rkolsen

8 hours ago, oknewsguy said:

Actually KFOR's chopper is no longer called Air Comfort Solutions Chopper 4 (or ACS Chopper 4 for short) it's now just Chopper 4.

6 hours ago, ABC 7 Denver said:

 

Why did they kill the licensing agreement?

I decided to just now write the helicopters branding without the sponsorship as they may change rapidly. Those that are sponsored now have “Typically sponsor branded” in the notes column.  

KMEX’s Aguila 1 (for some reason doesn’t have the acute A) has branding on the side of the helicopter and on a transitional screen. However when it was tossed to by the anchor it was not mentioned.

10 hours ago, Greggo said:

The Sinclair stations in San Antonio (WOAI/KABB) share a chopper. It was inherited when Sinclair acquired WOAI, where it’s known as World Car Sky 4. The tail is N61CL. 
 

Also ... the helicopter shared by the Houston stations (other than KTRK) still has KPRC’s branding. 

Thank you, I added them. 
 

Also I was looking into N828AP which supposedly is KABC’s third helicopter, I seen Stu Mundel flying in it and a different picture from the inside listing the frequencies for KABC/KCBS/KCAL/KMEX/KTTV making me assume it’s a on demand helicopter or a backup. However I should add I’ve never seen KABC flying more than one helicopter at once. 

56 minutes ago, CalItalian2 said:

KTTV Fox 11 Los Angeles also has its own chopper, SkyFOX. 

Used daily from 4 am to 1 pm. Sometimes later. They also use chopper video (only) from KCBS/KCAL. KABC does not share their chopper video with any other Los Angeles tv station. KCBS/KCAL's chopper is called Sky2 (when on KCBS) and Sky9 (when on KCAL). KMEX 34 (Univision) also has their own chopper. 

 

I knew KTTV had there own but I don’t know which is which so that’s why I marked both N29HD and N211FN as KCBS/KCAL/KTTV. I’ve seen Stu Mundel fly and report in both.

I added KMEX’s Eagle 1.

12 hours ago, cg41386 said:

WPVI’s is called Chopper 6. Sky 6 is just a sky camera.

Thanks. I updated it on the google doc. 
 

19 hours ago, ABC 7 Denver said:

 

They informally rotate.  There is another partner which would be Newsradio KOA, who's licensed to my hometown ironically.  https://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/06/20/john-morrissey-colon-cancer-screening-koa/

 

https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2020/1/14/grounded-in-atlanta

I’ll add KOA.  
 

The WSB helicopter still flies. The photojournalist was fired. 
 

1 hour ago, ABC 7 Denver said:

 

It's a 2003 Eurocopter AS-350 AStar (single-turboshaft). Tail Number N6UX. It has an internal name at the local stations. If I read you into it, I'd have to kill you. I don't make up the rules. 

 

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N6UX

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, the Bell 407, tail #N2QU, that's currently grounded for WSB-TV, used to fly in Denver under the tail #N90TV for KUSA.

Nice video. Who dispatches it or do they all take turns?

Also, what do you mean N2QU is grounded - are they doing any aerial footage?

51 minutes ago, oknewsguy said:

Looks very nice is this still a Work in Progress or is this the finished product?

Still a work in progress, but as far as I know it’s probably done. If I spot backup helicopters used or find something out I’ll add them. 

If you’ve followed me in our Discord the past several months you’ll have noticed that I have been compiling a list of current news helicopters. Well the list has reached 117 and there’s reportedly an estimated 100-120 helicopters in the US according to TVNewsCheck.  I finally decided to share it here. I have it up as a  Google Sheets right here and you can submit more through a Google Form.  I’d like to thank the many users who have contributed but especially @blizzard59 who helped me finish it off and find ones that I have had trouble with. 
 

Edit: The Google Sheets is always up to date. The images above were from when this thread was posted.  Since then many of you posted corrections and additions. Thank you!

5 minutes ago, Action Newsroom said:

Yep, even for ABC.

I would understand if it’s Fox.  I can’t help but think some of this is just for Super Tuesday, leave some elements in and then bring it back in November.

On 2/19/2020 at 6:08 PM, freelanceproducer said:

Was scrolling through the “ABC News” location tag on Instagram and came across this preview. This looks sweet

Looks like the poster wisely took the photo down. The only abc photo I see is on the ABC News Live set. 

God that set is way to OTT. 

14 minutes ago, Drew said:

Is Chris Jansing the new 1pm anchor? Who took over at 3pm?

She’s also been on at 3pm the past week. 

1 minute ago, TheRyan said:

 

 

I was thinking it would likely take until at least the start of May sweeps to get the work done in TV3 (given how major the work is).  Is it possible they'll have it done sooner?

If they’re doing a video wall type set with certain hard elements such as a desk, it could be built quickly. The video walls probably could be installed in a day or two (like they were in MSNBC 3A). 

29 minutes ago, Weeters said:

Those mugs were sent in years ago and sit in a cabinet in 30 Rock. They probably just have someone go grab one every night, and WKYC never sent in a new one or told them to remove the old one.

I’m sure there’s also no rhyme or reason to the picking either. There are some that get a lot of use while others don’t.  I do believe the photographer sends a image to the station so they can promote it. I’ve seen WBAL post an image of it up on Facebook a saying their mugs featured on tonight’s show.  It would be interesting if they sent out a custom tease with the mug. 

4 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

There's also two identical WJBF mic flags, and two ones for KSNT's Fox affiliate (FOX 43) next to each other with one in white plastic, and the other with black plastic.

Unless I'm missing some other FOX 43 somewhere (it's not WVBT and definitely not WPMT)....

 

And since "The Big Game" has begun, doe's anyone else's over-the-air picture look like garbage?  I'm watching on WALA and WXXV, and both pictures look very compressed.  I'm thinking it's a network thing, having to downconvert from 4K for all of the people streaming on their firesticks....

4 hours ago, TSSZNews said:

I've noticed it too - a lot of ghosting. FOX OTA is still 720p, so I imagine they're trying to cut corners and only do one feed, native 4K for the apps, then downconvert for the stations.

I thought the OTA feed looked bad as well.  Fox is producing the “4K feed” by upscaling a 1080p production and for the OTA broadcast downscaling from that 1080p production

59 minutes ago, Georgie56 said:

Why couldn't WBBM produce the WKBD newscast? They're the closest O&O to Detroit with a news operation.

The only thing I can think of are WBBM’s ratings woes.

WCBS is a stronger station than WBBM. 

Like WABC’s News York microtext.

On 1/13/2020 at 11:42 AM, Greggo said:

Longtime WSB chopper pilot Jason Durden posted on Twitter that he’s no longer with the station. Pretty abrupt. Last time in the air was apparently last week. Sister stations WJAX and WFOX grounded their chopper. Surely the mighty WSB wouldn’t have gone that route, too. Or would they? 
 

 

15 hours ago, ScottJ said:

That's probably what happened now that WSB is owned by a hedge fund, which are always looking to cut costs whenever possible.

They are keeping their helicopter, Jason just retired.

3 hours ago, jcburns said:

Hmm, don’t remember WYFF broadcasting in 16x9 back then! Still nice to see though.

No station in the US would be broadcasting in 16:9 in the analog era.  This must be something the uploader or YouTube did.  It would be technically impossible unless they were broadcasting a letter boxed feed. However many cameras and technology were only 4:3.

On 1/8/2020 at 7:13 PM, Conrad said:

Hearst lately has been forcing its stations to air must-runs.

There really aren’t must runs like Sinclair or Nexstar.  They just have the DC reports, National Investigations (which isn’t often) and now Rossen Reports (which appear to be really short  <1 minute).  

57 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

First NBC Boston and Telemundo Boston, next NBC 10 Boston and Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, now what next?

I’m not sure it was a post to a WNBC employee who liked the an NBC/Telemundo beanie style hat. The photojournalist said they just got new ones for another rebrand with their move.

From a friend on Instagram.... WBTS and WNEU will undergo another branding when they move into the new Boston Media Center.  They apparently got some gear that just has the Peacock and the big T logo.  

4 hours ago, wabceyewitness said:

 

Good Morning America is staying in Times Square. Disney/ABC noted that in the initial announcement about the move downtown.  WABC and the rest of ABC News are moving downtown along with Disney/ABC offices currently on the Upper West Side. This includes Eyewitness News, Live with Kelly & Ryan, World News Tonight, 20/20, and The View. 

One I’d like to know is if they are still going to have excess studios to rent out. If they aren’t there aren’t many places that could fit a show like Dr. Oz. 

7 minutes ago, TheRyan said:

 

Clearly ABC has plenty of time to get its use out of any new set/graphics elements before any such move to Hudson Square.

 

Are they also planning a move from Times Square?

I don’t see a move from TSS. Disney owns the building outright and as long as ABC keeps paying they’ll remain.  Additionally it’s in a tourist area - like 30 Rock. 

I should add from the renderings I’ve seen of the new development there really is no area for outdoors space like Times Square. There are some terraces between “tower blocks” but the hassle of of bringing an audience crow through security up through a building for a short period of time seems like a hassle (even though they do it for the second hour of GMA and GMA3). 

5 hours ago, jbnews said:

I think it's really dumb how the morning shows aren't streamed live onto their streaming services which are popular amongst younger news consumers. Young people like me want content wherever they are. I'm not even home at 7am, but I would definitely stream Today if it was offered on NBC News Now. It'd be a great way to get more and younger viewers.

The reason they do that is because of affiliation contracts if people out west can watch the live video on NBC News Now it would detract the possible audience reach of a local affiliate.   Likewise that’s the similar reason you see CBS Svening News go out around 10:00 on CBSN - it’s the last feed of the night on the CONUS.

As for Today if you have cable/satellite and access to NBC News go you can still watch or if you have SiriusXM you can listen live in your car along with the 7AM ET. I believe SXM now airs Today Show Radio - I have access right now - it airs the show from 7-10AM ET then repeats the first three hours (with updates) as they air on the west coast.  I believe Hoda and Jenna air at 1PM ET. Plus Today Show Radio simulcasts NBC Nightly News. 

1 hour ago, ns8401 said:

Would that be the two people I think it is? 

Who are they?

ABC I believe hubbed their master controls within the past two years. They’re all based out of Encompass which recently handled the NBC O&Os and I believe the CBS O&Os.

This McGuff article says they started back in 2014 but I think it was more recent.

2 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Here's a big one....
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/comcast-may-lose-nexstar-locals-wgn-america-more-tomorrow/

 

Nexstar....we all saw that one coming.   This is a rarity for Comcast, but now that AT&T has decided to misbehave as a mega-conglomerate, now's their chance too!

 

 

Looking at Comcast's list on their website, it appears Marquee, Waterman and Paxton (WPSD)  are up in February, and Gray & Graham in March.  This likely allows for plenty of time for negotiation, and Comcast is being forthcoming about these contracts coming up...

Worth mentioning that Comcast isn’t even including WGN America or WE TV on new packages. Probably they knew they were going to go away.