Wright State radio station WWSU's hard drive crashed Thursday morning, wiping out the system of automation that broadcasts programming for the duration of time that a DJ is not on-air.
According to WWSU Chief Engineer Ettamarie Valdez, the entire automation system will have to be replaced to restore the lost functionality.
"We have to start from scratch with a new computer, download the RadioDJ program and set up the automation," said Valdez.
The station content that relies on the automation system includes: automated music play, top-of-the-hour updates, FCC-required station identification, show promos and public service announcements, according to WWSU General Manager Shannon McGrath.
Valdez is concerned that it might take quite a while for the system to be repaired.
"From start to finish, with school starting, I would say a month," Valdez said. "It could take that long, but it depends on how many hours we're able to spend trying to fix it.”
Paying for the needed replacements is also an issue of concern among WWSU staff. McGrath said the process would be difficult.
"I'll have to sit down with our advisor Debbie Lamp to piece together where we can pull funds from, and we might have to consider some fundraising events,” McGrath said.
While the system is being repaired in the coming weeks, WWSU will be initiating stopgap measures to ensure continuity of service and compliance with government regulations.
"We're going to use iTunes to play music, legal IDs, promos and whatever else we need so that we can have something prepared for each 24-hour period," said Valdez.
