WCHS standups at 6am

[genlock]

WCHS has started doing microwave live standups on the early news.
New reporter Darrah Wilcox was on today from the Capitol.
The other stations gave up on this a couple years ago.
I suppose the expense of the truck, reporter and support people
did it in then. Anybody have the ratings for the erly news in Huntington-Charleston?
Maybe Sinclair has found a weakness in WSAZ and making a try to exploit it.

[Cameron]

Is the helicopter they're using today for G.M.A. a backup-microwave shot to CHS if the satellite-truck fails or a "glory-shot"?
Huntington from a 1500 feet doesn't look too-bad.

[genlock]

I bet for a sky cam angle.
Or a really wide shot to show fully some of the area's disgusting fat people.

[mountaineermadness]

I don't remember anyone doing morning live shots in this market, and frankly, that surprised me when I first got here. Every morning show I've seen had live reporters every day, even in much smaller markets. Research shows morning news is the only real growth opportunity in TV-maybe they figured a relatively small investment in manpower might translate into better ratings, and so, better revenue. Time will tell.

[genlock]

Morning live shots were very common in this market several years ago.
Sometimes they were news shots but mostly bullshit.

[Heaven Bound]

I always got a kick out of the local weather shots from just outside the studio door...we just ran a cable out the door and plugged in a couple of lights. Don't remember any that early though, because there was basically just a skeleton crew until later in the morning. I don't watch TV at that hour anyways...who does?

[Jay Nunley]

mostly bullshit.

..and there it is. That sums up the entire broadcast/media industry in two words. Bartholomew is a genius.

[TimeEnuf]

I always got a kick out of the local weather shots from just outside the studio door.....

Reminds me of the sign on the inside of the back door of the 102.7 studio back in the '90's..........

"WVSR's weather's office"

[cgarison]

mostly bullshit.

..and there it is. That sums up the entire broadcast/media industry in two words. Bartholomew is a genius.

I have to say that even the use of microwave trucks for broadcasts other than the 5:00pm and 6:00pm news is pretty much a thing of the past here in Philly. In the past year I have followed the WCAU (NBC10) and WPVI (6ABC) microwave trucks back to Philly from the suburbs of Philly when I leave my gal's place between 10:00pm and 11:00pm to go back to my pad in Philly. Yea, and the emphasis is on follow because those Action News vans of 6ABC haul ass when on the highway (and that is from someone who has a heavy foot and a big V8). I regularly pass the vans from FOX29 so I guess they are not interested in being the news leader like WPVI.

Speaking of news leader, what happened to WSAZ because they kept their microwave vans on the road all the time and used them for every broadcast possible? News leader, indeed. But the same can be said about WPVI's Action News because they are starting to slack just as much.

[genlock]

WCHS did Microwave shots from the board of ed office frequently.
At night there are no lights so It could not be seen. Just a black backdrop.
Even at 6pm in winter it is kinda dark and if the talent is lit hot, there is nothing to be seen of the building.
Probably a good idea to give up on them.
WCHS had something wrong with one of it's portable microwaves anyway. Herringbone crap in picture.
The circus or ice skating at 6 am was beyond stupid.
I like the weather cam shots of the interstate tho. News you could use.

[cgarison]

I like the weather cam shots of the interstate tho. News you could use.

When I worked at Northgate in Charleston (by Yeager Airport), that weather cam shot was a God send.

I have to say that I agree on most live shots are always too brightly lighted. But, part of the issue is that if you are creating an image that is later going to be compressed and then sent across the interwebs, then you have to essentially "over expose" the image as it is seen on an analog screen or uncompressed digital image for it to be compressed and later transmitted.

[genlock]

When it is dark and you over light the foreground subject, the background disappears.
Even if it looked fine before the foreground (reporter) stepped into the shot.
I was not referring to compression.

[fearpeddler]

Let me say this once again, there are literally CHILDREN putting on broadcasts anymore, these kids are coming out of college and haven't been taught a damn thing.....

[genlock]

Kids.

[cgarison]

Hey! You Kids! Get off the lawn with that microwave truck before 6 am in the morning.



Yea, I am starting feel a bit old fartish.

[genlock]

And don't forget to put the mast down before you drive away.

[fearpeddler]

dont forget to turn off the transmitter as well, we hate hearing about your "mysterious" headaches