University shuts down UMKC TV service
Elyssa Brogdon
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: News
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UMKC TV was a Web site provided by the university that offered cable TV and limited DVR options.
Peter Morello, associate professor of Communications Studies, said the original purpose of UMKC TV was to provide a more cost-effective alternative to cable and satellite TV.
Jennifer Underwood, administrative assistant of Communications Studies is disappointed the service is gone.
"Teachers could use UMKC TV as a resource in class to show something on CNN, radio production, television production, and examples of how something is produced and presented which is important to our program," she said. "…It's a disappointment that that resource isn't there for our faculty and for our students."
Dr. Alex Holsinger, Sociology, Criminal Justice and Criminology and member of Faculty Senate, said he first heard about the removal of UMKC TV in a Faculty Senate Executive committee meeting, though it was not a part of official business of the committee or the Senate.
"At the most recent Faculty executive committee meeting with the provost, Mary Lou Hines was present in order to update us on a number of issues related to the university's technology," Holsinger said. "The UMKC TV program was not a specific point of discussion, but was merely mentioned among a number of other issues relating to changes in [Information Technology] at UMKC."
According to Holsinger, Mary Lou Hines, chief information officer and vice provost for Academic Programs, explained that UMKC would not be renewed after current arrangements expired.
"The main reason for not renewing the UMKC TV program was fiscal," Holsinger said. "Most, if not all, departments and divisions on campus are often being asked to become more efficient, and Information Technology is no exception."
Morris also suggested the program was removed for fiscal reasons.
"After a re-examination of University resources was conducted, it was decided to discontinue this program," she said.
Morello said there may have been other reasons for its removal.
"We may not have been complying with the [Federal Communications Commission] regulations, so this is why it was yanked," Morello said. "I'm not sure about this, but this was my understanding."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 16
Deborah Phillips
posted 2/11/08 @ 7:48 PM CST
You don't have to watch TV to find out what's going on. Breaking news is available on any news site such as the K.C. Star, major newspapers around the country, CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, NBC and all the local network affiliates. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 2/12/08 @ 10:22 AM CST
This was a nice article and all, but you were talking to the wrong people about what really happend. I have friends that were actually working on the system that is in question. (Continued…)
Nic Neufeld
posted 2/12/08 @ 10:29 AM CST
About time. As a recent graduate, in my time at UMKC, none of my classes ever made any educational use of UMKC TV. That said, I can't count the amount of times I sat in the back of a class and watched multiple students with laptops watching UMKC TV instead of listening to the lecture. (Continued…)
no name
posted 2/12/08 @ 12:20 PM CST
I thought the official reason that UMKC TV was yanked (fiscal reasons) should have been given at the beginning of the article. Speculation and the original intent of the program should've came last. (Continued…)
Jessie Burche
posted 2/14/08 @ 4:06 PM CST
"UMKC TV disappeared without warning early last week and left many students, faculty and staff wondering what happened."
How is that a teaser? It's called a lede. (Continued…)
Jessie Burche
posted 2/21/08 @ 2:38 PM CST
I don't want to be a journalist. While I think it's very nice of you to follow all the comments I get and how I respond to them. I think it's strange you would say that first persons response wasn't snippy. (Continued…)
Sarah
posted 2/21/08 @ 6:37 PM CST
You don't have to apologize for criticizing an article or the information it gives you - that's part of what makes peoples' writing and work better. If they can't take a comment about how the person they're writing for (assuming you're a student) would like to see the information, then they should look for other things to do than work at a newspaper. (Continued…)
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