The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) has honored WKYU-PBS with the Enterprise and Innovation Award in recognition of the conversion of WKYU’s television studio lighting system to a state-of-the-art LED lighting system. 

The NETA Enterprise Innovation Award recognizes emerging service models reflecting the evolution from legacy services to public media.  According to NETA: “WKYU-PBS and Western Kentucky University embody the reason for the award. Faced with an all too familiar problems these days of a tight budget, and conscious of long-term capital expenditure needs, theirs is an innovation based on necessity.  The judges were deeply impressed with WKYU’s willingness to rethink, adapt, and problem solve…to provide a state-of-the-art solution.”

WKYU’s LED studio lighting conversion led the way in this new energy efficient technology as the first public television facility and first university in the U.S. to convert to a full LED system.  The renovation involved replacing wiring, lighting communication technology systems and lights.  The innovative design has been recognized for utilizing “green” technological practices that reduce energy consumption by 97 percent in the studio.  Several organizations have toured the facility since the installation and the design has been featured in trade and periodical publications. 

In addition, the project serves the university mission by educating students about industry trends in using these environmentally friendly lights.  Their education will result in broader industry acceptance as they carry knowledge of this technology into the field as future professionals.

In accepting the award on behalf of the station, Jack Hanes, director of Public Media at WKU, said: “We are so pleased to be recognized by our peers in Public Media for this effort.  This is just another example of the way that WKYU-PBS extends the mission of Western Kentucky University in being a leading university.”

David Brinkley, senior producer/director at WKYU-PBS, led the lighting project at the station. 

“At WKYU-PBS we must be conscious of long-term needs whenever a capital expenditure is made,” Brinkley said. “So, when we had an issue arise with our facility, we used the opportunity to provide a state-of-the-art solution that just happened to be highly efficient, sustainable and, surprisingly, the most economical.  Our student employees have been proud to be the first to use this environmentally friendly lighting system.  They are the true beneficiaries, and their impact on the future will be the true success story of this project.”

Earlier this year, WKYU-PBS received a regional Emmy award in technical achievement for the LED project.