City of De Pere hires Stephen Plekan as video production specialist

The City of De Pere has hired a new video production specialist, Stephen Plekan, who will be responsible for the PEG access cable channel 4 program schedule, social media, local event and meeting coverage and promotional videos.  “I love shooting, editing, and making creative choices with video,” said Plekan, “and this position will enable me to focus on that and grow creatively.

 Plekan previously worked for WBAY Channel 2, the ABC affiliate in Green Bay where he most recently worked in the promotions department producing PSAs and station promotional pieces.  “I liked promotions because it was more creative, and I could take the time to polish things.  When this job popped up, I realized it was similar to what I was doing but had better pay and benefits and would allow me to be my own boss.”

Plekan also formerly worked at a local Wausau broadcast station and is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh with a degree in Radio, TV, Film. 

UWW-TV leader and founding director Peter Conover dies

Click here for the original post at the UWW-TV homepage

Professor Peter Conover

Dr. Peter Conover, professor of mass communications at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and founder of UWW-TV, the campus cable television station, died July 16, 2023, in Tucson, AZ, following complications from Parkinson’s.

Dr. Conover began his tenure at UW-Whitewater in 1972 after receiving his BA at the University of Iowa, where he met his wife, Katherine. He went on to earn an MA from Syracuse (NY) University, and later a Ph.D. from UW-Madison. During his time as a professor in the Department of Communications, he earned awards for Outstanding Faculty Service and for Outstanding Teaching. He had also been the recipient of the University Service Award, the COMM Advising Award, the KEMPA Service Award and was a past member of the AHECTA Board of Directors.

Conover was instrumental in launching academic courses in video production and other communication techniques. His former Communications colleague and longtime friend Richard Haven credits Peter not only with establishing the Electronic Media submajor at UW-Whitewater, but his efforts helped influence the development of many other COMM-related fields of study, including journalism, public relations, interpersonal communication and media arts and gaming, just to name a few.

“He was a very personable person, with a calm willingness to be the key player to create what UWW-TV and the Communication Department is today,” said Haven. The former interim dean of the College of Arts and Communication has countless stories of their professional and personal time together, including trips to Florida, New Orleans and San Francisco, but it was their work together after UWW-TV was founded in 1980 that made the cable station was it is today.

Together with the leadership and support of then Director of Residence Life Jerry Gorby, they put UWW-TV on the Charter cable line-up, primarily to provide over 150,000 households the ability to access live sporting events and original student programming on what was first Cable 6 (and later Cable 19).

Past Director of Residence Life and current Vice President of Retention & Completion at MATC Milwaukee Jeff Janz remembers that Peter was one of the first people he met when he became the leader of that division in 1991.

“I was thrilled to discover that UWW-TV was part of my oversight,” recalls Janz, as that partnership was new to him. “I was very proud of the model that Peter had created between Student Affairs and the Department of Communication.” He remembered Peter as a man who was committed to his responsibilities, while maintaining a wonderful spirit. “He was a lovely person.”

Dr. Conover taught and mentored a number of undergraduate and graduate students over the years, turning many into journalists and broadcasters who continue to excel in the profession today. Jonathan Kelley, a former student and staff member at UWW-TV remembers him as one of the kindest and supportive persons he has ever known. “His support for his students was unwavering, and his passion for film was addictive. I came to UW-Whitewater with a love for film…Peter made me truly understand why.” Former graduate student and current General Manager of UWW-TV Jim Mead echoes those sentiments. “I greatly admired my predecessor, teacher, mentor and good friend.” Conover retired from UW-Whitewater in 2011.

Dr. Peter Conover is survived by wife, Katherine, sons Aubrey (Laura) and Damien (Shoshanah), grandsons Eli, Ben and Colin, brother Kelley (Judy) and sister Mary Susan (Mike) and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Whitewater, where he lived and worked for many years and where he developed numerous valued friendships. UWW-TV has also provided a link to view the 2013 Conover Television Studio Dedication Ceremony that was originally held May 19, 2013, an honor that, with the re-naming of the campus television station ensures his legacy at UW-Whitewater will never be forgotten. To view the dedication program in its entirety, click here.

-       Downloaded from the UWW-TV home page on August 7, 2023

Stoughton and Oregon cable channels are down again

Spectrum’s complaint line is (833) 267-6094

Editors note: Charter reports that both channels were restored on the evening of July 11.

Charter Spectrum cable TV customers started calling the City of Stoughton and the City of Oregon last Thursday to complain that their local “PEG” (Public/Education/Government) cable TV channels were down.  Six days later, both cities are still wondering when the channels will be repaired.

WSTO is the city’s PEG access channel.

Derek Westby, Senior Network Administrator with the City of Stoughton IT/Media Services Department which manages WSTO, said he received the first call around 10 am on Thursday from a resident and immediately emailed Mike Hill, Government Affairs Manager for Charter Spectrum.  The response he received was surprising --  an automatic email informing Westby that Hill had retired as of June 30.  “Mike Hill has been the primary contact for Wisconsin municipalities with PEG channels for as long as I can remember,” said Westby.  “We did not receive any notice that he was going to be retiring.”  The automatic email suggested two other contacts to try:  Teri Hatchell, Director of State Government Affairs and Adam Raschka, Senior Director of State Government Affairs.  Westby sent another email to Hatchell. 

On Friday morning, Paul Zwicker, Executive Director of OCA Media, followed up Westby’s email with another one to both contacts.  At the end of the day, Raschka responded that Hatchell had “routed the issue to the team Mike would normally interact with.” 

As of today, Tuesday, July 11, Stoughton’s cable channels 980 and 981 and Oregon’s cable channels 983 and 984 are still down.  Zwicker emailed the company again today.  “I told them that we are receiving complaints from their customers.”

Unfortunately, Westby and Zwicker have experienced PEG channel outages before.  “Both of our signals travel to a common hub before being inserted into the Charter Spectrum cable system, so when both channels go down, we know that the problem lies with their hub site,” said Westby. 

Charter Spectrum has not upgraded how they carry these PEG channels even though the world has moved on to HD, 4K and even higher standards.  To be compatible with the Charter system, both communities are required to use old analog modulators that could break at any time.

Viewers of cable television in Oregon and Stoughton are relied upon to let their cities know about Charter Spectrum outages.  Since video service providers charge municipalities for service, subscribing to more than one provider would be cost prohibitive.  Both municipalities subscribe to TDS, which carries the PEG channels in HD.

If you are a frustrated viewer, let the State of Wisconsin know. Go to WCM’s cable complaint page and click on the link to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection complaint form page. Help Stoughton and Oregon get faster action! And help us make state government aware of these ongoing problems.