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A TV Question but when will Channel 4 News go into HDTV

They had their new set for a while, you would think they would do something considering they will broadcast only on Channel 10 in digital beginning on 2/17/2009.

(source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSMV)
 
Is it just me...or does channel 4's new news set look like:

a. the elevator at Cool Springs Galleria
b. a brick pizza oven restaurant
 
I can't tell, Chris. That Dementia lady's big head is always bobbing and in the way. It's just to painful to watch.

How mcuh longer before Dan is ready to retire? (I am being serious, here...)

I just miss Chris Clark on Channel 5, but like that the consolation prize was a really cool looking helicopter.
 
romer979fm said:
Is it just me...or does channel 4's new news set look like:

a. the elevator at Cool Springs Galleria
b. a brick pizza oven restaurant

That's precisely what my girlfriend said the other night. :D
 
romer979fm said:
Is it just me...or does channel 4's new news set look like:

a. the elevator at Cool Springs Galleria
b. a brick pizza oven restaurant

I vote b. a brick pizza oven restaurant

and, the way they pull back from the reporters doing their segments where they are turned around facing Dan and Demetria is just weird. Talk to us - we're the ones out here watching!

"Hey, I just finished my segment. Now, check out my butt while I bow down to the Gods!"
 
So anyone gots the answer to the original question? I was just wondering the same thing last night? Channel 5 loves to promote TN first and only high def newscast? How many viewers have they picked up because of that? Never watched 5 for news until I purchased the high def TV. Now all we watch is 5 since their news went HD a year ago. Watching TV not in high def is like listening to a Victrola for music. Oh I can hear the purists out there ready to respond? Same thing with digital photography?

Nock
 
I was over at channel 4 around thanksgiving before they put the new set on air. It looks pretty cool when it's blank without all the video plalyling on it. It has the background colors where they project it the other video on it. Since I had just gotten my HD, my first question to one of the folks was, when are ya'll following channel 5?
The people I spoke with didn't have an answer.
I agree, I have watched more channel 5 since getting a HD, but still watch other channels to see what's going on in town. It's sometimes amazing how different the news can be in the same city.
Hate to see the cut=backs at 2, not a good sign.
 
I concur with the brick-oven pizza folks. I knew that set looked familiar.

The situation at Channel 2 is indeed sad. I really don't think they have recovered from the previous ND they had who fired people right and left and made many enemies for herself. There are some good people over at 2 and I wish them the best.
 
EoN --- you are spot on on the sad situation at 2. Maybe it's the underdog thing, but Bob and Anne made you feel
safe. With Chris Clark retired, Ch. 2 missed the opportunity of a lifetime. I dunno, I just don't like Ch. 4 and I have
nothign against Dan Miller at all. He's just never seemed really back since he originally left. Hey, maybe Ch. 4 could
really turn that set into a working pizza kitchen and deliever more than the news...
 
(let's try this again, for some reason my original reply didn't get through...)

Unless it's being discussed at higher levels of management than I'm privy to (very possible) there is no specific schedule for HD local news on channel 4. However, technical work is being done towards going HD in a reasonable amount of time. (I'm not prepared to define "reasonable" :) ) HD was considered in set design, and some gear has been purchased with HD in mind. (for a trivial example, the floor monitors and all the monitors you see on the air are HD, though of course showing a SD image while on air)

There is an ENORMOUS amount of work (read that, loosening of purse strings) involved in doing HD local news. Things you need to simply get HD studio cameras on the air:

- HD cameras
- (teleprompters, intercom equipment, pedestals, tally lights to match)
- HD production control switcher
- HD monitors for the control room
- HD video distribution equipment
- SD=>HD upconverters for those sources that *aren't* HD yet
- HD=>SD downconverters for those destinations that aren't HD yet (feeds to other stations, monitors buried in the set, etc.)
- HD master control switcher
- HD monitors for master control
- more HD video distribution equipment
- HD routing switcher
- racks & similar hardware to hold all this gear
- a plan to get all this done without taking the station off the air or killing the ability to do a newscast
- plastic surgery for the talent (just kidding, I hope)

(this assuming the station already has the transmission equipment to pass through HD from the network)

To do the news stories in HD you also have to have:
- HD field cameras
- Bigger storage cards (assuming you're doing solid-state recording) or more tapes or blank DVDs (if you're recording to tape or DVD. Channel 4 uses solid-state recording on cards that resemble laptop modems.)
- HD editing stations
- HD playout servers
- More hard disk space
- HD encoders/decoders for microwave trucks and receive sites
- more monitors & routers

When channel 5 went HD for their local newscasts, their GM told the Tennessean it cost them $10 million. I think that figure is a bit high but I don't think it's entirely out of touch with reality.
 
The actual cost of WTVF's conversion was $12 million. Fact. And they just rebuilt the helicopter for HD photos with new transmitter, camera, and wiring. Another million or so. Not all their field cameras are converted, you're looking at $17,000 per camera. Perhaps only a news junkie would care about this and nashville isn't really a major "news" town. Sure we have the meth labs in Cookeville and some wrecks and shootings but watch Atlanta, Dallas Chicago or la stations to see news with 15+ news trucks doing live shots at each station every newscast.
Channel 4 is just a lot of excuses. The GM was quoted as saying "who wants to see a wreck in HD" proving that another sales dude is running the place and hasn't been to the showroom at Best Buy in a long time.He's probably at The Palm entertaining clients. The argument about costs is ridiculous. Everything costs. It's part of life. Every major TV station has or is converting to HD but WSMV does NOT have it budgeted AGAIN this year. They don't see the need.
Nobody dares question this up on Snob Hill. They are company robots afraid to rock the boat,it's too fragile.
Meredith paid a fortune for WSMV, many say paid too much. Oprah costs a reported 6 figures every week just for Nashville clearance, so if they can pay that bill they have the cash. Dan& Demetria are expensive as long time employees. It's sad a town this big is mostly a 2 station tv market, but Merrydeath's lack of investment gives WTVF an edge. With Young broadcasting cutting $20 million in costs last week Nashville is one of many Young stations with cutbacks. Sinclair under delivers for Fox big time. But for those who don't have HD TV please don't confuse this with HD radio. HD radio is going nowhere, has gigantic problems and no creative programming making it necessary anyway. HD on TV is the world we dreamed of.
 
Where do they (4) come up with the dough to change the news set as often as they have in the last 15 years? Save a couple set changes and invest in technology? Honestly when I saw them using a temp set I thought great another HD newscast. With the lack of it sent me the message loud and clear they don't care. HD is a competitive edge that has to be gaining viewers if you are the only HD news in town as the TV's become more common place.

Who is the weather dude (young guy) they have that likes to use big words? He is annoying in a tornado warning.

Nock
 
Nock said:
Who is the weather dude (young guy) they have that likes to use big words?

isn't that Dan Thomas?
for a fun 'drinking game'...do a shot every time he uses the phrase "out and about"...
you'll be toasted before Leno.

hey...pizza's ready!
 
What is it about all the investigative reporters in town that they all must think they must chase the same story? Not that what they are doing is not newsworthy (it is!), but why can't any of the TV stations in town do investigative reports on something the other stations aren't already doing? In other words, be more original! Last year, they were all going after the defective guardrails; now they are following Vic Lineweaver around! (And he IS an embarrassment to Bellevue! :-[) Apparently, the same viewers are feeding the same tips to all the investigative reporters in town, regardless of which station they work for! Maybe to see who will get to it first, or to see who does the best job of covering it!
 
I know we're on a radio board but as discussion comes up about staff reduction here's something to note reguarding WSMV. Watch the news and see those robotic cameras? They are dependable and never call in sick or take a vacation. The new automated system installed is in many major market tv stations where everything is generated by the script that's entered into the system. At one point you won't need an audio engineer because this gizmo opens the anchors mic as per the script and opens the live shot mic and the weather mic as per the script. Graphics are generated by the script. While they didn't go HD those upgrades are expensive but the big picture is what it allows in terms of personnel needs. I don't know their head count or know if anyone left. But having a news cast with no one on the floor running the cameras and turning on the lights means there is room for some to leave and not be replaced.

Sound like any radio stations you know?
 
..."Sound like any radio stations you know? "
Yes it does...a lot of stations no longer have a master control on site as play out is being done at a centeral location for many if not all of the stations owned. Oh and by the way does chan. 2 have anyone working for them now?
 
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