Nick
09-07-06, 10:29 AM
So, when is HDTV Coming to Network News?
When Katie Couric debuted on the CBS evening news this week, comfortably ensconced in a beautiful new set, she did so, not in the clarity of high-definition, but in the same old standard definition we have been watching since early in the Rather/Brokaw era of network news. The big question is why didn't CBS take advantage of an obvious opportunity to introduce HDTV to their network news audience -- particularly at this most auspicious time?
Robert Seidel, CBS's VP of Technology/Engineering explained it this way. "My goal has always been to make the capital investments which produce HD programs that will be viewed by the largest audience. That is why we converted prime time first (80% of our viewer during a 24 hour day), followed by sports, then daytime (The Young & The Restless), then late night (Letterman). Now we are working on syndication and local news. Network news is on the multi-year capital plan. But I always ask how many hours of HD will we get for this investment?
"The (CBS) Evening News is 22 minutes in duration after you subtract the commercials and promos. When you focus on those 22 minutes, 75% is from the field and 25% comes from the studio. If we are going to convert the Network News to HD we need to convert all of our 8 news bureaus in the U.S. as well as (those) in Moscow, London, Paris, Israel, Tokyo, Peking, Mexico City and 200 stringers--all for 16 minutes of HD video! We will get there, but right now I am focusing on converting the local newscasts, which accounts for 6-8 hours per day."
CBS is currently rolling out Sony XDCAM-HD at all 18 O&O stations over the next 18months. They are also in the process of converting microwave links to digital and HD as part of the Nextel project. HD at the local stations is well on the way to happening in the next few months. Our stations in L.A., Chicago, and Philly are constructing new buildings that will be totally HD, with no SD facilities installed.
(Adapted from HDTV Magazine - LINK (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2006/09/when_is_network_news_coming_in_hdtv.php) to original article by Dale Cripps)
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Program note: Tickle your TiVos to catch the latest additions to the HD programming lineup -- "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" -- premiering Monday, Sept. 11.
.
When Katie Couric debuted on the CBS evening news this week, comfortably ensconced in a beautiful new set, she did so, not in the clarity of high-definition, but in the same old standard definition we have been watching since early in the Rather/Brokaw era of network news. The big question is why didn't CBS take advantage of an obvious opportunity to introduce HDTV to their network news audience -- particularly at this most auspicious time?
Robert Seidel, CBS's VP of Technology/Engineering explained it this way. "My goal has always been to make the capital investments which produce HD programs that will be viewed by the largest audience. That is why we converted prime time first (80% of our viewer during a 24 hour day), followed by sports, then daytime (The Young & The Restless), then late night (Letterman). Now we are working on syndication and local news. Network news is on the multi-year capital plan. But I always ask how many hours of HD will we get for this investment?
"The (CBS) Evening News is 22 minutes in duration after you subtract the commercials and promos. When you focus on those 22 minutes, 75% is from the field and 25% comes from the studio. If we are going to convert the Network News to HD we need to convert all of our 8 news bureaus in the U.S. as well as (those) in Moscow, London, Paris, Israel, Tokyo, Peking, Mexico City and 200 stringers--all for 16 minutes of HD video! We will get there, but right now I am focusing on converting the local newscasts, which accounts for 6-8 hours per day."
CBS is currently rolling out Sony XDCAM-HD at all 18 O&O stations over the next 18months. They are also in the process of converting microwave links to digital and HD as part of the Nextel project. HD at the local stations is well on the way to happening in the next few months. Our stations in L.A., Chicago, and Philly are constructing new buildings that will be totally HD, with no SD facilities installed.
(Adapted from HDTV Magazine - LINK (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2006/09/when_is_network_news_coming_in_hdtv.php) to original article by Dale Cripps)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Program note: Tickle your TiVos to catch the latest additions to the HD programming lineup -- "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" -- premiering Monday, Sept. 11.
.