TVW is undergoing a major equipment upgrade that will impact how we cover live events this fall. Mike Bay, vice president of programming, released this memo on Thursday detailing what TVW viewers can expect starting next week through December:
TVW received funding from the 2015 Legislature to upgrade its Capitol cameras and HQ infrastructure from 4×3 standard definition to 16×9 high definition.
This upgrade has already begun, but will kick into high gear in the coming weeks. It involves a complete replacement of TVW’s system: the 40+ cameras on the Capitol Campus; the “master control” area and technical infrastructure (servers, routers, switchers etc) at TVW HQ; and the miles of cable that connect everything together.
How this will affect coverage:
—Our current Capitol cameras and will no longer be operational as of the week of Oct. 5. To cover events, even on campus, we need to physically bring in mobile cameras. Thus, our overall coverage of events, on Campus and off, for TV and for webcast, will be significantly reduced through end of year.
—We will not be able to go live on TV, and on the closed circuit channels that feed the Capitol. We will likely not be able to go live until shortly before the 2016 session, when the new infrastructure and cameras are in place.
—Our ability to live webcast Campus events will be reduced as well. Both due to reduced overall coverage and because we will not be physically connected to the Capitol for an extended period; we will webcast via wireless transmission to the extent we are able.
–As TVW’s HQ infrastructure is being replaced there will be down times and outages that affect TVW’s entire system, including the online archives at tvw.org.
We are of course aware the Legislature could be called back to the Capitol for a special session, and have discussed contingency plans for coverage should that occur.