KCBS 2/KCAL 9 - CBS Los Angeles News Thread

[rkolsen 1699]

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 248]

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 3661]

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

 

 

[Geoffrey 958]

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 69]

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 107]

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.

[TheNewsTV 342]

It seems that news broadcasts are gradually migrating to the AR/VR studio.

[CraigViewer 107]

On 9/11/2025 at 11:08 AM, TheNewsTV said:

It seems that news broadcasts are gradually migrating to the AR/VR studio.

It's possible that all newscasts will fully transition to it.  I am not sure that will be the case, however, only because they debuted a new studio a handful of years ago.

Edited September 13, 2025 by CraigViewer

[l_miro 245]

On 9/11/2025 at 2:08 PM, TheNewsTV said:

It seems that news broadcasts are gradually migrating to the AR/VR studio.

 

mildly awful. They're going to make their anchors stand for 4hrs a day now surrounded by green glare

 

[Encore 323 79]

It seems like KCAL is broadcasting from the newsroom tonight so they are probably making upgrades to the main studio or doing something with that VR studio.

 

This photo is from tonight’s 6pm news with Gio Insignares and Hunter Sowards. Lesley Marin is still obviously on maternity leave.

 

Edited September 15, 2025 by Encore 323

[TheNewsTV 342]

All that's left is for CBS to swap their beautiful studio for this horrible VR thing.

[bogusabc7breakingnews 69]

Watching tonight. They’re still in the newsroom. Audio sucks and technical issues throughout. This doesn’t look like a market 2 O&O newscast. At. All. 

Edited September 15, 2025 by bogusabc7breakingnews

[MediaCriticLA 22]

I would think they're doing maintenance or renovations to the main desk set. 

[FiveNews 481]

Didn't catch the morning shows, but on the noon today, Amy Johnson was anchoring from their physical set. Not the VR/AR studio.

[Geoffrey 958]

Not a fan of how they love using the virtual studio to make the anchors look so small. Can't they reframe everything? It's also boring having just a single set design in there. It's virtual! They can use multiple sets at the flip of a switch! 

[CraigViewer 107]

1 hour ago, Geoffrey said:

Not a fan of how they love using the virtual studio to make the anchors look so small. Can't they reframe everything? It's also boring having just a single set design in there. It's virtual! They can use multiple sets at the flip of a switch! 

Perhaps it's part and parcel of many these virtual studios, but the lighting on the talent is dimmer in that virtual studio than it is in their main news studio, as well.

[Archiva 20]

KCBS/KCAL is rebranding to CBS LA.

[PlayPal 4]

46 minutes ago, Archiva said:

KCBS/KCAL is rebranding to CBS LA.

KCBS was already CBS LA. Looks like they’re dropping "KCAL News" and going with CBS LA for both stations. 

[GraphicsMan 345]

1 hour ago, Archiva said:

KCBS/KCAL is rebranding to CBS LA.

That’s an identity, crisis. Right there. I will say the KCAL branding on KCBS could confuse viewers.

[NYAZSporty 196]

1 hour ago, Archiva said:

KCBS/KCAL is rebranding to CBS LA.

Probably should've rebranded to this in the first place.

[Encore 323 79]

I knew this was coming but it happened so suddenly. They should’ve rebranded to this instead of “KCAL News” back in 2023 but I guess they were trying to get people used to not seeing the channel numbers in the newscast title because that was apart of KCBS and KCAL’s identities for decades. What’s interesting is that they did not choose “CBS News Los Angeles” as the title but the “CBS LA” name is something we will have to get used to outside of the station website.

[CraigViewer 107]

I started to notice the name change in my channel guide on DirecTV early this morning.  I recognize that KCAL has long been recognized by a trusted local news source for Southern California residents, but to me, CBS Los Angeles always sounded more authoritative on Channel 2 than "KCAL News," that should have strictly been on KCAL on Channel 9 instead.

[SFTV 567]

They even got new CBS LA mic flags. 

 

[FiveNews 481]

Since KNXT became KCBS in 1984 they have been Channel 2 News, Channel 2 Action News, CBS 2 News, News Central, back to CBS 2 News, KCAL News and now CBS LA. Yet, the management wonders why the station can't get any traction with viewers. Save for Pat Harvey and Jim Hill, the station has been an also ran.

 

The "We are Yours" tag line is a little silly too. Anyone remember the days of The Station of the People?

[carolinanews4 455]

On 10/13/2025 at 5:55 PM, Archiva said:

KCBS/KCAL is rebranding to CBS LA.

 

This is the problem I continually have with CBS News and most of the CBS O&O group. They seem to be in a never-ending rebranding mode. From the CBS News morning show to their streaming news product to their local stations, things are constantly changing. And the branding seems unnecessarily convoluted and confusing. Example: CBS News Mornings (the early am newscast) vs CBS Mornings (the 7-9 morning show), and putting KCAL branding on KCBS because people "like" KCAL better. They touted that the KCAL News brand was stronger than KCBS, and now both are gone in favor of CBS LA, or CBS News Los Angeles, or CBS News LA. Whatever the flavor of the moment is.

 

The two products that haven't changed are 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning. They also happen to be the highest-rated news products CBS has. Hmmm.  On a local level WCCO's branding and product have remained consistent...until the suits in New York started tinkering with it...and they are also highly rated. Hmmm. Connection? Nah. Keep playing with the names CBS. The public follows the TV industry so closely that they will easily follow along.