Percent of local news stations using HDTV

Wally

Does anyone have a guess at the percent of the local news stations using HDTV (wide screen format) for their local news? In Florida, we are still in shock that WFOR, CBS (owned) Miami station doesn't have it. And, two nights ago, WPBF, ABC for the Palm Beaches rolled out their new set with no wide screen HDTV.

HD Goofnut

All four of my local news stations are broadcasted in HD, but are pillarboxed to 4:3.

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Loves2Watch

Generally, if they are pillarboxed then they are not broadcast in HD but just digital.

All of my locals are broadcast in HD (widescreen) OTA but some of the carriers (cable, satellite, etc.) will broadcast those same locals in SD 4:3 as that is the signal they have negotiated with the local stations. It even shows HD on the screen logo but is not HD.

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Loves2Watch

It will take quite a bit of time for most of them to transition to HD and some will never do it. Replacement equipment cost is very high and in this struggling economy, the benefit to the station does not outweigh the expenditure.

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Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

caam1

In Dallas/Fort Worth five out of six english language stations with local news broadcast their studio shots in 16x9 HD. The news stories themselves are mixed, some HD, some 16x9 SD and some 4x3 SD. The three Spanish stations with local news are still SD.

gwhoughton

I think that generally, the larger metropolitan areas will tend to have the higher % of HD broadcasts.

In my area, KCBS2, KABC7, and KCAL9 are all broadcasting news in full HD. Not sure about KNBC4 and FOX11 because I don't watch their news programs, but they definately broadcast SPORTS in full HD~

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Loves2Watch

What does full HD mean...?

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Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

gwhoughton

Sorry about that... That was my own term intended to mean widescreen HD as opposed to 3:4 HD or "stretch-o-vision"...

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Loves2Watch

K, just needed some clarification, thanks.

FYI, In order to be considered broadcast HD, in the US, material must be in the 16:9 format as opposed to 4:3 according to the NTSC, ATSC standards. That would be 1920x1080 or 1280 x 720 which are both widescreen formats.
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Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Wally

Seems like broadcasters could make a lot more money with commercials if they had the 16:9 ability (or the ability to use the entire wide screen.

I know television stations are hurting right now. But in Florida, they make lots of $$ during the major elections, being a swingover state.