Orlando Blog: Florida CBS Affiliate Goes HD

For more than two weeks, Orlando CBS affiliate WKMG has been broadcasting newscasts in full high definition.

A reader wrote into Hal Boedeker’s Orlando Sentinel blog to mention the upgrade.

WKMG General Manager Skip Valet confirmed the change. It debuted Saturday, June 2.

Two Mobile-Pensacola Stations Take HD Plunge

New WPMI-TV Set (Courtesy: Facebook)

Although Mobile-Pensacola FOX affiliate WALA-TV has been enjoying its new HD transition and set design since April 21, competitor WPMI has become the last station in this market to make the switch as well, debuting its high-definition newscasts and sparkling set over the weekend.

Both WALA and NBC affiliate WPMI got complete set makeovers as well, with new graphics packages and control rooms to boot.

Mobile Station Upgrading Studio for HD Plunge

New Set for WALA-TV in Mobile-Pensacola (Courtesy: NewscastStudio)

Mobile-Pensacola FOX affiliate, WALA will soon celebrate two new changes to its newscast operations: a new studio and local newscasts in high definition.

Though initially mentioned on the station’s Facebook page earlier this month, NewscastStudio had a posted photo of what viewers can expect.

How Will Comcast Ownership Factor in with NBC O&O’s?

New KNSD Logo/Branding

Now that Comcast has officially come onboard as the new owners of NBC Universal (and by design, all of NBC’s news properties), questions remain as to what this means for the network’s owned-and-operated affiliates in the country’s major markets.

Broadcasting & Cable reports general managers of those ten stations have already begun talks with Comcast brass in San Diego.

Recently, NBC’s San Diego affiliate KNSD unveiled a new on-air look, which includes taking the station’s call letters or channel number out, in favor of “NBC (INSERT CITY NAME HERE).”

The website NewscastStudio indicated other O&O’s had already done this online, including one in our area (WTVJ in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market), but KNSD is the first to transition its broadcast product to match.

WTVJ Website Logo

Because South TV News covers six states in the southeast, WTVJ is the only O&O in our region. What big changes could be on the way for the station there, as well as the others?

From the B&C article:

“There’s a huge opportunity to work closely with (regional sports channels) SportsNet and (Comcast ad sales division) Spotlight,” says one GM at an NBC owned station. “How we do that will be a big topic of conversation in San Diego.”

An NBC spokesperson told the popular television business website that the meeting itself is nothing unusual; they happen twice a year anyway.

High Definition: Game Changer in Newscasts?

Since the availability of high-definition cable channels and a higher flat-screen adoption rate among consumers, many stations have made the decision to upgrade their facilities and go HD with their newscasts.

What’s surprising, though, is that dozens of stations in top 50 markets still aren’t. Well, first of all, the upgrade isn’t cheap; you’re talking at least a million dollar investment in terms of camera equipment, control room facilities, etc. And then there’s adjustments to the workflow in a newsroom, with many still depending on Digital-S or DVC-PRO for their needs.

The whole thing has me wondering: is it worth it? Do viewers really care enough to watch in bigger numbers, which increases ratings and therefore brings more advertising revenue to the station? Or is it one of those “mine’s bigger” contests among competitors?

Obviously, going tapeless in a newsroom and moving entirely to hard disk or portable media recorders saves money over costly analog tapes.

But then there’s the realization you’re going to see that anchor you’ve trusted for 15 years up close and personal, pores and all.

I’m compiling a list of stations that haven’t yet made the switch, and will have that posted once I’m through. I also welcome your comments.