WHEC-TV Rochester adopts Look F

[13WHAMfan 5]

On tonight's 5pm newscast, the look F graphics were adopted at WHEC-TV. They posted earlier today on Facebook that they would have a new look tonight, not specifying much besides the fact that it would not be in HD, which they've hinted at will be coming in 2013. They also have new music, replacing the Tower v2 that they've been using for a while... not sure what music it is. As for the set, it looks like all that has been changed is the duratrans behind the anchors and on the front of the news desk. I'll see if I can get some screen shots and will post them here, or if I can find video on YouTube.

 

****Sorry about the triple post... for some reason it posted 3 threads, so if there is any moderator who can delete the other two threads, that would be great.******

[13WHAMfan 5]

 

This is the open from tonight's 5pm... there are a few bugs which is to be expected on the first newscast, but overall I think its a decent upgrade. The bugs still need to be worked out. The second part of the open with the bridge and bridge looks a bit too fake I think.

[CircleSeven 1955]

The music is Arnold's "This Is The Place". WFMJ down the road in Youngstown, use it as well. I think 2012 has been a giant resurgence of Arnold/360. This is their best year yet, despite that debacle that occured six years ago.

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

 

The second part of the open with the bridge and bridge looks a bit too fake I think.

The water looks a whole lot like TruVu Max's body of water animation. They probably pulled that "footage" from there.

 

I know logistically and probably financially in some shops it might be prohibitive but it would be nice if more stations that had picked up this look actually shot footage for the opens instead of simply slapping photos into it. They look a whole lot better that way:

 

[yt]700MClacZx8[/yt]

[bammy9 26]

It's a BIG improvement, but why can't they get rid of that bloody News 10 NBC thing and just be NBC 10 News!!

[13WHAMfan 5]

The water looks a whole lot like TruVu Max's body of water animation. They probably pulled that "footage" from there.

 

I know logistically and probably financially in some shops it might be prohibitive but it would be nice if more stations that had picked up this look actually shot footage for the opens instead of simply slapping photos into it. They look a whole lot better that way:

 

[yt]700MClacZx8[/yt]

100% agree about putting in real footage. These opens look top notch with the right shots. I mean honestly, just send out a photog or two and have them shoot some video on a nice day and then just insert it into the open. Honestly any video footage would look better than the animation. Hopefully they'll come to their senses and do that.

 

I have a feeling this new looks is to tide everyone over until they go full-HD sometime in the next year. Maybe that's when they'll pull out all the stops and get some real footage in the open. It's kind of strange seeing look F in SD since I don't know of any other station with the look that is still in SD, but perhaps I just don't know about them. Regardless, I'm interested to see what they'll do when they finally go HD. They had to do something though because their look was getting stale, with a capital S. WROC just went HD this fall, so it was time for them to do something. This seems like a good move... cheap (just replace duratrans and graphics package/music) and relatively easy, until HD is rolled out.

 

After all though, this is a station that was still using tape up until this summer, with TAPE-TO-TAPE editing. They've finally surmounted that hurdle which is a big step.

[RGSJenkins 435]

That is a video in the second part of the open, look at the clouds (it's time-lapse). That's the second non NBC O&O using these graphics after KULR started using them in August.

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

That is a video in the second part of the open, look at the clouds (it's time-lapse). That's the second non NBC O&O using these graphics after KULR started using them in August.

It's a hodge podge of crap. The skyline is basically a still photo overlaid a time lapse video of clouds and then for good measure they replaced the river with some CG choppy water. So yeah it's a video in the academic sense of the term but in no way did anyone actually go out and shoot that.

[TSSZNews 1051]

To be honest, I'm a little shocked NBC is syndicating the look out to affiliates after it seems like the O&Os just got them.

[bhratbrat 437]

I would actually say two authentic look F and a very cheap knock off with WVLA doing it

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

I would actually say two authentic look F and a very cheap knock off with WVLA doing it

That's been a pattern with WVLA. They've picked up the last two O&O looks since they restored their newscast.

 

Their open is a rather bizarre mashup of Look A and Look F. Doesn't work at all. They should have just stuck with the regular open guidelines.

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

To be honest, I'm a little shocked NBC is syndicating the look out to affiliates after it seems like the O&Os just got them.

Yeah really. They pretty much did just get them. The package is about a year old now though. KNTV was the first to get it last November.

[MidwestTV 1232]

Wait. Why would NBC ALREADY be syndicating this package? I thought they waited to syndicate a former O&O look once they've decided to release a new one to their O&O's, so what's behind this decision? It's going to make WHEC look like it's owned by NBC now...

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

Wait. Why would NBC ALREADY be syndicating this package? I thought they waited to syndicate a former O&O look once they've decided to release a new one to their O&O's, so what's behind this decision? It's going to make WHEC look like it's owned by NBC now...

Not really. They were syndicating Look C out well before Look F was even thought of. Same as Look A. Besides Look F has been customized by so many stations using it so it's not that big a deal.

[ProButtonPusher 230]

I think NBC is syndicating this package already because these affiliates are willing to buy it. Seems silly to hold a package exclusively for O&O stations if other stations are willing to spend the cash.

[13WHAMfan 5]

I agree, this package is definitely not the trademark Look F. There seems to be quite a bit of improvising going on... some of the improvising works, but some of it definitely does not.

[Jess 1115]

To be fair I always got the feeling that there was a lot of "wiggle room" with Look F. It explains why there is so much variation between stations, far more than in previous NBC/Artworks packages. That might be why there's a lot of "improvising" with this look.

 

To me, I really like the opens. Maybe not the tacky composited skyline that ends it, but the transition out of the open is pretty nice.

 

I wouldn't hold WCAU up as a true example of this look. What they really have is a completely customized look that's been built around elements of Look F. They don't use a lot of the elements, they've made a lot of their own elements, and they use a lighter, bolder color scheme. As for their opens, yeah, WCAU is a great example of how to do it - using video, and not still shots, really makes these opens shine. I don't get why a lot of them use still photos - can't they license footage for free from the local tourism bureau?

 

But again, I'd hold them up as an exception. Other stations use one generic open, or a couple that are specific to the time of day. WCAU uses about 20 different opens. That's a conservative estimate - I've never bothered to count because there's a surprising amount of mixing and matching between the opening footage and the closing skyline shots.

 

 

 

Wait. Why would NBC ALREADY be syndicating this package? I thought they waited to syndicate a former O&O look once they've decided to release a new one to their O&O's, so what's behind this decision? It's going to make WHEC look like it's owned by NBC now...

There's one of two options. First, they might be offering their stuff at a reduced cost as opposed to the other graphics houses. A ton of Fox affiliates have gone to the OSI music and some variation of the O&O graphics package, and the CBS O&O package has surfaced at a couple of affiliates.

 

The other reason is that Artworks produces quality stuff, and most of their packages are really distinctive. Look F and Look G are really, really nice graphics packages, and they stand up to the best that any other hub or graphics design firm can design.

 

And in all honesty, I'm surprised it took them this long to syndicate Look F. Look G was already in syndication before an NBC O&O started using it. And about the "people thinking they're owned by NBC" part - a lot of people probably think NBC does own the station. That's one of the reasons Fox started this trend - people were literally coming up to the managers of the stations that adopted "Fox #" branding and actually saying that "you guys have been a lot better since Fox bought you".

[Guest]

I don't know why you guys would think the network would hold anything back from an affiliate, reserving things just for an O&O... I think NBC would be very happy if ALL of their affiliates looked the same.

 

It feels like you guys have just established some set of rules or guidelines on your own without any real knowledge or understanding of how these kinds of things work.

[ElliotJones 52]

It feels like you guys have just established some set of rules or guidelines on your own without any real knowledge or understanding of how these kinds of things work.

on here? never.

[13WHAMfan 5]

Another thing about the open that kind of irks me is how they don't continue the music bed after the open. They switch to a different bumper, and the switch isn't very smooth. Here is another video of the 11 o'clock open, and they let the bed continue after the open for like 2 or 3 seconds and then switch to the bumper. I don't understand why they don't just keep the bed on and just use the bumper for the teases exclusively.

 

This is honestly nitpicking though. After seing this whole look together a few more times, I think it is a nice look. It could use some work but it is decent.

 

[bhratbrat 437]

WHAMFan, that also might be the case if its still kinda a holiday crew. Probably it will get better by next week.

[MidwestTV 1232]

Another thing about the open that kind of irks me is how they don't continue the music bed after the open. They switch to a different bumper, and the switch isn't very smooth. Here is another video of the 11 o'clock open, and they let the bed continue after the open for like 2 or 3 seconds and then switch to the bumper. I don't understand why they don't just keep the bed on and just use the bumper for the teases exclusively.

 

This is honestly nitpicking though. After seing this whole look together a few more times, I think it is a nice look. It could use some work but it is decent.

 

It bothers me how the main anchor shot apparently is only supposed the "hester" part of "Rochester," and is off centered at that.

[CAnewsjunkie 6]

KSNV Las Vegas has a WX graphic on their website that looks like Look F. Guessing they're next?

 

[bhratbrat 437]

That looks like Look C

[ABC 7 Denver 1715]

That looks like Look C

That is Look C. KSNV has been using these gfx since 2010.