WNYW looks very nice..some of their field cams look better than others. Might even be HD field, not sure. One of the ones I just saw was definitely 16:9 SD, others looked way better. I'll see if I can get in contact with a station engineer to find out.

WNYW is using Panasonic P2s in 16:9 SD for field shots.

I thought the P2s were HD?

Edit: Some cams are SD/HD, others are just SD according to a station engineer.

11/04/08: WXIX (FOX19) had its first HD newscast during the elections. HD graphics package for election results and HD studio cams. Weather and external cams are 4x3.

WKRC (CBS) should be HD at the end of November. WKRC will be Newport's test station for HD. New studio completed and on-air 11/03/08. Will post when in HD!

WLWT (NBC) remains the only station to go/announce plans for HD newscasts.

Cincinnati's WXIX added to table.

WXIX HD news is pretty bad compared to WCPO...I really hope they get their act together because if they are satisfied calling what they're doing HD...HD would never have taken off...Very 'cartoonish' IMHO...

WNYW looks very nice..some of their field cams look better than others. Might even be HD field, not sure. One of the ones I just saw was definitely 16:9 SD, others looked way better. I'll see if I can get in contact with a station engineer to find out.

Even WNYW going 16:9 is an improvement for them. I don't think any network/station has 100% HD cameras in the field yet. I'll look out for them broadcasting in HD tonight. Just having the studio coverage in HD is a step up, then field cams and sports highlights in HD. I wonder if they'll upgrade WWOR to HD too.

WPIX has one HD field camera. From what I know, no other station does. The rest of the networks are 16:9 SD.

WWOR is going HD early 2009.

WNYW, their first week doing HD news.

monday morning:
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/336/vlcsnap11566135yh6.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vlcsnap11566135yh6.jpg)http://img205.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

thursday morning:
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1494/vlcsnap14173813hp9.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vlcsnap14173813hp9.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

WNYW started out only using the area framed for 4:3 for the bottom scroll. In less than a week, they added the entire right side of the screen. I'm assuming that's a FOX-mandated bug so it can't be manipulated, so that's as much of the scrolling bar as we'll see.

I remember WNBC had almost the same dilemma(?) a few months back, having the time and temperature below the bug, not allowing the scroll to go across the entire screen. That's changed, and presently their time and temp. are above the WNBC logo, allowing the scroll to go across the width of the screen.

WCBS, WNBC, and WABC currently have their scroll across 100% of the screen, while WNYW and WPIX have it going across approx 66% of the screen.

Just a small detail that irks me. :)

I'm assuming that's a FOX-mandated bug so it can't be manipulated, so that's as much of the scrolling bar as we'll see.
It is, but it's interesting that it says HD in the top rotating part. WJBK Detroit, which is a Fox O&O, doesn't have anything mentioning that their newscasts are HD.

Not sure if I am late to the party on this one, but I saw that WNBC-TV unveiled their new set tonight. I only caught the end of the broadcast, but it seems like they have changed everything from Weather Graphics to Lower 3rd's and a radical shift in set design. Personally I like it a lot; it is definitely made for people with hdtv's. They have robo-cams mounted in the newsroom now like in L.A. which I am sure is going to correspond to the launch of their 24-hour local digital channel (Early next year, correct?)

The funny part was when the reporter was giving a tour of the set, and they have replaced the typical green screen with a 103" Panasonic Plasma, saying that everyone on the set couldn't afford it. Aren't they down to around $50,000? :)

Hmm I haven't watched WNBC news in a while, I'll tune in at 6pm

Edit: Very, very slick graphics. I'm loving it already.

KHNL(NBC) Honolulu tentatively has set December 8th as the start of it's HD newscast from it's new studios.

This would be Hawaii's first local HD newscast.

CBS affiliate KGMB has delayed it's HD newscast plans temporarily.

Finally, the Washington, D.C. market is getting a second local newscast in HD. ABC 7/WJLA is going HD with their news today.

Belatedly added to my Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table:
• WCAX (CBS) and WFFF (Fox) in Burlington, Vermont

Tentatively added:
• KHNL (NBC) in Honolulu
• WJLA (ABC) in Washington, D.C.

Please advise if either station doesn't carry out its promise.

• WJLA (ABC) in Washington, D.C.

Please advise if either station doesn't carry out its promise.

I haven't seen it in person yet, but someone posted a picture of the screen showing WJLA's 12 PM newscast in HD:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15244867#post15244867

NBC10, Philadelphia (WCAU) is supposed to be begin broadcasting the news in HD starting this Wednesday (December 10, 2008). They are the last in our market to do so.

WCAU Philly went HD and debuted their brand new set on Dec. 10 Here's are some screenshots:

http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news2.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news1.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news7.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news6.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news13.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news10.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news12.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news14.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news3.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news4.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news11.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news15.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news8.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news9.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news17.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news18.jpg

No screenshots of the pillar bars they use for SD?

Very unique set. Haven't seen a glass desk like that.

Holy skin tone filtering, Batman. I know the talent doesn't want all their various facial imperfections showing up in HD, but there's a line between softening the look and turning faces to clay, and NBC passed it about 10 notches back. Nice set design, but having newscasters who look like people instead of mannequins would be a good step forward.

Very slick set and graphics. Skintone filtering is a bit creepy though.

WBZ-TV Boston (CBS O&O) launched HD news tonight at 5pm. They also produce the news on independent TV 38 Boston (WSBK-TV).

Edit: This makes WFXT (FOX O&O) the only Boston big 4 station without an HD newscast. WZMY-TV (MyNTV) also does not produce the news in HD.

NBC 10 using a blue analog connection on their Dell monitor. Shame shame, should be using a DVI :) It's so HD I can see that!

NBC 10 using a blue analog connection on their Dell monitor. Shame shame, should be using a DVI :) It's so HD I can see that!
Actually, that could be one of the cheapie analog LCDs, so no DVI. Notice it doesn't have height adjustment.

I noticed that the "Local HD News List" does not include WFMZ, based in Allentown, PA. I believe this station is included in the Philadelphia, PA DMA. It's news programs have been in HD since May 2008.

• WBZ (CBS) and WSBK (ind.) in Boston added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.
• WFMZ (in the Philadelphia area) added as an independent station.
Wikipedia says it has the Philadelphia area's only local Spanish newscast, and that WFMZ also serves as a local station in news and cable coverage to Carbon County and Monroe County within the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton DMA.

I didn't add an entry for WFMZ in the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton DMA because I'm not sure if Carbon and Monroe counties make up enough of that DMA to justify a second, somewhat redundant, mention of WFMZ in the table. (I suppose there are many other out-of-DMA coverages around the country as well.)

-- Is WFMZ's Spanish newscast in HD?

KHNL Honolulu has set Dec. 20th at 6pm as it first HD telecast.
It's MyNet sister station KFVE will also air all it's newscast in HD as well.

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=9447697

local news is HD, but with black bars on both sides in Quad Cities.

local news is HD, but with black bars on both sides in Quad Cities.
If there are black bars during the entire newscast, it's absolutely not HD.

-- Is WFMZ's Spanish newscast in HD?

Yes, all of their newscasts are in HD.

That set and the graphics on WCAU look pretty sharp. WRC (our local NBC O&O) has recently started using the same graphics package, so I'm hoping that their transition to HD news isn't far off.

Yes, all of their newscasts are in HD.
• Philadelphia area's WFMZ added to the Noticias HD en Español section as an independent station.

WISC, CBS affiliate, is the first station in the state (according to them) to do HD local news.

No other Madison station, at this time, is doing HD news. I've not heard any rumors of others doing their news in HD.

• Madison's WISC (CBS) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

WBAL news is now in HD. Screenshots from the local thread:


http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4783/vlcsnap12765885ax1.png

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6222/vlcsnap12766030md3.png

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7501/vlcsnap12763716pw1.png

http://mysite.verizon.net/~vze4gzbj/wbal.png

Austin's KXAN (NBC) added to table 24 Dec 2008
Baltimore's WBAL (NBC) added to table 4 Jan 2009
-- Marcus, thanx for the screenshots from my original home town.

Sorry. I didn't read the entire thread but in D.C., WUSA (CBS channel 9) has had HD news for quite some time. WJLA (ABC channel 7) started their HD newscasts last month. WRC (NBC channel 4) is still not their yet.

WJLA & WUSA are already in the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

WSVN (FOX) in Miami started broadcasting their news in HD today.

Miami now has 2 local news stations - WTVJ(NBC) and WSVN(FOX) - broadcasting in HD.

WGCL in Atlanta (CBS) is now in HD as of the 11PM newscast tonight. And the field packages that were shot today were not just 16:9 480P like the other stations here, but were true HD. The weather graphics are true HD. They are the lowest rated station in the market, their ad inventory during their newscast is more promos for their morning show than ads, and they are cutting back like everyone else. But their show looks better than the other 3 outlets in town. And they beat Fox 5 to HD which is amazing since they do more newscasts than anyone in this market.

KPHO in Phoenix (Meredith's second-biggest station after WGCL) is tentatively scheduled to launch an HD newscast in April, though that date is subject to change since it was already pushed back 6+ months due to problems with getting the necessary permits.

As for Fox O&Os, 4 are already live and more are definitely on the way. KSAZ in Phoenix is due to launch sometime in the next few months, so the stations in Chicago, Dallas, Boston, DC, Atlanta, and Houston can't be too far off.

KPHO in Phoenix (Meredith's second-biggest station after WGCL) is tentatively scheduled to launch an HD newscast in April, though that date is subject to change since it was already pushed back 6+ months due to problems with getting the necessary permits.

Huh? Permits? You don't need no stinking permits to go HD with your newscasts?
Whatchya talkin' about Willis?

WGCL in Atlanta (CBS) is now in HD as of the 11PM newscast tonight. And the field packages that were shot today were not just 16:9 480P like the other stations here, but were true HD. The weather graphics are true HD. They are the lowest rated station in the market, their ad inventory during their newscast is more promos for their morning show than ads, and they are cutting back like everyone else. But their show looks better than the other 3 outlets in town. And they beat Fox 5 to HD which is amazing since they do more newscasts than anyone in this market.

This gives Upstate SC/Western NC hope for WHNS (FOX Carolina) to go HD with their local news in the, hopefully, near future.

Huh? Permits? You don't need no stinking permits to go HD with your newscasts?
Whatchya talkin' about Willis?
The city gets kind of upset when major construction is undertaken without their approval. KPHO had to do some serious work to rebuild their studios and control rooms to be fully digital/HD. For whatever reason, the City of Phoenix withheld permits, causing an estimate launch date of October 2008 to slip to April 2009 at last check.

Meredith was always very deliberate (read: slow) in upgrading KPHO. They were the last station in Phoenix to go HD, and are in a race with Fox O&O KSAZ to be the last to do the news in HD. On the flip side, KPHO was able to buy newer generation equipment that was more reliable in HD switching, and a better encoder than the Flexicoder everyone else was using at the time, resulting in a better product. If Meredith really is going for full HD remotes, that again puts them ahead of the competition since most stations are doing widescreen SD remotes at this point.

I'm curious how the other digital transition will affect HD remotes in the future. For those who aren't aware, Sprint/Nextel is in the process of moving the 2GHz microwave band used by ENG equipment to digital nationwide. They're supposed to finish up in August, but some areas are already complete.

• WSVN (Fox, Miami) added.
• WGCL (CBS, Atlanta) added.

Looks like WXJT here in Jacksonville will be getting on the HD bandwagon today at noon according to this report (http://www.jacksonville.com/news/2009-01-14/story/wjxt_first_station_to_broadcast_local_news_in_hd).

WTKR in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Virginia DMA had their first local HD news cast yesterday at 5pm.

http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr39/erikak/WCAUHD/10news8.jpg




Apparently the sponsorship deal fell through: note the tape covering the "Aquos" and "Sharp" labels!:eek:

(It's still that way today, BTW.)

In Albuquerque??? You got to be kiding!!! We still use the pony express for our mail delivery.

WGCL in Atlanta (CBS) is now in HD as of the 11PM newscast tonight. And the field packages that were shot today were not just 16:9 480P like the other stations here, but were true HD. The weather graphics are true HD. They are the lowest rated station in the market, their ad inventory during their newscast is more promos for their morning show than ads, and they are cutting back like everyone else. But their show looks better than the other 3 outlets in town. And they beat Fox 5 to HD which is amazing since they do more newscasts than anyone in this market.

Man, how did I miss this for almost two weeks. Like you I am asounded that they beat WAGA (FOX 5). Now I can't wait to get home & check this out. WGCL is the best looking HD channel here in the ATL.

FOX40 in Jackson, Mississippi now has their news in HD.
WDBD
http://www.fox40now.com/

Added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table:
• WTKR (Norfolk VA, CBS)
• WDBD (Jackson MS, Fox)
• WJXT (Jacksonville FL, independent)

I had problems with WJXT. First, petergaryr mangled its call letters in a dyslexic fashion. Second, someone edited WJXT's Wikipedia entry,
changing "WJXT became the first local news operation in Jacksonville to broadcast local news in high definition."
to "WJXT became the second local news operation in Jacksonville to broadcast local news in high definition."

The basis for this edit, evidently, was the existence of the online site, 2Alive News HD (2alive.com). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Animeking237 includes the statement: "On December 31st, 2008, 2Alive News HD began broadcasting in 1080p high definition on their online web channel."

But I don't think 2Alive should be calling itself a "broadcast" "station" as this Wikipedia article does on its behalf. It's just another website. What do you people think?

What happened at WKRC in Cincinnati? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKRC-TV says:

"WKRC will begin broadcasting its newscasts in 1080i high defininition in 2008. Newport Television is using WKRC as a pilot station before investing in HD equipment for the entire company... On October 30, 2008 Local 12 debuted its new set on its 'First at Four' newscast. This new set is in preparation for WKRC's HD debut."

Don't forget to add WPHL My PHL 17. Even though the theme is ripped off from sister station NBC 10 WCAU, HD news is HD news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NLmC3Dq-s4

^^^ Actually, they're not sister stations. WPHL is owned by Tribune. They decided to enter into an agreement with NBC-owned WCAU to produce news for them.

• WPHL (Philadelphia PA, MNTV) added.

WTTG Fox5 in Washington has HD news as of today.

WTTG Fox5 in Washington has HD news as of today.

Whoa!! It took a FOX O&O until 2009 to have HD news? And in Washington? Isn't that part of their flagship station? :eek:

If you think that's bad, look into how the Washington NBC affiliate is doing. It's the only NBC affiliate in the top 26 markets without local news in HD. And it was NBC's second O&O ever signed on, only behind WNBC in NY.

Wow, and I always thought O&O stations are supposed to be superior to other stations. WKYC-NBC Cleveland has had HD news since May 2006.

So if WTTG doesn't even have HD news until today, I doubt they'll be seeing HD syndication. :p

Actually they've been showing The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet and Everybody Loves Raymond in HD. But they have not yet shown Seinfeld in HD, so I'm not sure.

CBS O&O WJZ was supposedly going to make the switch to HD news by the end of last year but it hasn't happened yet. They didn't even have the CBS Evening News consistently in HD until December. (They started syndicated HD in December.)

What's the malfunction with the CBS Evening News? That should be no problem, as it is a network show. Even a station without HD news or any HD recording equipment should be able to pass HD. :confused:

Is there a 7:00 feed? They show it at 7:00 during the week. The 6:30 Saturday broadcast was in HD from the start.

Is there a 7:00 feed? They show it at 7:00 during the week. The 6:30 Saturday broadcast was in HD from the start.

Ohhhhhhhh, I see. They delay it. So unless the network re-feeds it at 7, it would have to be recorded. That really sucks. :( Luckily our local CBS doesn't do that.

Our NBC affiliate does that with the final hour of the Today show, although I think NBC sends another feed on delay, so it is HD.

WTTG(fox 5) a FOX O&O station here in Washington DC launched its HD newscasts on Saturday, January 31st, 2009 starting with its 6pm news.

You don't say...

You don't say...

:o lol, my mistake i didnt read the last posts on the previous page
no pun intended

KRIV-26 (FOX O&O) began HD News Saturday at 9:00PM CST

That puts Houston with all 4 major nets having local news in HD.

WOFL just made the switch from 16 x 9 SD to HD during their 5:00PM newscast today. But they are a few problems. (audio, graphics, etc.)

They are the third in Central FL to switch to HD.

Well it seems that KVIA finally went HD with their news over the weekend, after months of doing widescreen news.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2225/snapshot20090209125423un3.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20090209125423un3.jpg)http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8716/snapshot20090209130538fy3.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20090209130538fy3.jpg)http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3739/snapshot20090209130057fp9.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20090209130057fp9.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4982/snapshot20090209125718xv6.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20090209125718xv6.jpg)http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6681/snapshot20090209131604yv6.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot20090209131604yv6.jpg)

That LED sign in the weather center is cheesy as hell. What were they thinking?

That LED sign in the weather center is cheesy as hell. What were they thinking?

Looks like they were thinking, originally, "we're in widescreen, not HD...no one will notice how much cheesier this sign will look!"

I'm not crazy about that set.

KSAT 12 in San Antonio, TX went HD on February 5th.

None in Portland, ME are HD and I wonder if they ever will be. The station I used to work at started HD local news back in July 08. KUTV in Salt Lake

WPSG CW 57 in Philly went HD on Monday. That offiically wraps it up folks. Every network that does local news in Philly does it in HD now :D

KTVI FOX 2 in St.Louis should be in HD starting today. With its sister station KPLR CW 11 starting tomorrow. Now all local stations in St.Louis broadcast there news in HD.

KTVI FOX 2 in St.Louis should be in HD starting today. With its sister station KPLR CW 11 starting tomorrow. Now all local stations in St.Louis broadcast there news in HD.

Watching it right now. They are making a big deal of it. Showing off the new control room, newsroom, weather graphics, and everything else they can show in HD.

KDFW FOX 4 in Dallas has made the switch to HD.

WOGX Gainesville, FL the satellite sister of WOFL Orlando also shows WOFL news in HD. The only difference is they have FOX 51 HD News logo instead of FOX 35 HD News, its still the same crappy .6 rating, 2 share newscast though. ;)

They try their darndest but management just keeps insisting on insulting the viewers intelligence!

Some screens from KDFW's newly HD newscast:
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8154/kdfwintrogz7.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8154/kdfwintrogz7.jpg)
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8433/kdfwmaindeskck2.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8433/kdfwmaindeskck2.jpg)
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6773/kdfwradarhv9.th.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6773/kdfwradarhv9.jpg)
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2103/kdfwforecastsa2.th.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2103/kdfwforecastsa2.jpg)

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3296/kdfwviewerswg9.th.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3296/kdfwviewerswg9.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7006/kdfwremoteck2.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7006/kdfwremoteck2.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3389/kdfwweatherdeskkg1.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3389/kdfwweatherdeskkg1.jpg)
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8845/kdfwanchorui6.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8845/kdfwanchorui6.jpg)

WABC finally has one HD remote camera.

Added 02-22-09, 03:22 PM (alpha, by DMA):
• KDFW (FOX) Dallas, TX
• KVIA (ABC) El Paso, TX
• WOGX (FOX) Gainesville, FL
• WOFL (FOX) Orlando, FL
• WPSG (CW) Philadelphia, PA
• KSAT (ABC) San Antonio, TX
• KTVI (FOX) St. Louis, MO
• KPLR (CW) St. Louis, MO

KTVI ... in HD starting today, with its sister station KPLR starting tomorrow. Now all local stations in St. Louis broadcast their news in HD.
Except for KDNL (ABC). Wikipedia says: "To this day, St. Louis's KDNL-DT is one of the very few major network affiliates that does not have local news."

Added 02-22-09, 03:22 PM (alpha, by DMA):
• KDFW (FOX) Dallas, TX
• KVIA (ABC) El Paso, TX
• WOGX (FOX) Gainesville, FL
• WOFL (FOX) Orlando, FL
• WPSG (CW) Philadelphia, PA
• KSAT (ABC) San Antonio, TX
• KTVI (FOX) St. Louis, MO
• KPLR (CW) St. Louis, MO


Except for KDNL (ABC). Wikipedia says: "To this day, St. Louis's KDNL-DT is one of the very few major network affiliates that does not have local news."


Wikipedia can be wrong and is easily manipulated.

On the KOMO-TV page, the claim is that KOMO was the first station to broadcast local news in HDTV...in 1999.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KOMO-TV

This is wrong, KOMO has never broadcast local news in HD, period. I have edited the Wiki page twice to reflect this, and the powers at be continue to erase my edits.

Added 02-22-09, 03:22 PM (alpha, by DMA):
• KDFW (FOX) Dallas, TX
• KVIA (ABC) El Paso, TX
• WOGX (FOX) Gainesville, FL
• WOFL (FOX) Orlando, FL
• WPSG (CW) Philadelphia, PA
• KSAT (ABC) San Antonio, TX
• KTVI (FOX) St. Louis, MO
• KPLR (CW) St. Louis, MO


Except for KDNL (ABC). Wikipedia says: "To this day, St. Louis's KDNL-DT is one of the very few major network affiliates that does not have local news."

I'm in pittsburgh right now and channel 4 WTAE also does news in HD which isn't on your list

Wow, and I always thought O&O stations are supposed to be superior to other stations. WKYC-NBC Cleveland has had HD news since May 2006.

You meant WJW...WKYC hasn't been an O&O for many years. :D (And for that matter, of course, Fox sold WJW.)

Chiming in here for more Cleveland...WEWS (ABC) has been doing field HD live shots and video for a few months.

WABC finally has one HD remote camera.Any updates on WWOR?

Any updates on WWOR?

Nope.

Nope.

I have an update.

The latest will be before the end of the summer. This is from the WNYW/WWOR station engineer.

KIFI News Group becomes the first commercial broadcast station in Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming to produce local news in High Definition.

http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9945315&nav=menu554_1_6

• KIFI (ABC) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table, specifiying an Idaho DMA: "162 IdahoF-Pocatello ID". That's because most of the people that can receive it are in Idaho (according to the 2000 census):
-- 50,730 within Idaho Falls, ID
-- 51,466 within Pocatello, ID
-- 8,647 within Jackson, WY

WTAE-DT (51) Channel 4 Pittsburgh, PA now HD news:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/station/17486485/detail.html

WPGH-DT (43) FOX affiliate Pittsburgh carries HD news programming through an agreement with WPXI-DT Pittsburgh

• WTAE (ABC) and WPGH (Fox) added for Pittsburgh.

Enter WPLG (ABC) who will be debuting their Full-HD Newscast from their new studios in Pembroke Pines on March 28th.

Source: http://www.justnews.com/station/18812478/detail.html

Enter WPLG (ABC) who will be debuting their Full-HD Newscast from their new studios in Pembroke Pines on March 28th.

Source: http://www.justnews.com/station/18812478/detail.html

And to think 2 months ago, Miami only had one local HD news channel

Note to Syzygy: In your local HD news list, the call letters of Houston's NBC affiliate are KPRC, not KRPC.

Hi-Def Takes the Field

More stations adopt HD electronic newsgathering operations

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/9/2009 12:00:00 AM MT

Roughly a third of U.S. broadcasters have installed new digital microwave gear and switched their electronic newsgathering (ENG) operations to a new frequency plan as part of a spectrum relocation process managed by Sprint Nextel. And that should help pave the way for more local stations to begin offering high-definition pictures from the field as well as the studio.

Sprint Nextel has been working with traditional broadcasters to convert their ENG operations from analog to digital microwave technology as part of a $4.8 billion spectrum deal it brokered with the FCC in February 2005. The wireless operator agreed to spend more than $500 million to replace existing microwave technology with new digital gear that operates in a smaller swath of the 2 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum.

The 2 GHz Relocation Project was initially supposed to be completed in September 2007, but Sprint Nextel ran into delays due to operational and technical complexities. It asked for, and received, an extension until March 5, 2009, and subsequently asked (in conjunction with broadcasters) for an additional extension to February 2010. Last week, the FCC said it would give Sprint Nextel a 45-day extension while it considered the latest request.

Sprint Nextel isn't charged with providing stations with new high-definition links, just replacing existing analog gear with comparable standard-def digital equipment. Stations have to pay for “upsell” equipment like HD encoders and decoders. In general, stations have been waiting to receive the digital gear from Sprint Nextel before installing the additional equipment needed for true HD newsgathering. Now that large markets like Detroit, Cleveland and Atlanta have made the transition, viewers can expect to see more true HD pictures from the field instead of upconverted 4:3 or 16:9 standard-def video.

Early Adopter
One of the early adopters is WXYZ, the ABC affiliate and Scripps-owned station in Detroit. WXYZ began experimenting with high-def feeds from the field two years ago, using satellite links to deliver live coverage from special events. Last summer the station, along with others in Detroit, began receiving new digital microwave radios as part of the 2 GHz conversion. That allowed it to start backhauling HD pictures from the field on a regular basis via microwave links.

“Once we got the [Sprint] Nextel microwave gear, we've had HD live shots in every show,” says WXYZ Director of Engineering Ray Thurber.

Like other Scripps stations, WXYZ uses JVC ProHD camcorders for its field coverage that have built-in MPEG-2 encoders. The ProHD cameras can pump out a compressed HD signal that can be fed directly into a microwave or satellite radio using a Miranda FireWire-to-ASI converter.

“The camera is the encoder, and you just wrap it with ASI,” Thurber explains. He initially outfitted a live truck with several JVC cameras, Miranda FireWire-to-ASI bridges and a FOR-A HD switcher to produce live special-event shows in HD.

The built-in encoding capability of the JVC ProHD camera eliminates the need to invest up to $20,000 in a high-definition encoder to backhaul HD signals. It represents a significant savings for stations like WXYZ, which has 12 live trucks (three are equipped for both digital ENG and SNG operation).

All of WXYZ's microwave trucks are now converted to digital operation using new 2 GHz digital gear from NuComm. The 19.7 megabit-per-second MPEG-2 compressed signal that the JVC cameras output works well with the 12 MHz microwave slots that WXYZ is using as part of the 2 GHz relocation.

The only part of WXYZ's ENG infrastructure that hasn't yet been converted to high-definition digital operation is its helicopter, which is being rebuilt as part of the Sprint Nextel process. Helicopters are incredibly complicated to retrofit with the new gear, as they require special wiring and engineering to comply with Federal Aviation Administration requirements. The station is currently using a rental helicopter that can only produce 4:3 standard-def pictures while its chopper is being reconfigured for HD links.

Thurber was initially concerned that HD microwave feeds wouldn't travel as far as SD feeds, but that hasn't been a problem. Latency with the compressed signal also hasn't been an issue, with the delay being less than a second. The station continues to experiment with its new digital microwave gear to achieve the best reception.

“There is still a learning curve on this,” says Scripps VP of Engineering Mike Doback. “Some stations are using diversity receivers, and we've been experimenting with different modulation ratios.”

WXYZ originally used standard-definition Sony DVCAM cameras to provide widescreen coverage from the field. Since then, it has transitioned to the JVC ProHD camcorders, which let it produce edited packages in HD. Part of the reason WXYZ was able to go widescreen earlier than other stations in its market was that the Apple Final Cut Pro laptops it uses in its trucks can easily deal with either widescreen SD or HD pictures, according to Thurber.

Since launching HD live shots last summer, WXYZ hasn't been inundated with viewer feedback, possibly because the station had already offered SD widescreen live shots. But as Thurber puts it, “We've gotten letters saying how good the talent looks in the field.”

WRAL, the CBS affiliate and Capitol Broadcasting station in Raleigh, N.C., launched HD news from the studio back in 2001 and began experimenting with HD live shots from the field in 2004. The station's news helicopter has also been providing HD pictures since 2005.

A Good Balance
WRAL had fed HD pictures from its Panasonic DVCPRO HD cameras through its old NuComm Analog Coder digital-to-analog modems. The station uses a mix of encoders from JVC and Harmonic to compress the signals from the camera's uncompressed HD-SDI (1.5 gigabit-per-second) output. Staffers found a bitrate of 21 Mbps to be a good balance between signal robustness and picture quality.

WRAL has now received new NuComm digital COFDM microwave radios as part of the 2 GHz relocation. It is also converting its field acquisition from DVCPRO HD to XDCAM HD, Sony's optical-disc format. The station has bought a new encoding device from Sony, the HDCA-702 MPEG TS (transport stream) adaptor, to work with the new cameras.

The Sony unit, which lists for $4,100, attaches to the back of an XDCAM HD camera and pumps out MPEG-2 compressed video over an ASI link, which can then be easily fed into the station's new microwave radios. The HDCA-702 will also work on a standalone basis, as it can take an HD-SDI input and deliver an MPEG-2 compressed picture over ASI.

The Sony encoder units and NuComm digital radios have already been deployed in all nine of WRAL's news trucks, and the station has used that HD microwave setup for live shots—mainly parades and special events. It plans to ramp up its HD field coverage as it deploys the XDCAM HD camcorders later this year.

HD From the Start
WMBF, the NBC affiliate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., owned by Raycom Media, has never done anything but high-def ENG. The station was launched as an NBC digital affiliate last August just in time for NBC's Beijing Olympics coverage and produces all 28 hours of its news each week in HD, including HD microwave feeds.

WMBF uses Panasonic P2 HD solid-state camcorders to capture live shots in the field from its two live trucks (one ENG, one combo ENG/SNG), and produces edited HD packages using Grass Valley Edius nonlinear editors and Bitcentral servers. The only content it shows on-air that isn't natively produced in HD is news footage it retrieves from other Raycom stations through Bitcentral's Oasis content-sharing system. When WMBF gets content through Oasis that is 4:3 standard-def, the station upconverts it to 16:9 HD.

WMBF News Director Matt Miller previously worked as assistant news director at Scripps' WCPO Cincinnati, where he experienced the transition from SD to HD news in 2007. “I'd gone through a lot of the headaches,” says Miller, who notes that WCPO initially had issues mixing SD and HD footage with its editing systems and also didn't have 16:9 monitors.

At WMBF, Miller made sure that his engineering and production staff were well-versed in making 16:9 pictures from the start. He says the only challenge WMBF has had is running out of recording space on the 32 gigabyte (GB) P2 memory cards, which each store only 32 minutes of HD video.

Viewer feedback about the HD coverage from the new station in town has been positive, he adds. “I was at a charity event [recently], and the usual comments are that people started watching us because they love how our pictures looked. They just got a big-screen TV, and now they continue to watch because of our content.”

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/189584-Hi_Def_Takes_the_Field.php

Note to Syzygy: In your local HD news list, the call letters of Houston's NBC affiliate are KPRC, not KRPC.
Got it. KPRC it is.

P.S. -- Welcome to AVSForum!

KPHO, the Meredith-owned CBS affiliate in Phoenix, (finally) launched their HD newscast on Saturday. It was initially supposed to happen many months ago, but apparently they didn't grease the right palms because the city took forever to issue permits for the new building they put up to house all the digital infrastructure.
TVNewsDay ran a story a few weeks back about their upgrades:
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/01/29/daily.7/

Also, Syzygy, market (DMA) 65 in your local HD news list is just Charleston, SC. Charleston-Huntington is in West Virginia.

Also, Syzygy, market (DMA) 65 in your local HD news list is just Charleston, SC. Charleston-Huntington is in West Virginia.
Right. Change made. Charleston-Huntington, WV (DMA 65), it seems, has no HD news yet.
Charleston, SC (DMA 99) is the home of WCSC, which has had HD news since September 29, 2008.

• KPHO (Phoenix AZ, CBS) added.
[edit]
• WJCL & WTGS (Savannah GA, Fox & ABC) added on 21 Mar.
• WAGA (Atlanta GA, Fox) added on 21 Mar.

Savannah, Ga finally has local stations in HD! WJCL ABC22 and WTGS FOX28 which are a combined 2 channel station have gone HD. Its great to have local HD in this top 100 DMA city!

WAGA is now the final station in Atlanta to make the switch to HD news.

WAGA is now the final station in Atlanta to make the switch to HD news.
looks good
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7436/snapshot10062623.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/4163/snapshot10170743.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6599/snapshot10066154.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3848/snapshot10150231.jpg

That set looks familiar...

http://media.myfoxdc.com/Lark_Goodbye/Lark-McCarthy-Leaving-WTTG.jpg

Just curious
Here in Minneapolis, KARE 11 (NBC) just announced HD broadcasts in April (studio only). They claim they are one of the first to do so.

Is that true?
In Cincinnati, all 4 networks are now donig their news in HD.

Does anyone know of a site online (or a published guide) that one can get an HD "TV Guide"?
I have to go to a dozen different web sites and then check scheduling on each individual sub-channel.

That set looks familiar...

http://media.myfoxdc.com/Lark_Goodbye/Lark-McCarthy-Leaving-WTTG.jpg

In fact, that set looks the same as Fox 29 in Philly and Fox 5 in New York, looks like Rupert likes to save money by having all the O&O's standardize their news sets

In fact, that set looks the same as Fox 29 in Philly and Fox 5 in New York, looks like Rupert likes to save money by having all the O&O's standardize their news sets
Detroit's got it too.

Here is the company responsible for the FOX O&O sets.
http://www.blythdesign.com/

Fox Boston is the only one here that hasn't converted yet which is to bad as they have some hot babes doing the news

In the boston market all our local channels show in HD 1080i.

WFXT is still SD

In the boston market all our local channels show in HD 1080i.

WFXT is still SD

Actually channel 5 is upconverted from 720p to 1081

Presumably, WCVB originates their local news in 1080i to match the standard used by their owner for everything else. The only thing they would convert from 720p to 1080i is ABC network programming.

In Minneapolis, KARE 11 (NBC) begins HD broadcasts in April 2006 (studio only)...
Yes, and almost three years later they're still the only station in the Twin Cities with HD news (and still HD only in the studio).

And Minneapolis-St.Paul is the only top-20 DMA to have just one HD news station, with no local stations likely to join them any time soon.

Yes, and almost three years later they're still the only station in the Twin Cities with HD news (and still HD only in the studio).

And Minneapolis-St.Paul is the only top-20 DMA to have just one HD news station, with no local stations likely to join them any time soon.

I hear that KSTP is planning their HD conversion. Don't know when that will happen.

KMSP should be moving to HD sometime soon at the rate Fox is converting their O&Os. WCCO is the largest CBS O&O to still be airing newscasts in SD, so it would be a good choice for conversion.

WFLD (Fox) in chicago is now under construction.. redoing the studio n control rooms to HD
should be done within 2 months
currently they are using an temporary news anchor desk in the back news room for on-air

KPHO, the Meredith-owned CBS affiliate in Phoenix, (finally) launched their HD newscast on Saturday. It was initially supposed to happen many months ago, but apparently they didn't grease the right palms because the city took forever to issue permits for the new building they put up to house all the digital infrastructure.
TVNewsDay ran a story a few weeks back about their upgrades:
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/01/29/daily.7/

looks good:D
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/517/snapshot10304937.th.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot10304937.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4366/snapshot10294678.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot10294678.jpg)

Looks like someone went overboard on the face mushifying filter. I know the talent has their demands, but c'mon, the anchors look like they're CGI.

WAVE 3 (NBC) continues to be the only station in Louisville broadcasting local news in HD, and I've yet to hear even a rumour when the other stations will begin...

WPLG in Miami going HD, including all field reports.

http://www.justnews.com/video/18815011/index.html

Surprisingly, WJXT an independent here in Jacksonville remains the only local to be broadcasting news in HD. I thought this would have prompted the CBS, NBC and ABC local affiliates to take the plunge...but so far....nothing.

WPLG (ABC) in Miami started broadcasting its news in HD tonight. All of the field reports are also in HD.

WPLG (ABC) in Miami started broadcasting its news in HD tonight. All of the field reports are also in HD.

Field reports too? Now that's impressive. Even our 1 station still relies on 4:3 field reports.

Word is that KWGN in Denver is airing news in HD.

I haven't seen the actual HD feed, but I'm watching on Dish's superstation feed and 4x3 news feeds have a slight border visible, plus "The Deuce" logo is showing only the left 20% on the SD screen...

The station just moved downtown to new shared studios with KDVR/Fox 31. Not sure if KDVR has gone or is going HD in the near future...

Jim

KWGN started local HD newscasts with its 9:00 PM news on Sunday night. It was a simulcast of the KDVR 9:00 newscast. Ironically, KDVR has not gone HD with its newscast yet.

Added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table:
• WPLG (Miami, ABC)
• KWGN (Denver, CW)
[edit] Added 7 Apr 2009:
• WDEF (CBS, Chattanooga) -- Chattanooga's first
• WTMJ (NBC, Milwaukee) -- Milwaukee's first

WGRZ (NBC) in Buffalo has been broadcasting it's news in 16:9 with pillarboxes on the sides since around March 18. The pillarboxes say "2 News on Your Side in HD" but I have yet to see any true 16:9 HD video yet. I have seen a couple local commercials on the channel in HD, which started occurring the same time as they added the pillarboxes.

WDEF(CBS) in Chattanooga is broadcasting the news in HD, I assume as of today.

WTMJ (Channel 4, NBC) in Milwaukee soft-opened their morning news in HD today. It's the first Milwaukee station to start broadcasting local news in HD. They are owened by Journal Communications.

KFOR Oklahoma City broadcasts part of their 630p news in HD, I'm not sure if that qualifies them for the list or not.

KFOR Oklahoma City broadcasts part of their 630p news in HD, I'm not sure if that qualifies them for the list or not.
What part is in HD?

From KFOR's Wikipedia:

In January 2009, KFOR began airing most of the Great State segments in high definition, despite the fact that the station's newscasts have yet to make the switch to high definition.

For Syzygy: According to Wikipedia, WKMG-TV in Orlando also broadcasts its news in 16:9 widescreen SD. (That station is not on your 16:9 SD list.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKMG-TV

OK, mbclev, "WKMG, Orlando, FL" is appended at the end of the list.

WTVA - Tupelo, MS NBC Affiliate now has HD newscasts.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTVA :

WTVA's sister station, FOX affiliate WLOV-TV, broadcasts network programming in high-definition over a low-power digital transmitter.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLOV-TV :

WTVA, Inc., the parent company that controls and manages WTVA, also controls and manages Fox affiliate WLOV-TV and ABC affiliate WKDH. WTVA, Inc. manages the other two stations through an LMA, or local marketing agreement. Each station has its own station manager and owner, in accordance with FCC policy.

So, do all three stations have news in HD?

So, do all three stations have news in HD?
Of course.

Of course [all three stations have news in HD].
How do you know this? I was expecting a response ftom Tupelo, MS, or thereabouts -- not Detroit. ;)

How do you know this? I was expecting a response ftom Tupelo, MS, or thereabouts -- not Detroit. ;)
I misread your post. I was under the impression that WTVA was producing an HD newscast for all three stations, and you just wanted to know if you should list all three.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTVA :

WTVA's sister station, FOX affiliate WLOV-TV, broadcasts network programming in high-definition over a low-power digital transmitter.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLOV-TV :

WTVA, Inc., the parent company that controls and manages WTVA, also controls and manages Fox affiliate WLOV-TV and ABC affiliate WKDH. WTVA, Inc. manages the other two stations through an LMA, or local marketing agreement. Each station has its own station manager and owner, in accordance with FCC policy.

So, do all three stations have news in HD?

Yes. They even do HD live remotes and field shots. I was shocked when I saw this. Unexpected.

FOX 17: Broadcasting in High Definition
After months of preparation, FOX 17 is now broadcasting in high definition. New equipment throughout our studio will give you your local news, weather, and sports programming a crystal clear look.
April 20, 2009

WXMI, Grand Rapids, MI

Three new DMAs added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table:
22 Apr • WKDH WLOV WTVA (Columbus-Tupelo, MS; ABC, Fox, NBC)
23 Apr • WXMI (Grand Rapids, MI; Fox)
23 Apr • KYTX (Tyler-Longview, TX; CBS) [Source: 7 posts below]
... and ...
23 Apr • KDVR (Denver, CO; Fox) -- that's 6 stations! (L.A. and Philly lead with 7.) [Source: 3 posts below]

Which of the O&O (not affiliates) stations still do NOT have local news in HD?

I'll start the list -

KNSD (NBC, San Diego)

Which of the O&O (not affiliates) stations still do NOT have local news in HD?

I'll start the list -

KNSD (NBC, San Diego)

WRC (NBC, Washington DC), although there are rumors floating around that they may be going HD within the next couple weeks.

KDVR (Fox 31) in Denver went HD last night (unless I missed it earlier this week). Field shots are still 4x3, with ugly blue sidebars. Studio shots looked great.

WCCO (CBS O&O) in Minneapolis, MN has no HD news yet, but just this week they've broadcast studio shots in "really good SD widescreen." Gary Kroger, WCCO's Director of Engineering, says "on-air [HD is] slated for mid September."

Also in Minneapolis: WFTC (MyNetworkTV) and KMSP (Fox) -- both O&O by Fox -- have no HD news yet, but KMSP is showing promos promising "FOX 9 News HD: Coming soon."

After KARE, which started HD news on April 27, 2006, KMSP may soon come in a very late second, followed closely by WCCO in third.

CBS
WWJ Detroit
WCCO Minneapolis
WFOR Miami
KDKA Pittsburgh
WJZ Baltimore

NBC
WRC Washington DC
KNSD San Diego
WVIT Hartford

ABC
WJRT Flint/Saginaw
WTVG Toledo

CBS
WWJ Detroit
WWJ doesn't have a newscast.

KYTX - Tyler, TX (CBS 19) went HD with local newscasts this AM to become the first station in this market to do so.

which of the o&o (not affiliates) stations still do not have local news in hd?



WWOR NYC (MyN O&O)

WFXT Boston is a Fox O&O and does not do its news in HD.

KSAZ Fox 10 Phoenix - Fox O&O - but they seem to be under construction with a new set - they will be the last in the PHX market to go HD

WWOR NYC (MyN O&O)

Yeah. Remember how I said a few months ago that it would happen by the summer? I inquired about an update, no timeline now but they said it's not in the near future.

Oh well we have 5 other networks with HD news.

^^^ We'll probably see WNJU's newscast go HD (since Telemundo made their big HD debut tonight) before WWOR does.

WWJ doesn't have a newscast.
And thus does not have a local newscast in HD :p.

KCCI is in the first phase to HD. On Monday the station became the first in Des Moines to broadcast in Digital Widescreen.

http://www.kcci.com/news/19263524/detail.html

KCCI is in the first phase to HD. On Monday the station became the first in Des Moines to broadcast in Digital Widescreen.

http://www.kcci.com/news/19263524/detail.html
Is it real widescreen, or just stretched?

Real widescreen.

Real widescreen.

But Note Its not Full HD yet.. ;) :D

It seems WHO-TV has joined the digital widescreen race. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=136822&page=126

WFXT Boston is a Fox O&O and does not do its news in HD.

Well, maybe soon.

From: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=16305579&postcount=8930

No official date has been set that I can publish other than to say construction is nearly complete and rehearsals will begin in the next few weeks.


BTW Things went very smoothly today and we are at full power as this is being written. Hopefully it will remain as stable as it has today going forward.

Bill Holbrook
Chief Engineer WFXT-DT

A correction on WKDH - they air no local news... They're airing HD from ABC now, but nothing local...

WTVA runs WLOV and WKDH, WLOV runs news at 9 (not competing with WTVA).

J

• WKDH (Columbus-Tupelo, MS; ABC) deleted from the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.
• KCCI and WHO (Des Moines, IA) as well as WCCO (Minneapolis, MN) added to the Not HD News list at the end of the same post.

Interestingly, Wikipedia says "WHO-TV ... was the first area station to ... air local news segments in high definition."

I emailed KSTP-TV woundering when they will be going HD, they said that they recieved an order from Panasonic for 300xHD cameras. They will be getting a new news set, as well, they will be going to a tape free newsroom. This will give them the ability to upconvert stories that are in 4:3 to 16:9 format. This should happen on or before June 14th.

I would welcome KSTP to the ranks when it happens, and KMSP too, but WCCO's entry is the one I'm waiting for. That's the only local news operation that rises to KARE's level of professional reportage.

BTW, nstpaul, welcome to the AVS fraternity/sorority. ;)

KCPQ(FOX) Seattle seems to have joined the 16:9 Widescreen news bunch.

WFLD (Fox) Chicago will finally broadcast their news in HD starting this Sunday, May 10. They're the last station in Chicago to make the switch.

So, when June 12th rolls around, how many stations with newscasts will still be stuck in SD mode? In the Baltimore/Washington area, we're still waiting on WMAR, WJZ, and WRC. The other 5 newscasting stations in the market have gone HD.

So, when June 12th rolls around, how many stations with newscasts will still be stuck in SD mode? In the Baltimore/Washington area, we're still waiting on WMAR, WJZ, and WRC. The other 5 newscasting stations in the market have gone HD.

It's starting to look like there was little truth to the rumors of WRC News 4 going HD soon.

WFLD (Fox) Chicago will finally broadcast their news in HD starting this Sunday, May 10. They're the last station in Chicago to make the switch.
Do you mean the last major station in Chicago? Or are WLS, WBBM, WFLD, WMAQ and WGN the only TV stations in the third largest DMA? No MyNet? No independent?

• WFLD (Chicago) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table [anticipating the change on Mother's Day].
• KCPQ (Seattle) added to the Not HD News list at the end of the same post.

To Syzygy: I'm in the Kansas City area as I write this, and I've noticed that that area's CBS affiliate, KCTV, channel 5, is now doing local news in HD. According to Wikipedia, they've been doing this since October 20, 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCTV

Also, I just noticed that the Kansas City CW affiliate, KCWE, also does HD local news, thanks to sister station KMBC having news in HD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCWE

• KCTV (Kansas City, MO; CBS) added. Thanks for catching that.
[edit]
• KCWE (Kansas City; CW) added as well.

It's starting to look like there was little truth to the rumors of WRC News 4 going HD soon.

How so? Seems like they're like The Situation Room--always just on the verge of HD, but never actually doing anything.

To Syzygy: I'm back home now, and I just noticed that Columbus, Ohio's Fox affiliate, WTTE, does its news in HD because its sister station, ABC affiliate WSYX, has it. (WTTE and WSYX converted at the same time.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTTE

Do you mean the last major station in Chicago? Or are WLS, WBBM, WFLD, WMAQ and WGN the only TV stations in the third largest DMA? No MyNet? No independent?

• WFLD (Chicago) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table [anticipating the change on Mother's Day].
• KCPQ (Seattle) added to the Not HD News list at the end of the same post.

Confirming that WFLD switched to HD for tonight's news. I posted some screen caps (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16436619#post16436619) in the Chicago OTA thread.

To clarify: all of the major Chicago local news broadcasts are now in HD. This means WBBM (CBS), WMAQ (NBC), WLS (ABC), WGN (CW), and WFLD (Fox). Our MyNet station doesn't have a local news broadcast (it's owned by Fox and their web site refers to WFLD's news), and neither do our independent stations. I haven't checked our Spanish stations - I'll have to get back to you on them.

• WTTE (Columbus, OH; Fox) added.

FSugino: Great screen shots. What "naughty bits?"

Confirming that WFLD switched to HD for tonight's news. I posted some screen caps (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16436619#post16436619) in the Chicago OTA thread.
You'd think market #3 would have a better handle on their graphics. That's some amazing incompetence!

FSugino: Great screen shots. What "naughty bits?"

It's a bad joke. One of the regulars in the Chicago OTA thread is a weatherman, and every time I post weather pics from the HD news debuts I usually joke about the weather graphics being "weather porn" for that guy. Since the screen cap had the weather guy obscuring part of the local radar map in the screen pic, I treated him like a piece of clothing obscuring "the naughty bits."

Just visiting Orlando, and please add WKCF/CW-18 as carrying HD Newscast. Their newscasts consist of a simulcast of WESH's 6am hour plus a stand-alone 7-9am. Looks amazing.

I was a little less amazed with WRDQ's 10pm - it seems soft... (It also runs 35 minutes, rather than 30 as the guides say...)

Jim

• WKCF (Orlando, FL; CW) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

WCNC (NBC) in Charlotte has its local news in HD tonight.

• WCNC (Charlotte, NC; NBC) added.

Sorry, false alarm. :( WCNC is widescreen SD. It's actually pretty good SD, but definitely not HD.

• WCNC moved to the Not HD News list at the end.

The joint operation of WPTA (ABC) and WISE (NBC) in Fort Wayne started broadcasting SD widescreen this week.

Syzygy, I've just found on Wikipedia that WTOV, the NBC affiliate for Steubenville, OH and Wheeling, WV, is now doing local news in HD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTOV-TV

• WTOV (Wheeling, WV) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.
• WPTA and WISE, Fort Wayne, IN added to the Not HD News list at the end.

Sorry, Steubenvillagers, I couldn't fit "Steubenville, OH" into the table. (As of 2000, Wheeling had 31,419 people and Steubenville had 19,015.)

This DMA has only two TV stations, WTOV and WTRF. Neither is available on either DirecTV nor Dish Network (not even in SD, evidently). Because the area sits on a dissected plateau, OTA is very difficult to receive near the transmitters. Furthermore, cable TV service is spotty. So it looks like one has to be pretty lucky to get WTOV in HD.

You can add WJAC-TV,WWCP-TV and WATM-TV (Altoona,Johnstown,State College,PA) as the WJAC news tri-opology news team started broadcasting in HD on Monday

http://img39.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot12050325.jpg

You can add WJAC-TV,WWCP-TV and WATM-TV (Altoona,Johnstown,State College,PA) as the WJAC news tri-opology news team started broadcasting in HD on Monday

http://img39.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot12050325.jpg
That's not HD, that's widescreen SD.

That's not HD, that's widescreen SD.

My captures aren't the best, but it's HD, at least the newsdesk is. The field shots are still SD though. That wasn't the best screenshot to use.

My captures aren't the best, but it's HD, at least the newsdesk is. The field shots are still SD though. That wasn't the best screenshot to use.
Ah, so you're just using an SD capture device. That would explain it.

Ah, so you're just using an SD capture device. That would explain it.

It's a cheap one, but it works, but as for the WTAE news, your probally right about their news. I mean, it's widescreen, but it's not a crisp as HD news in Philly or NYC for example, the weather forecast is defintly HD, but the field shots look grainy, probally a mix of HD and SD content

• Added: "101 -- Johnstwn-Altoona PA -- WATM (ABC), WWCP (Fox), WJAC (NBC)"

• KMSP (Minneapolis; Fox) added to the Not HD News list.

KMSP evidently started showing the news in widescreen format this week, with "Now in HD" in the lower left corner.

I watched their news at 10 tonight and thought that the studio shots were of poor quality, not really HD. And of course the live reports are not HD, just widescreen, with variable quality, just as they are with KARE (NBC). KARE looks much better overall.

I hope 'CCO does better when they go "HD".

KJCT in Grand Junction, CO is now in HD.

http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10408633

• KJCT (ABC; Grand Junction, CO, DMA #184) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

With 73,360 TV homes as of January 1, 2009, Grand Junction-Montrose is currently the smallest DMA in that table.

• KMSP (Minneapolis; Fox) added to the Not HD News list.

KMSP evidently started showing the news in widescreen format this week, with "Now in HD" in the lower left corner.

I watched their news at 10 tonight and thought that the studio shots were of poor quality, not really HD. And of course the live reports are not HD, just widescreen, with variable quality, just as they are with KARE (NBC). KARE looks much better overall.

I hope 'CCO does better when they go "HD".


So are they in HD or not?

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/

Is all plastered with "Storm Vision HD Radar" and "Local News 9 in HD"

IMHO, KMSP, while claiming "Now in HD", is using inferior cameras and/or infrastructure -- just as its national network (Fox) has always used inferior equipment for its NFL games that are supposed to be in HD.

720p is the minimum resolution that can legitimately be labeled HD. I think KMSP channel 9's news-studio shots are at best 480p -- not even 540p, which still wouldn't be good enough to be called HD. And the location shots are even softer and/or degraded.

It's a good thing (again, IMHO) that the content of channel 9's news also sucks.

Locals news are in HD...well, they are found on HD channels but not done in HD

WCCO is now in HD.
http://wcco.com/slideshows/high.definition.wcco.20.1024173.html

IMHO, KMSP, while claiming "Now in HD", is using inferior cameras and/or infrastructure -- just as its national network (Fox) has always used inferior equipment for its NFL games that are supposed to be in HD.

720p is the minimum resolution that can legitimately be labeled HD. I think KMSP channel 9's news-studio shots are at best 480p -- not even 540p, which still wouldn't be good enough to be called HD. And the location shots are even softer and/or degraded.

It's a good thing (again, IMHO) that the content of channel 9's news also sucks.


I took at look at a KMSP broadcast on a HomeRun stream and I can say I can see where your coming from, but I still think it should be classified as HD. I mean, we can't say what is or what isn't hd since it looks just as bad as WTTG or WAGA's local news (with the switching between 16:9 SD shots and fuzzy desk shots). In fact, I would place KMSP as having more a better HD quality on their local news than WTTG does

It's not HD, but if we have to say KMSP isn't HD, I can tell you, almost half those those FOX O&O's should be taken off that list since their local news quality isn't as good as NBC nightly news or a 60 Minutes program

At the rate things are going, the last station will be WRC (NBC) in Washington DC on this thread. I have not heard a thing about any conversion to HD news. Despite this, they are still rated #1 in the market.

They also refuse to air any HD syndicated programming, claiming "company madate" from above (this is an NBC O&O) forbids use of the equipment.

Interesting about WRC. I've heard they are on the list to go HD. Our NBC O&O has HD syndication equipment and airs syndication of HD. NBC does this 1 at a time so it takes time.

At the rate things are going, the last station will be WRC (NBC) in Washington DC on this thread. I have not heard a thing about any conversion to HD news. Despite this, they are still rated #1 in the market.

They also refuse to air any HD syndicated programming, claiming "company madate" from above (this is an NBC O&O) forbids use of the equipment.

Channel 4 in DC still doesn't do HD news? Wow, just unbelievable, even our cheapy WCAU NBC 10 finally started broadcasting HD news, but like you said, they only did it once they started losing viewers to KYW.

Well, at least you guys have WJLA,WUSA, and WTTG

WFXT Boston (Fox) is transitioning to HD newscasts soon with the rumor being about two weeks.

I took at look at a KMSP broadcast on a HomeRun stream ... It's not HD, but if we have to say KMSP isn't HD, I can tell you almost half those FOX O&O's should be taken off that list...
I see. I guess I'll have to add a caveat to the list I'm maintaining: "This list is based on reports from viewers, who in turn rely on the stations' own representations. However, some stations that are in this list because they claim HD news do not deliver the minimum of 720p resolution with their news-studio shots, let alone with their location shots. In particular, I'm calling out KMSP in Minneapolis and several other Fox O&O stations."

With that I'll remove KMSP from the Not HD News list and add it to the main list (along with WCCO in Minneapolis, which also began HD news this week -- with actual HD in the studio).

This just in...

This message is for those of you in the Los Angeles market. If you aren't sure of which station to tune in to when the analog shut off happens, get those TiVos ready. We at this message forum got you covered. Thanks to the good people at KCBS and KCAL-TV, here's a comprehensive schedule for when broadcast stations in Greater Los Angeles will go digital-only on Friday. Please note that this list applies only to television stations on the VHF band. In order of appearance, here they are.

KCET - 12 Midnight
KNBC - 6 AM
KABC - 12 Noon
KCBS - 1 PM
KCAL - 1 PM
KTLA - 10:45 PM
KTTV - 11:45 PM
KCOP - 11:45 PM

This message is for those of you in the Los Angeles market.
And how does it relate to HD local news?

And how does it relate to HD local news?

They'll be broadcast (for the most part) within the newscasts of the day, based on the time periods provided by one of the stations in a recent report on the transition (which of course was presented in HD).

Post local info in the local topic for your area.

I'm surprised how many stations still have not implemented HD field shots. In NYC, only 2 stations have any HD field cams. WABC has 1 I believe, and WPIX has 3 (from what I've seen on tonight's newscast).

Are you sure about WABC? I watch their news constantly looking for it since you first mentioned it a few months ago and have yet to see it.

Our ABC affiliate, WEWS, has nearly all remote local microwave shots in HD now.

Of course, Cleveland was one of the HD news pioneer markets.. :)

Cleveland also has a HD helicopter camera and a HD "roof cam" at Jacob's Field. Also, I think WEWS is all digital/HD. All of their live shots appear to be in HD and even highlights/video clips that were HD air in HD. During Dancing with the Stars, they were showing HD clips on the news.

Also noticed about WEWS, a bit off topic though; that they are using HD only in their station. I've been setting up my rabbit ears in anticipation of watching analog TV go off Friday and I noticed that WEWS SD analog has the ABC HD bug on screen. So it appears WEWS is way ahead of the game by keying all their local bugs/graphics/maps on the HD side and feeding it through on the analog channel until it goes away. I believe the other stations are still using separate SD/HD feeds.

Chicago Local HD Field Shots plans

WBBM CBS plans to incorporate this by/end of summer
WMAQ NBC plans to incorporate this by/end of summer
WLS ABC to incorporate this by/end of Winter

all others i am not aware of their plans

Also, I think WEWS is all digital/HD. All of their live shots appear to be in HD and even highlights/video clips that were HD air in HD. During Dancing with the Stars, they were showing HD clips on the news.
Speaking of HD highlights, it's a pretty funny situation in Detroit. All three of the stations that have newscasts do them in HD. But the NBC affiliate shows highlights from NBC in SD, while the ABC affiliate shows highlights from NBC in HD. :D

Are you sure about WABC? I watch their news constantly looking for it since you first mentioned it a few months ago and have yet to see it.

Yeah. I saw them using it once, but since then I haven't seen it.

You can tell if the camera is HD because in the top left corner it said "Live" and right below it it said "HD". all other field shots just say "Live"

WFXT Boston (FOX O&O) debuted their HD newscast last night. This makes all Boston-based stations producing HD newscasts. WZMY (MNTV affiliate based in New Hampshire) is the only Boston DMA station without a HD newscast.

WFXT Boston (FOX O&O) debuted their HD newscast last night. This makes all Boston-based stations producing HD newscasts. WZMY (MNTV affiliate based in New Hampshire) is the only Boston DMA station without a HD newscast.

Great. WRC in DC is now the only big four station in the top 10 markets without HD news.

Great. WRC in DC is now the only big four station in the top 10 markets without HD news.

And there is no indication whatsoever that HD news on WRC is anywhere close to happening :(

• WFXT (Boston, MA) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

• KSTP (Minneapolis, MN) also added. Now all 4 major Twin Cities stations are on the list.

hey everyone

hey everyone
DanielCmk3, it's not cool to use any arbitrary thread as a whiteboard. Please, if you have something to say, do say it. For testing, there's a special subforum called Post Testing Area down near the bottom of the list of subforums.

It might be a good idea to delete your post or replace it with a question or a comment.

In spite of what I've written about that particular post, I wholeheartedly welcome you to AVS -- as I'm sure we all do.

[edit]
I just now discovered that you posted hey everyone in three threads at the same time -- your only posts so far. That's ridiculous!

KDKA (Pittsburgh, PA) just went HD today. Found a blog about the new set here (http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/tunedin/archive/2009/06/16/kdka-news-goes-hd.aspx).

• KDKA (CBS O&O; Pittsburgh, PA) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

KDKA (Pittsburgh, PA) just went HD today. Found a blog about the new set here (http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/tunedin/archive/2009/06/16/kdka-news-goes-hd.aspx).

Is KDKA's sister station, CW affiliate WPCW, included in the HD conversion? If so, that would make the Pittsburgh market the tenth in the nation in which all TV stations doing news are doing them in HD (at least from the studio).

To Syzygy: Wikipedia mentions the existence of an HD newscast on independent station KICU, channel 36, in San Jose, CA. (The quote: "...but beyond the 7 P.M. newscast in HD...")

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KICU-TV

KICU's Bay Area News at 7 on TV 36 newscast was created by KTVU Fox 2 in 2008.

• WFXT (Boston, MA) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

• KSTP (Minneapolis, MN) also added. Now all 4 major Twin Cities stations are on the list.

WFXT In Boston is nothing but 480p upconvert or just very lousy HD. I can'y believe they put this crap on and call it HD

KHOU (CBS), KPRC (NBC) and KTRK (ABC) are HD in Houston. I think KRIV (Fox) is HD as well, but their PQ isn't as good as CBS and ABC. KHOU was first in Houston to broadcast in HD.

• KICU (Independent; San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

Houston's KTRK, KHOU, KRIV and KPRC are all already in the table. BTW, the fact that KRIV's HD sucks is not surprising; it's a Fox affiliate. The same goes for WFXT In Boston.

Just turned on the news tonight and saw that Fox O&O WHBQ (FOX 13) in Memphis went HD!!

• WHBQ (Fox O&O; Memphis, TN) added to the Local Over-the-air HDTV News Stations (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14618838#post14618838) table.

WCAX Goes HD

Burlington, Vermont - June 23, 2009

WCAX started broadcasting the news in high definition from our studios Tuesday.

It is part of a new generation in television. We have been bringing you the news in wide-screen format for some time, but today we switched our studio cameras to high definition. It's all part of a transitional process that included digital television which we switched to in February and will end when our field cameras switch to high definition sometime in the near future.

You should see clearer, sharper images and brilliant new graphics as well.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10583108

WCAX (CBS; Burlington, VT) was already in the table, evidently because someone mistook your widescreen picture for HD.

You can remove KWKT in Waco/Temple as an HD newscast - two reasons:
- Their newscast was fed from KETK in Tyler (which doesn't have local HD in-studio origination)
- Their newscast has been cancelled - and replaced with a 5 minute "Headlines" that also airs on other ComCorp/White Knight Fox stations (KMSS/Shreveport & KADN/Lafayette).

To Syzygy: I've just found on Wikipedia that Portland, Oregon's CW affiliate, KRCW, broadcasts its news in HD, thanks to sister station KGW converting in 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRCW-TV

Wow, that building is burning and I can watch in HD....

To Syzygy: I've just found on Wikipedia that Portland, Oregon's CW affiliate, KRCW, broadcasts its news in HD, thanks to sister station KGW converting in 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRCW-TV

I've also just found on Wikipedia that Las Vegas' CW affiliate, KVCW, does news in HD, thanks to HD newscaster KVBC producing that station's newscast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVCW

Miami's Telemundo O&O, WSCV, has been HD for news nearly as long as NBC O&O WTVJ. I didn't notice it on the list though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSCV

Another one for you, Syzygy: Raleigh-Durham, NC's CW affiliate, WLFL, has local news in HD thanks to WTVD producing its 10 o'clock news.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLFL

Still another one: KSL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City, UT, does local news in HD, because I found a quote on the Wikipedia entry of a competitor, KUTV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KUTV) that mentions that KSL-TV went HD about 10 days after KUTV did the same.

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=2660087&nid=561

KSAZ, Fox O&O in Phoenix, launches their HD newscast on 7/6 per the local forums (can't link to it because some mod added it to the bad word filter). They are the last remaining station with an English newscast not in HD.

Another one for you, Syzygy: Raleigh-Durham, NC's CW affiliate, WLFL, has local news in HD thanks to WTVD producing its 10 o'clock news.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLFL

Wrong! I was in that market last week and jspENC on the "Raleigh, NC - HDTV" Message Board confirms that WLFL isn't airing WTVD's 10 p.m. Newscast in HD. (Source: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16751590#post16751590 ).

Wrong! I was in that market last week and jspENC on the "Raleigh, NC - HDTV" Message Board confirms that WLFL isn't airing WTVD's 10 p.m. Newscast in HD. (Source: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16751590#post16751590 ).

Well, either I have been deceived by whoever wrote that Wikipedia entry, or someone must have been viewing WLFL's news on an SD channel on cable, or possibly something else. (As you might tell from my screen name, I live in the Cleveland, OH area, and I read various Wikipedia entries to see if any out-of-Cleveland-market stations have converted and are not mentioned in Syzygy's list of HD news stations.)

Well, either I have been deceived by whoever wrote that Wikipedia entry, or someone must have been viewing WLFL's news on an SD channel on cable, or possibly something else. (As you might tell from my screen name, I live in the Cleveland, OH area, and I read various Wikipedia entries to see if any out-of-Cleveland-market stations have converted and are not mentioned in Syzygy's list of HD news stations.)

The person who responded to my post on the "Raleigh, NC - HDTV" Message Board receives WLFL via OTA. Wikipedia isn't always the gospel. For example, someone had mentioned on WYFF's Wikipedia Page that they were going HD with their local news back in November. No commercials or news stories had been played on its air about it. Thus, I checked with the station itself and they confirmed that no plans had been put in place to go HD with local news then...and I confirm that they haven't taken the dive as of now (along with WHNS). After inquiring and getting the confirm, that piece of info on the Wikipedia Page was subsequently removed by someone (not myself).

I understand that you live in Cleveland, OH (saw you were from OH before posting my response). That's why I checked to be sure from those in or on the fringes in the viewing area itself what WLFL's status was non-HD for WTVD's 10 p.m. News. I apologize for any offense implied in my correcting your initial statement re: WLFL. I just wanted to ensure accuracy on the list.

KSAZ, Fox O&O in Phoenix, launches their HD newscast on 7/6 per the local forums (can't link to it because some mod added it to the bad word filter). They are the last remaining station with an English newscast not in HD.

Here's a link to the official announcement, from the station itself:

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/DTV_What_to_Expect