WJXT throws the HD lever in Jacksonville, Florida
by Darren Murph 
posted Jan 15th 2009 at 11:44AM
[Thanks, Eric]
affiliate posts
[Thanks, Eric]
South Florida's WSVN converts newscasts to high-definition
by Darren Murph posted Jan 12th 2009 at 11:51AM
South Florida's NBC 6 became the first English-language network in the area to take its newscasts to high-def, but now those who refuse to watch news in SD finally have another choice. Starting this week, WSVN -- the FOX affiliate in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market -- will be airing its local news broadcasts in greater clarity, and now that this station has hopped on board, we reckon the outcasts will be following suit in short order.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Elmira-Corning, NY viewers to finally get ABC and CBS in high-def
by Darren Murph posted Jan 1st 2009 at 10:03PM
Just in time for the NFL playoffs and March Madness, TV viewers in the Elmira-Corning, New York area will suddenly have lots more to cheer about when firing up the tube. ABC affiliate WENY-TV, alongside CBS affiliate WENY-DT2, will finally deliver programming to locals in high-definition "within the next week or two." The addition of ABC and CBS in HD to the area has been a long time coming, and it's actually being pushed back a few days as the network waits for a few last minute hardware acquisitions to arrive. HD channel additions are always welcome, but getting broadcast stations in high-def... now that's something special.Austin, TX's KXAN takes local news HD, leaves KTBC as lone outlier
by Darren Murph posted Dec 29th 2008 at 6:16PM
Everything is supposedly bigger in Texas, and we can imagine the awkwardness of being the only station in Austin to not offer local news in high-def is substantial. Just before Christmas, the city's NBC affiliate (KXAN) turned the screws on high-definition news, with revamped on-screen graphics and on-air tools. The station collaborated with FX Group in order to "design a visually creative and flexible news set that will be used for all newscasts," and of course, it also upgraded to HD cameras and HD weather forecasting equipment. With the transition complete, it leaves KTBC-TV (FOX) as the only game in town to not even offer newscasts in HD, though we suspect it'll be forced to get with the program soon in order to avoid further embarrassment.[Thanks, John]
Juneau's NBC affiliate now available in HD in Ketchikan, AK
by Darren Murph posted Dec 26th 2008 at 11:12AM
TWC finally launching HD WBNG-TV (CBS) in Binghamton, NY
by Darren Murph posted Dec 16th 2008 at 4:59PM
We're genuinely, genuinely thrilled for the good people of Binghamton, New York. Despite the fact that Time Warner Cable offers up over 60 high-def stations in the area, folks have been living with an SD version of their CBS affiliate (WBNG-TV) for over two years now. That means SD NFL, SD primetime dramas, etc. At long last, users can pull down their elephant-sized antennas and tune to slot 701, as TWC and Granite Broadcasting Corporation have finally agreed to transmission terms this month. The HD feed of WBNG-TV is set to go live on December 23rd, which in our book, is not a moment too soon. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]Boston's WBZ-TV fires up HD newscasts
by Darren Murph posted Dec 13th 2008 at 11:54AM
Check it, Beantown. Your local CBS affiliate (WBZ-TV) has decided to follow WHDH-TV into the 21st century, as it finally fired up HD news this week. With this network going high-def, that makes three of the big four in Boston that have successfully made the switch. News in 1080i -- equally depressing, a lot more beautiful.[Thanks, Will]
Washington, DC's WJLA (ABC 7) turns on HD newscasts
by Darren Murph posted Dec 8th 2008 at 1:59PM
It's time to celebrate, DC, as you finally have more than one option to turn to when scouting HD news. For some four years, WUSA (CBS 9) has been the lone high-def news station in the immediate region, but at long last WJLA (ABC 7) has stepped in to give it some much needed competition. Reportedly, the station aired its first HD newscast during the noon hour on December 8th, with the next episodes to hit at 5:00PM and 6:00PM for those scooting out of work. So, which network has next?[Thanks, Ammar]
BHN drops Fort Wayne NBC / ABC affiliates in Grant County, promises more HD
by Darren Murph posted Dec 5th 2008 at 7:28PM
We certainly hope you Grant County residents in Indiana enjoy the Indianapolis anchors, because after this year, that's all you'll be seeing from Bright House Networks. Currently, this sector of the world is in a rare scenario, as its local cable carrier offers locals from both Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Sadly, the Fort Wayne NBC (WISE-TV) / ABC (WPTA-TV) affiliates will be done away with after December 31st, and BHN's president of Indiana operations says the decision was based on how skewed the ratings were in the direction of Indy's locals. Not all is doom and gloom, however, as the MLB Network will join HD versions of The Weather Channel, Travel Channel, USA, FX and SciFi in the Grant County EPG next month. Six steps forward, two steps back? Deal.South Bend, Indiana gets HD news from WSBT-TV
by Darren Murph posted Nov 18th 2008 at 5:45PM
South Bend, Indiana got more than a win from their Fighting Irish this weekend -- they also got a heavy dose of HD news. WSBT-TV, the area's CBS affiliate, became the first in the region to air its newscasts digitally just days ago, and moreover, the first to broadcast in high-definition. Viewers are being treated to clearer views of their favorite anchors and more information on a wider screen platform, including additional weather data on the margins of their TV screens. The station's news director Meg Sauer has also asked for forgiveness if any glitches crop up due to all the new equipment, but we're sure you'll be willing to do so in exchange for an HD quality broadcast.Cincinnati's own WXIX gears up for HD news transition
by Darren Murph posted Oct 29th 2008 at 6:49AM
Cincinnati's Fox 19 has come a long way over the years, but it's still lagging behind in one huge area: HD newscasts. Thankfully for residents of the Ohio city, all that's about to change... at least, according to news director Steve Ackermann. Reportedly, WXIX will move this week into its high-def-ready news set, and if all goes as planned, it could become the second station in the area to broadcast local news in HDTV within "a couple of weeks." We'll be watching.[Thanks, Eric]
Lexington, KY's WTVQ gets major makeover as part of HD news transition
by Darren Murph posted Oct 26th 2008 at 6:55PM
[Thanks, Eric]
Wichita's KWCH taking local news to HD this month
by Darren Murph posted Oct 4th 2008 at 5:44AM
[Thanks, Gabe]
Time Warner Cable, LIN TV bicker over retransmission fees
by Darren Murph posted Sep 16th 2008 at 8:30AM
While we singled out TWC's spat with Dayton's own WDTN, the issue spreads much, much further. As of now, 15 LIN TV-owned stations are at risk of falling off of Time Warner Cable if the two can't reach an agreement before October 2nd. Since July of this year, LIN TV has attempted to extract a presumably large amount of cash from the carrier in order to seal the deal on a long-term agreement for both analog and high-def signals. As of now, local stations in Austin, Buffalo, Columbus, Dayton, Ft. Wayne, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Mobile, Springfield (MA), Terre Haute and Toledo are at risk, but we have a pretty good feeling that the two will eventually work it out. 'Course, TWC won't enjoy paying through the nose in order to do so, but hey, that's life. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
WEAR-TV brings HD news to Florida panhandle
by Darren Murph posted Sep 14th 2008 at 10:47AM
Starting this month, viewers in the Florida panhandle (Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Mobile, Alabama to be more precise) can start catching their local news in high-definition. The region's ABC affiliate (WEAR-TV) has finally seen fit to bring a clearer view of its newscasts to locals. Hailed as the "first and only" local station in the Mobile-Pensacola Metro area to air its local news in HD, the station is showing five different sessions per day in high-def. [Warning: PDF read link][Thanks, Scott]
