rkolsen

4 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

Appears ESPN has new NBA graphics. 

 

 

Very nice. Like how it essentially replaces the bottom line. 

15 hours ago, Samantha said:

 

What is this theme doing on a low-budget capitol news roundup from 1996???

What the theme.

21 hours ago, jrogo said:

David Gura has left MSNBC & NBC News. 
https://mobile.twitter.com/davidgura/status/1327315883677593600

Shame I liked him.  He was good journalist. But when UP was cancelled they didn’t know what to do with him, gave him an hour on the weekend afternoons. But that didn’t last.

On 11/4/2020 at 4:10 AM, IceManNYR said:

Why are they not formatting their election lower third to match the size of their regular lower third?

He boxes like that were some odd design quirk. They do something similar when it comes to meteorologists names. Why? I do not know.

On 9/28/2020 at 8:46 PM, Asomrjsurf said:

KC hasen't got it yet on Sprectrum/Comcast and so on that pick up Sprectrumsportskc channels.

Spectrum 1 will never be carried on Comcast as it’s a competitor and it’s designed as a marketing ploy. 

On 9/24/2020 at 1:25 PM, ref1997 said:

Something interesting I noticed on the 11AM news today... WMAQ played an excerpt of the Today show today, and the Today Show ticker text and time "pops" up. It "deactivates" seamlessly when they cut back to the anchor. (Pay attention to the ticker part in the video below...)

 

This ticker is definitely not previously recorded - as implied by the time and the ticker text layer is above the Look N ticker graphic. I think it's generated automatically by their studio systems...

 

The question is how does stations like WMAQ (and possibly other O&O stations?) handle the Today ticker text? I know some stations generate the text manually by the studio director. In this video it seems it's automatically handled by their control room systems... Do they have some particular software to detect something like the "color" in a particular screen region, hence when detected it activates the ticker text? It's just something I've been curious all day long... Maybe someone here can have better assumptions.

That’s a interesting video.  I assume they must of recorded a clean feed before it went through master control.  NBC has a piece of hardware called NameDropper HD (CBS uses the same hardware but it’s known as LIDIA) that’s used to insert logos during primetime, TOTH legal IDs and the crawl/time/temp during the Today Show.  All the commands for Today is triggered by a watermark in the feed which is likely why it was triggered during the clip.  However I am slightly confused why it would have the ticker covered by the Look N ticker but the time/temp ontop of the LookN ticker. 

2 hours ago, Liugrad2020 said:

Did any of the networks to a special report on the passing of John Lewis?

Yes, ABC and CBS. I saw CBS and they used a KCBS reporter.

It’s been mentioned here and I believe in the chats that Hoda prefers to work in the studio than at home.  Well from what I understand Hoda lives in the city so places might be cramped. But also having a person in studio would keep all the camera operators, lighting technicians and other employees around. I am not sure of the contract but I’d imagine if they hosts were all remote they studio crew maybe temporarily put on leave. 

19 hours ago, Roadrunner said:

It was in the newsroom. [Link for reference]. Reminds me of a post I read (FTVLive, I think?) that remarked upon Norah's insistence that no one else use her studio.

It also worth mentioning that the studio that Norah uses and Face the Nation uses manual pedestal cameras.  It would be one thing if they had say a manual pedestal but a PTZ/Height Drive head where several lock off shots could be used.  The show is produced out at All Mobile Video in NYC across from the CBS Broadcast Center.  Dealing with one locked off camera is easier that can be PTZ is easier (and worth noting that’s what Jose Diaz-Balart has done since COVID-19, this week said it was in NYC but before all came from Telemundo Center). 
 

I mentioned this in the chat that perhaps renaming the weekend show the CBS Weekend News was a way for CBS to get out of a union contract (where perhaps existing shows required more staffing - such as CBS This Morning from the studio required camera operators on robotic cameras*).  I hypothesized that by cancelling a show and starting a new would void a contract and allow them to automate it. But I asked @Weeters who said he thinks the rename was just so people would expect something different.  When Weekend News launched it was all put together before hand, you could see the time at which the show open was recorded on the screens behind them along with interviews.  At the time it was just repurposed CBSN content. 
 

* Worth mentioning that Meet The Press on Sunday’s use manual cameras operating CamBots (not sure about Saturday Today) but the CamBots were installed for MTP Daily where MSNBC wouldn’t need to hire multiple operators. 

21 hours ago, Brian said:

Thanks to the great list on the first page.

 

TV News Media Helicopters Fleet Tracking on ADSBexchange Aircraft Tracking Site
Tracking them on the uncensored flight tracking network adsbexchange.com

(FlightAware and FlightRadar24 blocks some media helicopters or info)

 

TV News Media Helicopters Custom Fleet Tracking Links... (123 aircraft on the list)

Old Tracks & Live: https://tar1090.adsbexchange.com/?icao=C0074C,C032F7,406D34,402FBD,4011CD,7C5BC5,7C6085,A002D4,A0047C,A031A7,A046E7,A04F5F,A02B97,A05926,A06153,A066F8,A076DE,A051E5,A05292,A05380,A05388,A08BCA,A07A11,A0B349,A0DE7F,A109B5,A18032,A19167,A1BB3F,A1BEF6,A1C5F0,A1D07F,A1B766,A22EE9,A25546,A2A536,A2F3B4,A2F3D4,A2F430,A18D79,A18EC2,A373C4,A3BCB2,A40442,A40A28,A45922,A31C15,A31CCF,A4AD54,A4D994,A4FAE1,A55B36,A5977F,A4A830,A638F5,A63954,A6AF72,A70B43,A6FEAD,A74A02,A76B63,A636B3,A636FB,A7CCB3,A7DE3C,A7ECA2,A7ED1F,A81461,A815A1,A8B8A3,A8B9AD,A8D99C,A8DB1C,A928DA,A7C2B9,A7C3EF,A7C44D,A7C465,A7C4BC,A95F5C,A96214,A97162,A978EA,A9836A,A988EF,A97A67,AA0219,AA0323,AA078E,AA2050,AA196D,AA67F1,A95147,A95151,A9520B,AAE751,AB27C7,AB4EA1,AB2EFF,AB71BA,AB57C3,AC3D4A,AADE8D,AADF5A,AC6D10,ACD27A,ACBCFD,ACF181,ACE39F,ACE455,AD47ED,AD340B,ADA908,ADD817,ADD207,AC6AA2,AC6B8B,AC6BDC,AC6C37,AC6C45,AC6CA9,A9EEB8,A9E65D,A636B0

 

Active Tracking: https://tar1090.adsbexchange.com/?icaoFilter=C0074C,C032F7,406D34,402FBD,4011CD,7C5BC5,7C6085,A002D4,A0047C,A031A7,A046E7,A04F5F,A02B97,A05926,A06153,A066F8,A076DE,A051E5,A05292,A05380,A05388,A08BCA,A07A11,A0B349,A0DE7F,A109B5,A18032,A19167,A1BB3F,A1BEF6,A1C5F0,A1D07F,A1B766,A22EE9,A25546,A2A536,A2F3B4,A2F3D4,A2F430,A18D79,A18EC2,A373C4,A3BCB2,A40442,A40A28,A45922,A31C15,A31CCF,A4AD54,A4D994,A4FAE1,A55B36,A5977F,A4A830,A638F5,A63954,A6AF72,A70B43,A6FEAD,A74A02,A76B63,A636B3,A636FB,A7CCB3,A7DE3C,A7ECA2,A7ED1F,A81461,A815A1,A8B8A3,A8B9AD,A8D99C,A8DB1C,A928DA,A7C2B9,A7C3EF,A7C44D,A7C465,A7C4BC,A95F5C,A96214,A97162,A978EA,A9836A,A988EF,A97A67,AA0219,AA0323,AA078E,AA2050,AA196D,AA67F1,A95147,A95151,A9520B,AAE751,AB27C7,AB4EA1,AB2EFF,AB71BA,AB57C3,AC3D4A,AADE8D,AADF5A,AC6D10,ACD27A,ACBCFD,ACF181,ACE39F,ACE455,AD47ED,AD340B,ADA908,ADD817,ADD207,AC6AA2,AC6B8B,AC6BDC,AC6C37,AC6C45,AC6CA9,A9EEB8,A9E65D,A636B0

 

-------

Deleted these due to gone or not flying anymore.

N211FN - Gone from LA
N555TV - Deregistered
N90L - Cancelled
N92AQ - Not Assigned/Reserved

Wow thank you, I’ll take a look at the deleted helicopters. 

14 hours ago, Brian said:

Add this to the news helicopter list.

 

N5QV - A636B0 - Atlanta WSB-TV News Chopper 2

Is this a new helicopter or second for WSB? I’ve seen N2QU recently. 

One things missing from the video... the new Comcast Technology Center. 

1 hour ago, FiveNews said:

I'm sure it has been discussed before, but WOW!! WNBCs news studio is tiny (no pun intended).

It’s actually relatively large. According to NBC’s studio listing page it’s 4,170 sq FT. The largest studio I’d have to guess belongs to KABC where they have two 7,000 square foot sound stages and KABC’s set actually is circular and sits in the center leaving a good bit unoccupied.

17 hours ago, MikeBucc said:

I noticed NBC CT started a weekly kids show? Any other NBC O&O doing this? 
 

Seems like a great idea during this time and looks very well done, 2 episodes are on their YouTube page, the guide says it airs Fridays at 11:30. 

 

WRC started a weekend broadcast called News 4 Kids a few weeks ago. 

How depressing.  And they moved those old Radamec pedestals right into the new building. 

14 minutes ago, newsteam13 said:

 

 

You mean THIS white cylinder thingy between the skids? Where it can send an HD signal back to the station? Even a LIVE HD Signal?

 

 

5 minutes ago, Weeters said:

Yes, it is a microwave yagi antenna on a gyroscope that keeps it pointed at the receive site.

 

https://trollsystems.com/airborne-tracking-antennas/skylink-hd-az-el-steerable-high-gain-multi-band-bidirectional-antenna

Keeps it pointed at a receive site and keeps the receive site tracking it.  The receive site is typically a remotely steerable parabolic antenna in a dome.  It constantly moves automatically with the helicopter. Where with a typical news truck the receive site is positioned and static.

6 hours ago, newsteam13 said:

 

Yes there is. With HD Wireless Camera Solution (CLICK HERE). As you can see with the pictures below, it's perfect for choppers like Rotorway A600, Cabri G2, Skyrider SKY, CH 77 Ranabot Turbo, Robinson R22, and EVEN the Schweitzer 300 helicopter 

Most if not all US and Canadian helicopters have belly based gyroscopic helicopters where they are pointed to a stationary receiver. They fit between the skids and it leaves enough clearance to land. Sometimes it’s a clear cylinder other times it’s painted the hull color.

In the UK there are omnidirectional antennas like the ones above usually placed on the body that send a signal to a receive satellite truck where it’s sent pack via satellite or some other means. Reportedly London is the only area with a fixed receive site.

Oh so since the beginning of February WJZ has been flying a back up R66 (N616HD) after their existing helicopter (N713TV) was being pushed back into the hangar by airport personnel when it’s rotors struck the hangar door causing damage - this was confirmed by the airport itself.  According to sources it was seriously damaged the upper half of the helicopter costing hundreds of thousands of repairs, it’s unknown when or if it will return of course it’s something the airport and station would downplay. 

On 3/10/2020 at 4:15 AM, C Block said:

The choppers are actually based at the Hayward airport, not OAK. Also, I believe KPIX has its own chopper. From what I heard through the grapevine, the plan tomorrow is to pool again with KTVU/KPIX/KGO up constantly in two hour shifts each all day long.

Do you have any more info?

Today was an interesting case with helicopter sharing in San Francisco. There are two helicopters that are shared N7QY which is controlled by KGO and images are taken by KRON (which is essentially along for the ride and is based at the KGO studios despite separate ownership) and N62TV which is used by the KTVU/KICU duopoly, the KNTV/KSTS duopoly and the KPIX/KBCW duopoly. For most of the day there was a helicopter flying around the Grand Princess providing constant images to affiliates and the networks.  KGO was uplinking video to CNN NewSource whole N62TV was flying and then when their own helicopter was in the air.  As KGO’s helicopter was flying they showed the tail rotor cam once or twice which went out everywhere and was seen on CBSN Bay Area. And even for a short period of time KTRK Houston’s helicopter was in rotation N42SL providing images.  It seemed like every two or three hours the switched helicopters.

I imagine it was done to save money and resources as they’d all be getting the same images even if they flew themselves, but this way they got constant coverage. It like was also a safety measure as instead of two or three helicopters flying around the cruise ship there was only one. Additionally the ship was eventually docked within two miles of Oakland International Airport, so they would also have to be dealing with the take offs and departures from the airport.

Telemundo offered a live stream and they got the tail cam as well:

33 minutes ago, oknewsguy said:

Don't you mean the tornadoes? Last time I checked we're not in Hurricane season yet.

Thanks, my bad.

19 hours ago, Eat News said:

You may want to place WTVF's Nashville Sky 5 on the injured reserve list.

It got a few oweee's during that last round of tornadoes.

I did so and added their replacement. N90CL formerly of their sister station WCPO.

The hull of the aircraft (particularly the second row)  looks to be strong and undamaged, perhaps some equipment could be salvaged?

10 hours ago, Weeters said:

It's owned by Helicopters Inc, and they supposedly already flew in a replacement. They are contractually obligated to provide a helicopter to WTVF, so they will do so until Scripps no longer renews the annual contract. Insurance will pick up whatever Helicopters Inc isn't responsible for, like the camera and transmitter.

 

The vast majority of, if not all, news helicopters are housed at airports. Most stations don't have the land for a hangar and helipad. Most stations also don't want to deal with the permitting to house jet fuel on-site.

They flew in a helicopter from (formerly of WCPO N90CL) from St. Louis within 14 hours of the tornadoes. 

1 hour ago, newseider said:

They will be ending their agreement too. They both might have made the decision in January but the contract wasn’t up yet because they both used it last week.

So they’re going to use it until the contract runs out? With many being flown a certain number of hours a month they could of used most up there hours and are flying reduced hours. 

38 minutes ago, n925tv said:

Great work for the list, that's awesome! Thank you for it. 

 

One clarification. KTTV and KCBS/KCAL share 1 chopper both in the morning and evening, so only 1 is flying at a time for them. KTTV has Rick Dickert up for their morning show, while KCBS is using the feed from the same chopper for their morning show. In the evening, Stu Mundel for KCBS is up there, while KTTV is just using the feed from the same chopper. N12YJ is the back up for all ACA, usually KTLA. N61HL also needs to be added for ACA as a backup. Sorry, I edited my original post to show ACA info above. 

Thanks for the clarification. I added that KTTV operates and has a reporter in the AM and KCBS operates and reports in the PM along with the extra. 

40 minutes ago, Spintech33 said:

Also missing from your list is WNYW..

It’s there N9BQ and is listed with WCBS/WLNY/WNYW.

29 minutes ago, n925tv said:

N71HD is KABC's main Air 7 HD since 2005, with the branding scheme. It is not used by any other station for video feed or on-air reporting. This ship has the Shotover camera for the MapTracking system. Helinet, the provider for KABC/KCBS/KCAL/KTTV/KMEX always flip flops whatever backup choppers they have, as needed. N828AP is one of Helinet's newest A-Stars, and that is now used as the primary backup ship for KABC. It was the first to have the call sign taken off of the online tracking servers. N828AP is in a black color scheme, and is occasionally used for outside production purposes. KABC also has their old original 1995 "Air 7" N67TV, which is in the grey paint scheme. Since N828AP has been in use, N67TV has been used as a backup for all of the Helinet stations, as well as outside production purposes. In the photo KABC posted 5 years ago, N67TV is seen on the right hand side. Those KABC logos are never on there. 

 

N111FN and N211FN used to be the sold KTTV ships. N111FN was destroyed at VNY a few years back. Now, it's a toss up between whatever is flying. KTTV in the morning can use N211FN or N29HD with Rick Dickert reporting. KCBS/KCAL with Stu Mundel uses the same ship usually in the evening for their reports. N29HD is the preferred ship, as it has the "Shotover" camera which allows for the MapTracking. As for N29FX, that's also a backup ship used by whoever. It's the oldest A-Star in the fleet, so just used when needed. 

 

You can log onto http://www.adsbexchange.com/ and see all of the tail numbers un-blocked, when they're flying. 

Thanks.  Can you checkout the spreadsheet for me to make sure it’s correct?
 

31 minutes ago, TVNewsLover said:

Is this not a list thread? It even has the word “list” in its title. @Weeters @24994J @CircleSeven

I didn’t intend for it to be a list thread despite. This was something that I’ve been working on in the discord server and have decided to post it here.
 

29 minutes ago, MidwestTV said:

Your list mentions KCTV discontinued their chopper in January 2020. They shared it with KSHB (it's really their chopper). Did that agreement end?

I am not sure. For KCTV I listed it as discontinued due to this post from FTVLive. 

So I have noticed most of LA’s news choppers were just showing up on the map as AS50 but didn’t have their tail number. Even though there were no tail numbers it was obvious they were news helicopters as they were all grouped together and following close to a nearby police helicopter. So today I started entering the tail numbers into FlightAware and got the message:

Quote

N71HD - HELINET AVIATION SERVICES LLC (VAN NUYS CA)

This aircraft (N71HD) is not available for public tracking per request from the owner/operator.

So the tail numbers that are now blocked are from KABC (N71HD, N29FX), KNBC/KVEA (N358TV, N29LW), KTLA (N925TV) and backups (N12YJ, N828AP). Right now there are only three helicopters that show up which are Univision’s KMEX (N213PD) and the two that are shared between the KCBS/KCAL duopoly and Fox’s KTTV which are (N29HD, N211FN). Now there are only two providers in LA - Welk Aviation which provides to KNBC/KVEA and KTLA; and Helinet which handles KABC, KCBS/KCAL, KMEX, and KTTV. 

Now I’m not sure why they requested not to be tracked it could be any number of reasons such as safety or stations request for not wanting the competition to know where they are. I think it may be the latter because Helinet’s helicopters for KCBS/KCAL, KMEX and KTTV are not blocked while KABC is. Helinet if they wanted could just put out a blanket request as opposed to a select few of their fleet. 

Now the most out there reason: although I seriously doubt it but cannot help but wonder if my making the list would factor into their consideration to block helicopters. I’ve asked questions about registration/station use on twitter to their pilots/photojournalists and promoted the list using various hashtags. I’ve gotten more views on those tweets than my regular ones so maybe people have picked up on it.