D3TV hopes to expand the organization's scope of campus coverage this semester with help from a new $10,000 high-tech system that allows them to broadcast live from anywhere on campus.
The computer-tower-sized machine, called a Tricaster, is by far the most advanced piece of equipment in the group's arsenal, most of which has been around since its founding in the 1990s.
The buy came after a series of compromises between D3TV, Allocations Board and other university departments. D3TV will co-own the equipment with the university, which has rented a Tricaster in the past for events like graduation. The Athletic Department will also have access to live-stream sports games.
The deal closed after D3TV asked allocations board three consecutive semesters to provide money for the equipment. Allocations finally granted D3TV $6,000 out of this fall's activity budget, according to Director of Allocations Stewart Burns, a senior. A recent alumna pitched in the rest of the money.
Media User Services Team, which rents out equipment to students, will provide D3TV with two new professional-grade cameras to use for live broadcasts.
"This gives us more capabilities than we've ever had before," said D3TV's General Manager Kaitlin Klose. "Which means we're going to work so much harder this semester than we have in the past. Everything has to be full throttle."
Before the Tricaster, D3TV could only broadcast from its studio in the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media. If an event outside of its home base was to go on the air, it had to be fully recorded and edited before being played. That was a hit to D3TV's functionality as a media at its best when live, Klose said.
The station plans to air at least one sports game a week. Speakers and events can be covered live both on air and online.
But a live stream means at least six people are needed at a shoot to direct, produce, and man cameras and graphic computers. That will require redoubled commitment from the station's staff - and hopefully some help from other departments with events and sports games.
The station plans to use WGRE commentator's audio for their live-broadcasted sports games. The Athletic department has told the group its staffers will help man the Tricaster.
"It's all for an increased presence and legitimacy within DePauw's community," Klose said. She said her staff has been working hard during the week on their back-to-school projects - which she thinks will prove D3TV's rising status as a powerful student media and not just a club.
"I'm hoping this will get people interested in D3TV," Klose said. "Prospective students, parents, community members... They'll finally see us."
