Rogers State University has named the top executive for Wyoming Public Television as the general manager of the university’s television station.
Dan Schiedel, who has served as the general manager of Wyoming Public Television (WPTV) and president of the WPTV Foundation since 2001, has more than 17 years experience with public television stations in Wyoming, Missouri and South Dakota.
Schiedel will begin his position at RSU-TV starting on June 1. In his new role as general manager of RSU-TV, Schiedel will work to enhance the television’s service to the campus and community.
RSU-TV broadcasts on UHF channel 35, Claremore and Tulsa cable channel 19, and more than 70 cable systems in northeastern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. The station reaches an audience of about 1.2 million people within a 75-mile radius of the Claremore campus. RSU-TV, which is Oklahoma’s only full-powered television station operated on a public university campus, is a key component to RSU’s distance learning programs, which includes telecourses and live interactive programming.
“Dan’s extensive experience with public television will be beneficial as we begin to build stronger relationships with the communities we serve both through the production of local programming or the enhancement of existing programming,” said Dr. Ray Brown, RSU vice president for community and economic development, who oversees the television station’s operations.
A major opportunity for RSU-TV’s expanded service will arise as the station continues its federally mandated conversion to digital transmission later this year. With digital transmission, RSU-TV will be able to improve the quality of its broadcasts and expand the services offered by the station.
Digital transmission will allow the station to include more information within its signal, which allows for better picture and sound quality than currently available. The technology also can be used to transmit large amounts of other data that users could access using their computer or television set, including the integration of online content with the television broadcast, which would be particularly beneficial for the distance learning courses carried by RSU-TV, Brown said.
Schiedel was instrumental in guiding Wyoming Public Television’s expansion into digital transmission and securing the funding for that conversion. During his five years at the helm of Wyoming Public Television, the network experienced a 39 percent increase in membership, a 25 percent increase in viewership and a 250 percent increase in underwriting. Wyoming Public Television operates through its flagship station, KCWC-TV, which is a full-service, public television station licensed to Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyo. The network provides four channels (one analog channel and three digital channels) of programming 24 hours a day.
From 1995 to 2001, Schiedel served as vice president of production, corporate communications and government relations for Ozarks Public Television based in Springfield, Mo. Schiedel previously worked at the South Dakota Public Broadcasting system, where he rose from special projects producer to director of statewide productions and public information during his six years there.
Schiedel earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mass communications, both from the University of South Dakota. He has taught media operations and telecommunications management courses at Drury College in Springfield, Mo., and the University of South Dakota.