KCBS 2/KCAL 9 - CBS Los Angeles News Thread

[rkolsen 1697]

A behind the scenes look at the new VR stage.  Pretty large so I guess they don’t have to “move” the scene around to make it look bigger.  Looks like it has two Artimo and a jib. 
 

 

[PhillyWatch 245]

The technology is neat, but I don't really grasp how it improves upon forecast delivery as opposed to a nice physical set. Different cameras being used as the "window" in the rear of the set? Neat, but nothing that can't be done with a monitor or screen (and is already used on a fair number of sets as a backdrop). Weather conditions on the floor? Neat, as long as my location isn't obscured by someone standing on it. Also, even with the graphics, it still looks to me like the weather person is walking around a big empty warehouse. 

[Georgie56 3353]

There’s an interview in Variety with new GM Tim Weiland (who also continues to run KCNC) and his plans for KCAL/KCBS. 

 

 

[Geoffrey 879]

On 6/12/2025 at 6:00 AM, PhillyWatch said:

The technology is neat, but I don't really grasp how it improves upon forecast delivery as opposed to a nice physical set. Different cameras being used as the "window" in the rear of the set? Neat, but nothing that can't be done with a monitor or screen (and is already used on a fair number of sets as a backdrop). Weather conditions on the floor? Neat, as long as my location isn't obscured by someone standing on it. Also, even with the graphics, it still looks to me like the weather person is walking around a big empty warehouse. 

 

I agree with this. I guess it looks "cool" but it gets stale pretty quickly. In fact, I think it gets in the way of showing the weather. Where we used to have weather maps and graphics taken full screen, they now exist on only a portion of the screen. I don't care if it "looks bigger" because the talent is tiny in comparison, if it takes up less of my TV screen at home it's smaller and harder to see. Instead of seeing the maps, we see fake walls that add nothing. And having the weather talent in a different room than the news anchors just makes everything feel less friendly. 

 

I guess it's interesting for viewers to look at, but it's distracting and takes away from presenting information.

[bogusabc7breakingnews 63]

2 hours ago, Geoffrey said:

 

I agree with this. I guess it looks "cool" but it gets stale pretty quickly. In fact, I think it gets in the way of showing the weather. Where we used to have weather maps and graphics taken full screen, they now exist on only a portion of the screen. I don't care if it "looks bigger" because the talent is tiny in comparison, if it takes up less of my TV screen at home it's smaller and harder to see. Instead of seeing the maps, we see fake walls that add nothing. And having the weather talent in a different room than the news anchors just makes everything feel less friendly. 

 

I guess it's interesting for viewers to look at, but it's distracting and takes away from presenting information.

Exactly this! 

[CraigViewer 87]

8 hours ago, Geoffrey said:

 

I agree with this. I guess it looks "cool" but it gets stale pretty quickly. In fact, I think it gets in the way of showing the weather. Where we used to have weather maps and graphics taken full screen, they now exist on only a portion of the screen. I don't care if it "looks bigger" because the talent is tiny in comparison, if it takes up less of my TV screen at home it's smaller and harder to see. Instead of seeing the maps, we see fake walls that add nothing. And having the weather talent in a different room than the news anchors just makes everything feel less friendly. 

 

I guess it's interesting for viewers to look at, but it's distracting and takes away from presenting information.

To me, this seems to be CBS Local Stations' own take on the trend of how many local TV stations have had weather talent do their segments in front of very large side monitors just off the news sets as opposed to green screens in recent years. 

 

As television is a visual medium, the AR/VR studio on KCAL/CBS Los Angeles does look stunning, indeed.  it certainly does look somewhat cold, however, though I have observed on KCAL in recent days that they have had one of the co-anchors introduce the weather persons in the AR/VR studio on some newscasts.  That may be their way of making the weather persons feel less distant from the rest of the talent.

 

I suppose this can all work for KCAL/CBS Los Angeles as well as the other CBS Stations that utilize this technology if it can be used it in a way that educates the public going forward.