What: KTCU 88.7-FM “The Choice” Noisefest

Who: Toadies, Baboon, Little Grizzly, Pinkston, Legendary Crystal Chandlier, Asphalt the Recorder

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Ridglea Theater

KTCU hopes for upgrade
Budget problems have left station behind the times

By Jaime Walker
Senior News Editor

For the students in the radio-TV-film department who want work in a large radio market, like the Dallas-Fort Worth area, KTCU 88.7-FM is a great place to gain on-air experience, but the station needs a technological upgrade if it hopes to prepare students for the industry’s top jobs, said David Kindred, programming manager for KTCU.

Photo by Tim Cox - Skiff Staff Allan Schwegmann, a senior radio-TV-film major, plays the top hits for KTCU 88.7-FM from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday nights.

With that motivation in mind, Kindred decided to make it his personal mission to help the radio station purchase a Live Assist Machine, which is an advanced computer system that stores the station’s musical selections electronically.

“KTCU does have a budget through the radio-TV-film department, but it’s small in comparison to the cost of the equipment that’s changing the industry,” Kindred said. “I wanted to see what kinds of funds we could get if we asked the community and other people within the university for help.”

Kindred, a senior radio-TV-film major, said the system will cost approximately $12,000, but being able to use it at TCU would make a huge difference to the station.

“Right now, our (disc jockeys) do every thing by hand,” Kindred said. “They are given a print out with the playlist, but they are responsible for pulling all the (compact discs) and playing them one by one and playing any other (public service announcements) and sweepers. The Live Assist system would do all of that with just the push of a button.”

Kindred recently received $1,000 from the Student Government Association’s Permanent Improvements committee toward his goal.

“We are going to use that money to purchase a software program that randomizes our music and generates playlists,” he said. “The program is compatible with the Live Assist we hope to purchase in the future.”

Andy Haskett, KTCU’s station manager, said the department won’t favor using Live Assist all the time, having it would give students the tools they need to stay in touch with the changing trends of the radio industry.

“The station would gain from the advancements this system brings, because it would improve an already consistent department,” Haskett said.

Kindred said he hopes to have a majority of the money raised before he graduates, but he understands his efforts are still in the preliminary stages.

“I have plans to talk to people at University Christian Church and hope to set up a meeting with the chancellor soon, but none of those meetings are set up officially yet,” he said. “I just want to make people aware of the need and help people understand our equipment is behind the times.”

Jaime Walker
j.l.walker@student.tcu.edu