ABC 6 & FOX 28 Going HD in Columbus

[jtliedtke]

I emailed the programming staff at WSYX and WTTE and they said that "WSYX & WTTE will be broadcasting their news programs (along with several
of the syndicated programs) in HD before the end of April. We are
currently upgrading all of our sets and equipment. Please watch for
promos and updates over the next few weeks."

It is cool how Central Ohio will have 3 News Stations in High Defenition :hdlove:

[spudohio]

That's very surprising for Sinclair. They are usually all about taking the money, but not spending it! :D

[aaronod]

I'm surprised they did it this soon. I figured they would wait until 2009. This is good news, even though I hate watching ABC and Fox because of their dark video quality.

[willcail]

This is good news. I have two TV's one 16:9 LCD HDTV and one 4:3 LCD EDTV. (With a DTV reciver box connected to it, via the Progressvie scan cables. My EDTV have two sets of progressive video ports and an analog TV tuner go fig.) I am glad that the sinclair stations are going 16:9 for thier local news. I don't mind the window-boxing but I perferred the 16:9 format within a 4:3 screen. True I can set the box to crop or squeeze the picture to fit the 4:3 ratio but it doesn't look right. Plus I don't have cable connected to the EDTV. I wonder will they do the same for MYTV 6.2?

[bucketosand]

So now we get to enjoy all of this cities wonderful news anchors in HD...I can't wait ;)

[willcail]

Watching Newscenter in 480P on my EDTV I can make out the skin blemishes. Can't wait to see more.

[SpaceGhost]

Someone needs to get Andrea Cambern on 10tv a Samich, chic needs to eat.

[hdtvnewbie]

http://broadcastengineering.com/newsrooms/sinclair_chooses_devlin_design_0411/

Sinclair chooses Devlin Design for HD set design
Apr 11, 2008 4:07 PM

Sinclair Broadcast Group has contracted Devlin Design Group (DDG) to create scenic design to support a complete HD conversion of its 14 news stations. The transition to HD news will be completed over the next three years.

Sinclair selected the Devlin Design Group to create the HD sets in part because of its extensive HD experience, according to Mark Nadeau, senior director of the Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Devlin Design Group has created HD scenic designs for broadcasters worldwide, including WRAL-TV in Raleigh-Durham, NC. The first two Sinclair stations to make the HD transition will be WSYX-TV in Columbus, OH, and WBFF-TV in Baltimore. Both are set for a May HD launch.

[hdtvnewbie]

Details of Sinclair’s local HD news plans emerge
Apr 17, 2008 8:55 AM

Sinclair Broadcast Group, if all goes as planned, will launch HD local newscasts within the next three to four weeks in Baltimore and Columbus, OH, and sometime this summer, follow suit in Ashville, NC, and Pensacola, FL.

Speaking with Broadcast Engineering following the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) breakfast at NAB2008 April 14, Sinclair VP engineering of operations Del Parks revealed that the station group will use the rollout at stations in its four biggest markets to evaluate its approach to HD news operations and make any midcourse corrections, if needed, before continuing the HD local news rollout in its other nine news markets.

“Broadcast TV cannot become the AM radio of the 21st Century. One way around that is to deliver as much HD content as we can,” Parks said.

The centerpiece of Sinclair’s news control room strategy is the Snell & Wilcox multi-definition production switcher, he said. With built-in up/downconversion, the switcher will allow Sinclair to work in a mixed 4:3 SD and 16:9 HD world without relying on external conversion. “What happens when you start inserting upconverters and downconverters is you get a series of delay,” he explained. “And that makes the audio problems worse. A big problem with DTV that everyone is finding out is lip-sync problems.” With built-in conversion, audio and video delay is consistent and doesn’t add to lip-syncing difficulties, he added.

For acquisition, Sinclair is at the show evaluating competitive long GOP MPEG and intraframe systems. While the broadcast group has a 20-year history with Panasonic using DVCPRO equipment, a major issue with which Sinclair is wrestling is the trade off between file size and maintaining more original image data, he said.

Following NAB2008, Sinclair also will receive four new electronic newsgathering (ENG)/satellite newsgathering (SNG) vehicles that are HD-ready, he said.


Listen to the Del Parks interview.
http://broadcastengineering.com/podcast/delparks.mp3

Full Article:
http://broadcastengineering.com/newsrooms/details_sinclairs_local_hd_0417/

[jtliedtke]

That is great news! I cant wait till WSYX and WTTE news starts broadcasting in HD! That will be great! Hopefully it is sooner than 3 or 4 weeks.

[willcail]

I was taking a personal day on Monday and was flipping through the channels. I did notice that Mike and Juliet Morning Show was broadcasting in 16:9. When did that happen?

[hdtvnewbie]

The Sat. 5/10 newscast was broadcast in HD from their new set.

[jtliedtke]

I know. I did not see it in HD but it looked great. No mess ups at all! (at least on the SD end!!!) I will watch it tonight at 10 on my HD tv. The only thing that gets me about the new set is the skyline background behind the anchors. It is too dark and there is NO color. I am thinking that it is a rear projection screen of a LIVE shot of te downtown skyline.

[hdtvnewbie]

Go out and buy a few more plasma screens! Those projection screens are horrible!

[jtliedtke]

It seems like they have a lot of plasma screens. I also noticed that the set changes from ABC6 to FOX28. I think that the anchor desk is on a turntable. Does anybody else notice this???

[hdtvnewbie]

It seems like they have a lot of plasma screens. I also noticed that the set changes from ABC6 to FOX28. I think that the anchor desk is on a turntable. Does anybody else notice this???

Yes, the Fox 28 version seems a bit easier on my eyes. I liked the pink slats and the wood (or fake wood) back wall.

[PREMiERdrum]

It seems like they have a lot of plasma screens. I also noticed that the set changes from ABC6 to FOX28. I think that the anchor desk is on a turntable. Does anybody else notice this???

This is my understanding of the new set:

"Home Base" is indeed on a rotating platform. For the ABC6 shows, the desk sits with the duratran in the background, flanked by the light columns (lit blue) with a recessed monitor on each side. For the FOX28 shows, the riser rotates 45 degrees to have the rear projector in the center, and lighted columns (one side shared with the other set), lit pink. 45 degrees from the rear projection is the "monitor farm" for interviews and general performance. The weather center is to the left (if looking at the set) of the ABC6 area.

Hope this helps you "picture" it.

[hdtvnewbie]

Now that I've had a few days to take it all in, I have to say that they did a good job overall with the set. Can't say I'm a big fan of the "duratran" -- the monitor WCMH uses is much more pleasant visually. I like parts of both the WCMH and WSYX sets ... overall I would have to say that WSYX did a better job with their new set.

[jtliedtke]

I agree with you. The duratran needs to be brightened up and needs more color. The set to me is amazing. I read a description of it on newscaststudio.com under news. They are looking for pictures of it. I like the set and all the ways it can be used. Unlike WBNS and WCMH set for backgrounds behind the anchors, WSYX set offers different visual elements and motion. I think that the background duratran behind WCMH anchors is terrible. I hope pictures of the ne set get posted soon! Now all that needs to happen is a new set for WBNS. WSYX and WCMH got brand new sets, WBNS just refreshed theirs!

[jtliedtke]

I also have noticed that most if not all of their promos or "whats on tonight" has been in HD too.

[hdtvnewbie]

I also have noticed that most if not all of their promos or "whats on tonight" has been in HD too.

Wow, again! WSYX is actually FIRST at something in the market ... but of all things, HD commercials? Kidding aside, you really have to give credit to Sinclair from a technology standpoint because they really did do this whole DTV conversion thing very methodically.

I really think they get a bad rap. It looks like their strategy wasn't so much to do everything on the cheap as much as it was to cobble everything together until digital hardware became economical and they could convert.

If they were as horrible as people say, would they have as many long-term employees as they do? Carol Luper's husband makes mega-bucks ....... would she be working there if they were so bad?

[festivus]

I've never been a big fan of Sinclair's for several reasons. I still notice the strength of their wsyx ota signal fluctuating from time to time. My setup stays the same. Also, they were never the most receptive to consumer questions/complaints. Frank at wbns and Debra at wcmh are great. Who do we have at wtte/wsyx like that? And the wsyx local sports coverage sometimes trumping the national sports coverage can get annoying during football season.

Just some weird decisions without much explanation. I haven't watched their local news yet. We've been watching wcmh or wbns. Usually wcmh since I like the NBC national news better since it's in HD for one reason.

[willcail]

On Monday I notice that The Morning Show with Mike and Julie/Juliet (?) was 16:9. Is there any plans to have 6.2 My TV to be in 16:9?

[jtliedtke]

Back to the duratran not being bright enough or colorful enough. I watched this morning and it was much brighter and one of the HD promos , i noticed, had a real picture of downtown with alot of color. I will have to watch tonight at 11 to see more. Off note. I really wish WBNS would change their dura background to one like they had before with the skyline and just change it for different newscasts. That weird computer thing is getting to me!!!