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Western North Carolina's WLOS takes local news to high-def
The Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson DMA just netted itself another local station with HD news: WLOS (ABC). Starting this week, the station -- which serves the western parts of both North and South Carolina -- will be broadcasting from its new set and studio, which features a "rotating desk with two different back drops, more than two dozen HD monitors, new HD studio cameras, HD graphics, and the advanced HD 'Sky Watch' Weather Center." The station is just about a year late on being numero uno in the market, as rival WSPA-TV (the local CBS affiliate) took its local news HD in September of last year. Nothing wrong with choices, though.[Thanks, PopWeaverHDTV]
WEAR-TV brings HD news to Florida panhandle
Starting this month, viewers in the Florida panhandle (Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Mobile, Alabama to be more precise) can start catching their local news in high-definition. The region's ABC affiliate (WEAR-TV) has finally seen fit to bring a clearer view of its newscasts to locals. Hailed as the "first and only" local station in the Mobile-Pensacola Metro area to air its local news in HD, the station is showing five different sessions per day in high-def. [Warning: PDF read link][Thanks, Scott]
Chicago's CBS 2 going HD on September 22nd
With practically every other broadcast station in Chicago already beaming out local news in HD, we can only say that it's about time CBS 2 made its move. As the station slides to a new headquarters at Dearborn and Washington Streets across from Daley Plaza, it will also begin airing its newscasts in beautiful high-definition. We're hearing that ratings have been on the decline of late (that's what you get for not keeping with the program!), but hopefully the switch to HD will be a shot in the arm, er, meter. Give it a look on September 22nd.[Thanks, Stephen]
Charleston, South Carolina's WCSC-TV bringing HD news on 9/29
Hey, Charleston -- ready for some HD news? We sure hope so, as local CBS affiliate WCSC-TV is making the fateful switch on September 29th. According to the South Carolina station, viewers will see a "huge change" in how things look, and aside from that, it's pretty proud of being the first local broadcaster in the state to air its news "completely in high-definition." Kudos, Charleston, so who's next?[Thanks, Mike]
Huntsville, AL and Denver, CO net HD news stations
Add two more to the growing list of news stations in America that have made the switch to high-def. Word from respective locals informs us that WHNT (the local CBS affiliate) in Huntsville, Alabama is now broadcasting news in HD, while KMGH (the local ABC affiliate) in Denver, Colorado has done the same. Any others out there needing recognition while we're on a roll?[Thanks, Mike and Steven]
KOMU-TV brings HD news to mid-Missouri
Though not the first HD news station in Missouri, KOMU-TV is the first station in the mid-state to bring high-def news to locals. The NBC affiliate serving the Columbia and Jefferson City areas has just went live with HD newscasts, including the region's first high-definition radar. We're seeing these things pop up at a pretty impressive rate nowadays -- puts a smile on our face, that's for sure.[Thanks, Annie]
El Paso, TX gets its very first HD news station in KTSM-TV
It sure took forever to hit the century mark, but it seems as if 200 is growing closer every single day. Up next on the list of news stations who've decided to turn in their SD card for a much clearer HD variant is El Paso's own KTSM-TV. The NBC affiliate is the first in the region to offer up 1080i newscasts, and it's doing so just in time for the sure-to-be-suffocating Olympics coverage. Enjoy![Thanks, Chris]
Montgomery's WSFA 12 first in central Alabama with HD news
While Alabama has been the recipient of quite a few new HD channels here recently, folks located in and around Montgomery will be treated to even more high-def. The local NBC affiliate (WSFA 12) has become the first station in the central part of the state to air its local newscasts in high-definition. WVTM-TV in Birmingham already claimed that "first in Alabama" crown, but WSFA isn't complaining about being number two overall. Tune in tonight and let us know how it looks.
High-def news comes to Boston's WHDH-TV
As the race to 200 HD news stations in America continues, Boston's own WHDH-TV is bringing us one closer. After nearly being no-hit last night in their own ballpark, Bean Town residents can actually flip on the evening news without worry of having to relive any embarrassing history. Based on the before and after shots in the read link, we'd say the local NBC affiliate did an outstanding job at renovating the studio. For locals who have tuned in already, how is the broadcast quality? Good enough to make you start watching on a regular basis?[Thanks, James]
Richmond, VA's NBC12 flips on high-definition newscasts
For the second time this month, we're seeing a local news station in Virginia make the leap to HD. Richmond's own NBC12 (WWBT) threw the lever earlier this week, making it the first local station in the market to bring high-def news to nearby citizens. As this rate, pretty much all of VA will be watching their 6:00PM news in high-def before the decade ends. Makes sense, though -- after all, Virginia is for (HD) lovers. We know, we know...[Thanks, Matthew]
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Poll: Do you receive your local news in HD?
As America reached an important (in our eyes, anyway) milestone this week by securing 100 high-def news stations, we began to wonder how many of you readers are actually close enough to tune into one of them. Here at Engadget HQ, we're lucky enough to be near one of those stations, but with the ratio of citizens to HD news outlets being so lopsided, we wouldn't be surprised to see the majority of you still in the dark (read: stuck with talking heads in SD). So, are you able to snag your local newscasts in HD? If so, do you even tune in to take advantage? Oh, and here's a bonus question you can answer in comments: are you close to more than one HD news station? %Poll-17277%
Virginia's WAVY-TV joins the crowd, produces local news in HD
While citizens in the Roanoke-Lynchburg area have been enjoying their local news in high-definition for a few months now, WAVY-TV is bringing the same luxury to mums, dads and offspring in Norfolk / Portsmouth / Newport News / Hampton Roads. The NBC affiliate just flipped the switch this week, marking the first time local news was offered in HD anywhere in the Greater Hampton Roads area. So, are y'all impressed with the quality? [Thanks, Robert and Martin]
America finally claims 100 local HD news stations
When Raleigh, North Carolina's WRAL took its local news to high-definition some eight years back, we'd be willing to bet it never thought the rest of America would be so immensely slow in following suit. Sadly, it has indeed taken eight full years for a country known for its pioneering spirit in HD to see 100 local news stations make the high-def leap -- but we suppose it's still a milestone worth celebrating. That being said, if it takes another eight years to hit 200, we just might drown in our own tears.[Thanks, Jeremy]
NBC11 gives Bay Area residents local news in HD
Well, if it isn't about time. KNTV (the Bay Area NBC affiliate) has just recently switched its local newscasts to high-definition, giving residents of Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose the opportunity to catch up on nearby happenings in glorious HD. There has been no big to-do about it, but a video waiting after the jump shows a clip promoting the refreshed NBC Bay Area HD. So, anyone in the area ditching their favorite talking heads to view others in high-def?[Thanks, John]
Chicago's WGN takes local news to HD
Whoa, WGN news is lookin' good in high-definition! The superstation has finally taken a hint and got with the program by unveiling its HD newscasts. Viewers can tune in locally on Chicago's local CW affiliate, while national onlookers can switch over to WGN America HD. Check the read link for more high-resolution screen captures.[Thanks John and Stephen]
Local Edition launching HD newscasts in Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan's first HD newscasts are coming from a rather unusual source: Local Edition. Said channel is getting its ducks in a row in order to start airing local news in high-definition starting July 21st. From what we can glean, it'll only be viewable through Charter, with HD subscribers having to tune to channel 1 and flip through a few on-screen menu options. Nice job showing up the Big 4.[Thanks, Eric]
CBS News fleshes out high-def plans
Nearly two years ago, we pondered how long it would take network news to really commit to HD. Now, one of the laggers is finally catching up and hoping to grab the attention of those who refuse to peer at anything less than 720p. CBS News is reportedly getting set to start fully utilizing a new HD control room that will not only improve the look of productions, but also provide "producers and directors [with] more space and an improved work flow for events such as Election Night." Additionally, we're told that 60 Minutes will make the leap to high-definition in September, while 48 Hours and CBS Sunday Morning follow suit next year. No doubt, CBS has poured millions into overhauling its 57th St. facility in New York City, and while you may not be interested in all the specifics detailed in the read link, here's to hoping the investment pays off on the tele.
San Diego FOX / ABC affiliates taking local news high-def
While KFMB-TV has had a stranglehold on the HD news market in sunny San Diego, that's about to change. Beginning in September, the local ABC affiliate (KGTV) will begin airing its local newscasts in high-definition, and for those impatient souls, the local FOX affiliate (KSWB-TV) will be making the same switch on August 1st. Furthermore, KUSI-TV Channel 51 is expecting to take "everything on the channel, including local news broadcasts," to the high-def realm starting in February of next year. Seems like a few other cities could learn something from this one.[Thanks, Tony]
WMC-TV brings local news to Memphis, Tennessee in HD
The number of US cities that still lack at least one option for seeing local news in HD has just declined by one, as WNC-TV becomes the mid-south's very first high-definition news channel. The Memphis, TN NBC affiliate began showing off its fanciful new equipment this week, which included HD studio cameras, graphics tailored for high-def and even an HD version of its StormTrack Doppler 5. Whatcha got to say about that, Nashville / Knoxville?[Thanks, Marcos and Kyle]
NBC affiliate brings local HD news to Louisville, KY
No longer will Louisville residents have to sit around and wonder when their local news will finally be in HD, as NBC affiliate WAVE-TV has just made the long-awaited transition. This station becomes the first in the city to deliver local newscasts in high-definition, and we're told that three HD cameras will be used in the studio in order to capture anchors in stunning detail. Unfortunately, WAVE won't be replacing the field cameras just yet, so live-on-location reports will still be seen in grainy SD. Oh, and these folks also brought in a makeup consultant in order to handle the whole "now you can see my wrinkles" situation. Sigh.
