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LAS VEGAS--Imagine launching a high-definition news operation in less than four months. That’s what Will Wright, GM of VOOM HDNews in Woodbury, NY, did back in 2003 when the HD path was dim compared to today. His group got the “Beta blues,” he said, working with the equipment vendors to start the new operation and keep it running. Dave Sirak, news operations manager at WFTV in Orlando, FL, said his station had HD going for nine months in 2006. For an RTNDA panel called “Prepare for HD Conversion,” Sirak and Wright joined Mack McLaughlin, chief executive officer and creative director of FX Group, a set design and construction firm in Orlando; and moderator Angie Kucharski, RTNDA chairwoman and vice president / station manager for WBZ-TV / WSBK-TV in Boston. The panel challenged myths about HD conversion and explained ways it energized news operations with new opportunities to improve story telling and create competitive advantage. The myths included expense and anchors concerned about wrinkles. Wright said the new HD camcorders are as good as the older, more expensive models. Sirak said anchors quickly overcame their anxiety about showing their age when three camera vendors had a “shootout” in the Orlando studio comparing their features. McLaughlin suggested that studio cameras with good flesh detail control are more effective than makeup in controlling views of wrinkles. Both he and Sirak said less makeup is better with HD. “The anchors appear more alive in HD,” McLaughlin said. All agreed that lighting is crucial. McLaughlin recommended incandescent instruments rather than fluorescent with front lights at 80 to 90 foot candles and backlights about 20 to 30 foot candles hotter. Because colors can become too vibrant in HD, a set must tone them down, he said. HD conversion for news depends on the rest of the station’s conversion progress. McLaughlin recommended developing the graphic look before designing the set. Any equipment purchased now should have a clear path to HD. Wright said even after adding the costs of the hardware and software, the big question for HDNews was, “What was the build out cost?” Now that HDNews has had four years of experience, its infrastructure is getting old and sometimes unserviceable. When one software upgrade occurs sometimes a device no longer works with another, so Wright suggested working with one vendor from beginning to end of the conversion. To prepare photographers and editors, WFTV tried some special HD stories before the conversion, according to Sirak. The station also held a contest among photographers to shoot stock footage to build the station’s HD library. Weather can be a big competitive advantage that encourages viewers with HD sets to sample the HD stations. “We’re going to give you more just by volume,” Sirak said. At the same time, he and McLaughlin recommended remembering the viewers who still watch televisions with 4:3 aspect ratios. Shots must work for them as well as for 16:9 sets. HD opens the doors to more powerful television storytelling with the possibility of wide vista shots, rich color and surround sound. Consequently, it renews the creative energies of the photographers, editors, reporters and producers. “There’s something you can do in high definition that will make you a star,” Wright said. -- Michael Murrie |
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