K29HW-D channel 29, known on-air as TSTV (Texas Student Television) is the student-run television station of The University of Texas at Austin, operated by Texas Student Media. Founded in 1995 as K09VR (KVR) channel 9, it is one of only a handful of FCC-licensed television stations in the country run entirely by students.
TSTV broadcasts a low-power signal over-the-air on digital channel 29.1 in the Austin metropolitan area. TSTV is also found on channel 15 via the campus cable system serving the University. Austin Community Access TV, a public-access television service on Charter Spectrum channel 16, airs a weeknight block of TSTV programming from 9PM to 10PM.
The station features such long time shows such as KVR News, Sneak Peek, College Crossfire, Good Morning Texas, College Press Box, Local Live, and Videogame Hour Live. One show, Campus Loop, was nationally syndicated on the College Broadcast network. It was produced from 1999 until 2001 and still airs repeats today.
Notable Hollywood personalities have appeared on several of the station's shows or segments, including Pauly Shore, Mark Cuban, Dennis Quaid and Robert Rodriguez.
Writer, producer and director Wes Anderson was briefly affiliated with the station as a student at the University. Here he met future collaborator Owen Wilson. Zach Anner, Internet star and host of the OWN show "Rollin' with Zach Anner" worked at the station, starring and producing such shows like "That's Awesome!" and "The Wingmen". Creator of Red vs. Blue and Rooster Teeth Productions, Burnie Burns worked at the station in the early nineties and created their longest running show, "Sneak Peek".
Todd Berger, writer and director of the films The Scenesters and It's a Disaster, worked at the station in the late 1990s, and wrote and directed Campus Loop.
In January 2010, TSTV began broadcasting digitally on UHF channel 29.1 under a new call sign, K29HW-D. Fund-raising efforts were held to raise the $85,000 needed to convert the station to digital. As a low-power station, K09VR was not required to meet the June 12, 2009 deadline to convert from analog to digital. This rule applied only to full-power U.S. TV stations. Its license for analog channel 9 (K09VR) has since been cancelled. In June 2011, TSTV increased transmitter power to 3400 watts, enhancing its coverage across most of Austin, and to an estimated 75,000 households who watch television via antenna.
TSTV's programming schedule consists of shows produced by students, ranging from scripted comedy shows, news (entertainment and sports), and musical variety shows.
"Good Morning Texas": UT's weekly morning news talk show. We bring you the latest in UT campus issues, events, entertainment and Longhorn sports. The show features band and dance performances, fashion shows and in-studio guests. NEW episodes air LIVE every Wednesday at 7:00 A.M. CST.
"KVR News": TSTV's award-winning live news broadcast. The half-hour show reflects what's going on in the campus community and covers student issues, achievements, and university sports. All of KVR News 9's content is produced by student volunteers. NEW episodes air LIVE every Monday at 9:00 P.M. CST.
"College Crossfire": An "Around the Horn" style 30 minute sports debate show featuring three of UT's top sports analysts discussing the biggest sports issues of the week. NEW episodes air every Wednesday at 9:00 P.M. CST.
"College Pressbox": The most comprehensive outlook on UT sports. Not only does it bring exclusive footage from the larger Big Twelve sports but College Pressbox also brings coverage to the UT sports that aren't always in the spotlight. NEW episodes air every Monday at 9:30 P.M. CST.
"TSTV Gameday": TSTV’s flagship sports show that covers live sporting events at UT and around the Austin area. Scheduling and airing arises dependent on live events. NEW episodes air on a case-by-case basis.
"Austin Underground: Austin Underground is a music entertainment program which focuses on touring musicians coming to Austin, covering local and major acts, as well as major music festivals in Austin and all over Texas. NEW episodes air every Thursday at 8:00 P.M. CST.
"Local Live": Since 1998 Local Live has brought in a bands for a small performance every Sunday bringing in local bands or sometimes bands that just haven't made it big yet, such as My Morning Jacket and Modest Mouse. NEW episodes air every Sunday at 10:00 P.M. CST.
"Sneak Peek": the longest running program on TSTV. Episodes feature the latest in entertainment news, from movie reviews to film festivals and celebrity interviews. NEW episodes air LIVE every Thursday at 9:30 P.M. CST.
"The Xclusive": A day time television show where we discuss anything and everything Hollywood! NEW episodes air every other Friday at 1:00 P.M. CST.
"The 40": A comedic talkshow that covers interesting happenings on the UT campus. NEW episodes air Thursday at 10:00 P.M. CST.
"That's Awesome": A sketch comedy show that has a huge variety of comedy in every episode. We vary from parodies to original characters in far-fetched scenarios. NEW episodes air Fridays at 9:00 P.M. CST.
"Longhorn LateNight": Each episode features LHLN cast members performing different comedic sketches, live satirical news reports, pre-recorded sketches, and musical performances. Live sketches are performed in the TSTV Studio in the Hearst Student Media Building (HSM). Students are encouraged to come watch episodes in the studio audience. NEW episodes air LIVE every Tuesday at 11:00 P.M. CST.
"Down To Film": A meta comedy about the cast and crew of the show Down to Film and their struggle to keep their show on the air, against both the mundane and the supernatural. NEW episodes air every other Friday at 9:30 P.M. CST.
"Midsummer Nights at Jenny’s: A comedic sitcom that follows the disillusioned employees of a Jenny’s restaurant, a run down chain past its prime, and the disaster of its everyday shenanigans.
"Life Support": A wacky comedy about a group of misfit EMT students as they try to navigate schoolwork, friends, and what the hell they want to do with their lives. NEW episodes air every Thursday at 8:00 P.M. CST.
"Video Game Hour Live": UT’s premiere video game show where hosts play a different game live on the air each week as well as produce a variety of pre-recorded segments such as industry news covering all the latest geek news, reviews, or previews. NEW episodes air LIVE every Tuesday at 9:00 P.M. CST.
"Beyond Illusion": A show that takes the awe and astonishment of a stage magic show and brings it out into the streets of a college campus and the world beyond. Magician Giancarlo Bernini astounds and amazes everyone he encounters through the use of illusion and psychology.
