotate between jobs in order to get familiar with
3283-742: The rights to televise the games of the Rochester Red Wings baseball team. TWSN also obtained the rights to air the Rochester Razorsharks basketball team, replays of the Rochester Raiders indoor football team, and some collegiate sports. The channel serves the entire Greater Rochester area, including the Finger Lakes region and Genesee County ( Batavia ). Time Warner Cable established a Buffalo version of TWSN on November 19, 2007, on channel 13 on Buffalo-area TWC systems, operating out of
3350-412: The station began operating out of its expanded footprint. During the summer of 2014, CitrusTV finalized its studio upgrades with a state-of-the-art $ 60,000 renovation to its main studio, including the purchase of a new desk and backdrop. This replaced the dated look that the station had previously had. The renovations were largely paid for by the student programming fee. In July 2016, CitrusTV introduced
3417-458: The station, and that UUTV's film programming was wasteful and duplicative of the UU Film Board's programming. Several times, the station was given a budget allocation of $ 0 during the annual student government budget hearings, yet with help from the larger UU organization, was always able to bounce back. In 1999, UUTV's great grandparent, Light Works Community Darkrooms, re-entered UUTV's life in
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#17328813598893484-486: The student complaints, and with the new team in place, the University Union organization established WERW in January 1987. University Union is commonly referred to as "U.U." and the station call letters, WERW, were chosen as shorthand for "We Are U.U.". During its first year, WERW broadcast out of the control room of CitrusTV (then UUTV) for a limited broadcasting schedule, and was heard only on cable television (WJPZ earlier had
3551-633: The surrounding community that could hear it. However, there were protests among many university students who wanted the station to reflect more "diverse" programming, including a three-day sit-in at the station's studios by the Student Afro-American Society in the autumn of 1986. The station was originally conceived in October 1986. University Union Concert Board Director Fred Feldman Creative Board Director Will Morrison and UU member Kevin Baier hatched
3618-411: The university and community questioned the lack of due process Cantor displayed. On Oct. 25, former General Manager Rich Levy and numerous former HillTV members filed a petition for reconsideration. Pressure to reinstate the station mounted from alumni, several dozen of which spoke out for reinstatement. According to The Daily Orange, one alumnus reconsidered a $ 25,000 donation towards the construction of
3685-423: The university two channels in residence hall and academic building cable systems. HillTV was allowed to broadcast some of its shows on OTN, and has since continued to provide OTN with some of its content. On October 18, 2005, The Daily Orange , SU's student newspaper, published a story about the content of one of HillTV's shows, Over the Hill . The show had several episodes online (some of which had also aired on
3752-473: The upgrades. Beginning in the fall of 2012, CitrusTV began renovating its physical studio location in Watson Hall. The renovations, in partnership with the student radio station WJPZ , were spearheaded by CitrusTV General Manager Bradley Slavin and WJPZ General Manager Liz Doyon. It was at the time the first construction project led by a student organization on campus. The renovations were funded through private donations, and largely completed by January 2013 when
3819-401: Was " Null & Void ," a sketch comedy show (somewhat of a replacement for "Newswatch") that ran almost 20 years, starting in January 1987; its premise of the programming at a fictional low-rent TV station was strongly influenced by SCTV . Another popular show during the years 1990–1992 was " Uncle Bobo's World of Fun " which included such colorful characters as Texas Bob Stone and Marty
3886-420: Was aired at 10 p.m. on the public-access channel, leading the show to be tagged by its producers as "Central New York's Only Prime-Time Newscast," which it was. The arrangement with Syracuse's public-access channel quickly became the only remaining practical outlet to distribute UUTV programming. During this time, the campus' original closed-circuit TV network was generally not maintained by the university at even
3953-404: Was another popular show during this era and added diversity to both the station's programming and the channel's production staff. The station also programmed professionally produced television shows from television's past, such as " The Twilight Zone " and " Star Trek ." Some of these were 16 millimeter films shown on the station's film chain. Though the films were rented from a local film library,
4020-537: Was available in Syracuse University's dorms and some other campus buildings. A low-power AM broadcast transmitter was acquired and an antenna was erected atop Booth Hall in 1995 to allow WERW to broadcast with 20 watts of power at 1570 AM while simulcasting on 750 AM. It could then be heard all across campus at the Syracuse University and in adjacent areas of the city of Syracuse . By the late 1990s,
4087-532: Was built. Visiting artists who recorded material at the studio included members of The Firesign Theatre . Operations were managed by Gail Waldron , Bob Burns and Lance Wisniewski . Synapse recorded music concerts and prominent speakers on campus. Synapse had a portable system which was used to record the feelings of inmates at Attica Prison following the Attica prison riot . In 1973, Henry Baker organized remote coverage for Richard Nixon 's second inauguration and
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#17328813598894154-654: Was given for breaking news reporting following an Orange Alert being issued on the SU campus. In 2023, the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) presented CitrusTV with the 2023 Signature Station Award. For the landmark 2008 presidential election , CitrusTV produced a live hour-and-a-half special that streamed online to about 100 viewers. Another 100 viewers watched the coverage at a station-sponsored election watch party held in Watson Theater. Similar, live election specials were produced in 2012 and 2014 (which
4221-435: Was introduced. This show has a similar format to ABC's Good Morning America or NBC's Today show. In the fall of 2013, a political show Talking Points was introduced. The show features a host with multiple guest reporters, and covers local, national, international, financial, and technology news. Spectrum Sports (New York) Spectrum Sports was a network of regional sports cable television stations serving much of
4288-451: Was just becoming available in the early 1970s. By current standards, the "portable" equipment would be considered ludicrously heavy and bulky, and barely portable at all. During these years there was a continuing debate between those who favored more conventional approaches to programming and those who envisioned more experimental and creative approaches. In 1971, cables were run across the campus to various locations where students could watch
4355-527: Was never available on satellite television, nor was it available in areas of upstate that are served by companies other than Charter Spectrum/Time Warner Cable (such as Atlantic Broadband in Cattaraugus County or Zito Media in Cayuga County). The network was formed in 2003 as budget cuts at the now-defunct Empire Sports Network , the area's previous regional sports network, forced severe cutbacks in
4422-410: Was produced by Talking Points). In recent years, the department has also partnered with the university's undergraduate Student Association to produce live, 2-hour debates between the student government presidential candidates before elections. For the 2016 presidential election, CitrusTV produced a live three-and-a-half hour special that also streamed online and aired on the Orange Television Network. This
4489-429: Was the first time CitrusTV aired a live broadcast at this length. In 2018, a three hour special was produced and broadcast for that years midterm elections . In 2008, a Spanish news program, CitrusTV Noticias en español , was introduced, making SU one of the few campuses in the country to have a Spanish TV news program. The program broadcasts live every Sunday at 5pm. In 2009, CitrusTV's morning show, Juice and Java ,
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