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Virginia's WDBJ7 hops on HD news bandwagon
Let's keep the trend alive, shall we? Following in the footsteps of Salt Lake City's 2NEWS, Detroit's WJBK and Denver's CBS4, Virginia's own WDBJ7 has also made the transition to air its local newscasts in high-definition. The CBS affiliate serves the Roanoke-Lynchburg area, and suffice to say quite a bit of work went on behind the scenes to pull it all together. Thankfully, the network journaled the process for us in pictures, so be sure to hit the read link for a gallery of off-camera shots.[Thanks, Dariusz]
Denver gets high-def news from CBS4, six new HD channels from Comcast
The Mile High City isn't about to be shown up by nearby Salt Lake City or faraway Detroit, as it becomes the third city in the past week to flip on an HD news channel. As of now, residents of Denver, Colorado can catch their local news in high-definition on CBS4, and in case that wasn't enough, Comcast users can look forward to six more networks in glorious HD. Yep, subscribers in the area can finally tune into TLC HD (677), Disney HD (679), ABC Family HD (680), Food HD (681), HGTV HD (682) and Science HD (683). Stay classy, Denver -- we'll be seeing you in five months or so.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read - CBS4 begins HD newscastsRead - Comcast adds six HD channels in Denver
Detroit's FOX affiliate falls in line, flips news to HD
Early last year, Cleveland became the first city to boast of having a trifecta of HD news channels. Now, however, the Motor City is making sure it keeps up. Reportedly, Detroit's own WJBK / FOX 2 just started serving up newscasts in high-def, but it's not like residents weren't already getting their HD news fix from either WXYZ / ABC 7 or WDIV / NBC 4. Still, there's nothing like a little competition to keep everyone honest, so feel free to take your pick now that the playing field is all leveled up.[Thanks, Jeremy]
Salt Lake City's 2NEWS makes the switch to HD
Just weeks after Comcast users in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah area were gifted with five new HD channels, residents of SLC now have one more reason to flip on the evening news. This past Saturday, the city's 2NEWS (KUTV, a local CBS affiliate) made the leap to high-definition, as its 5:30PM newscast was shown for the first time in HD. Additionally, HD cameras were used to capture clips from the Salt Lake City Marathon, and an all new HD-ready control room is being used to make the magic happen. Another news channels gets with the times -- can't complain with that.
Charleston, WV NBC affiliate looking to broadcast news in HD
As local news stations slowly make the move to HD around the country, we're taken to a rather surprising locale to find what could be the next to take the high-def plunge. WSAZ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Charleston, West Virginia, is reportedly "planning a transition to broadcast its local news in high-definition," but a bit of consolidation has to go down first. The studio staffs in Huntington and Charleston will purportedly be merged into one, whereby the "Charleston studio will be controlled from Huntington." Unfortunately, eight Charleston-based employees will be losing their jobs in the process, and while we know the transition is imminent, a definitive timetable has yet to be established.
South Florida's NBC 6 takes local news high-def
No sooner than Comcast announced that it would be upgrading its infrastructure in sunny South Florida, along comes word that WTVJ (NBC 6) has finally made the leap to HD newscasts. Believe it not, the switch -- which happened without much warning yesterday -- makes it the first in the Miami / Ft. Lauderdale area to broadcast local news in high-definition. It's shaping up be an excellent Spring to sit inside down there, isn't it?[Thanks, Josh]
Tulsa's NBC affiliate (KJRH) becomes first in Oklahoma with HD news
For those that call Tulsa, Oklahoma home and are sick and / or tired of tuning into SD newscasts each night, you finally have a better option. Effectively immediately, residents in the Tulsa area can now point their antenna to the region's NBC affiliate (KJRH Channel 2) and receive news in high-definition. Best of all, the station will be broadcasting all of its news -- 28 hours worth per week -- in HD, and if you really want to know how lucky you are, the next closest station(s) to Tulsa to do the same are in Dallas, Texas. Enjoy, Tulsans.
San Francisco's CBS affiliate (KPIX) flips newscasts to HD
Hard though it may be to believe, San Francisco's own CBS affiliate still wasn't beaming out its newscasts in high-definition earlier this week. Thankfully for those looking for one more reason to tune in, KPIX-TV has finally gone live with HD news and can be seen in high-def on channels 5.1 (OTA locally / DirecTV / DISH) and 705 (Comcast). Go on, Bay Area, bust out the party hats -- CBS 5 is now bringing you 30 hours per week of local HD programming. Check out the full release after the jump.[Thanks, Akilah]
Fox News Central Texas debuts tonight, HD coming soon
Shortly after hearing that Central Texas would be getting a helping of new HD channels later this month, we've now learned that KWKT-TV (a local FOX affiliate) will begin airing its own newscast tonight. Debuting on the same day as the 2008 State of the Union address, Fox News Central Texas will get its first show underway this evening at 9:30PM local time, but will move to 9:00PM going forward. Tonight's show will mark the station's first foray into local news since it began broadcasting in 1988, and while it won't yet be shown in high-definition, the entire newsroom is already HD-capable. So, what's the holdup, you ask? Just a digital switcher, which is "presently on order."
Albany, New York CBS affiliate (WRGB) begins broadcasting news in HD
Nary a month after TWC subscribers in New York's capital city received a welcome helping of new HD options, along comes word that its local CBS affiliate (WRGB) has flipped the switch on news in high-definition. As of last week, Channel 6 is now airing newscasts in high-def, but reportedly, it may not have the edge in the area for long. Rene LaSpina, general manager at WTEN (ABC affiliate) Channel 10, was quoted as saying that it was "definitely going to do it," and also noted that "everybody in the country has plans to [go high-def]." Shame those "plans" haven't materialized in but a few cities across the nation, eh?
KGW NewsChannel 8 first newscast in Portland to go HD
The good news just keeps on coming for HD junkies in Oregon, and now you can finally sit down after a long, hard day cramped up at the office and enjoy your news in high-definition. After five months of acquiring / installing new equipment, KGW NewsChannel 8 is broadcasting live in HD; furthermore, it will be utilizing an HD sky-cam to show "live, detailed pictures of the weather in Portland." As the first news station in the area to go HD, it's also getting a leg up by promising HD video from its Sky8 aerial camera. Now, if only Greg Oden would get healthy, all really would be well, eh?
Chicago's NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) airs first newscast in HD
Hard to believe that Chicago's local news on NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) wasn't already airing in HD, but nevertheless, it finally made the leap to high-definition this week. Not that staring at talking heads in 720p / 1080i is that much more enjoyable or anything, but at least it justifies that HDTV purchase a touch more, right?[Thanks, Brian]
Six years of Segway: the profound effect on the human race
We'll admit, every so often a certain well-constructed spoof just catches you right, and in the case of the always-witty Onion, a perfectly executed mini-newscast covering the "profound effect" of the Segway really demonstrates how much of a non-factor this thing has been. Since the original launch in 2001, a good amount of folks have avoided the two-wheeled human transporter for one reason or another -- you know, things like uncontrollably reversing, it being banned in their country, the astonishingly high pricetag, and the oh-so-critical embarrassment factor -- and the "revolution" that it was supposed to spark has still not lit a flame. Sure, Jackie Chan may have demanded that the cast members on the set of Rush Hour III all get to their places via Segway, but c'mon, we'd surmise that the vast majority of dignified individuals would rather gallop around in a horse hoof alerting hybrid than face public humiliation on one of these things. Regardless of its impact (or glaring lack thereof), be sure to hit the read link if you need a chuckle. [Warning: link contains mild profanity][Thanks, Ben]
