Launching a New Look!
February 1st, 2012 at 5:14 pm by Jacquie Walker under Jacquie Walker's Newsroom Notebook
This is a proud and exciting day here at News 4. After months of coordination, planning, and building, today is ‘launch day’ for a new station look. Beginning with News 4 at 5 you’ll see new graphics, new formats, a new anchor, and a sweeping new set. And, you’ll see it all in HD!
In almost 30 years here at News 4, this is the most all-encompassing, most dramatic, and most exciting change I’ve witnessed at the station. This amazing transformation has been a TOTAL station effort, and we look to the future with great anticipation about the new way we can bring you news and information in the straightforward way you’ve come to expect from News 4.
These photos were taken yesterday (Tuesday) during the last of several rehearsals we had even as construction continued around us.
Chief Meteorologist Don Paul is so excited about his new 4-Warn Weather Center it looks like there are lightning bolts coming from his head!
Yes, we will deliver the news standing up from now on.
Construction isn’t quite complete, but here’s my view of the new studio.
Diana Fairbanks joins us as anchor of the 5:30 and 10 p.m. news.
News Director Joe Schlaerth painstakingly planned the new look in coordination with General Manager Chris Musial.
News Director Joe Schlaerth and Chief Engineer Dennis Majewicz worked closely during the construction phase of our new look.
The construction phase (which continues to this day) has included installation of a new automated production and switching system, new studio cameras, and complete rewiring of the studio and related equipment. Director Tony Battilana will be working in this new control room.
Virtually all employees at News Four have had a role in creating our new look. It’s been 14 years since we’ve done anything even close to this!
I absolutely LOVE the new look! You guys have earned this. Great job to everyone on the team!
WoW really catches the eye looks great!
Thanks Amber and Annette. It has been a long time coming — and there are still a few bugs to work out — but we are very excited about our home!
After watching at 10 O’ Clock tonite, I am disappointed. The background is too bright, and the motion is distracting. Several clips were displayed in an odd blurred letterbox format. Why?
Don Paul looks smaller, probably because you are showing more area in the map background.
Again, the choice of so much bright blue and red is distracting. I think the graphics department has finally taken complete control.
Hopefully, you will work out the bugs.
Love the new look! Everything looks so much more clear and easier to read. I really like the changes to your colors and graphics as well. Great job I’ll keep watching!!!
Thanks so much, Martin. And, hang in there, Don. It’s a very complicated process moving from standard definition to high definition — far more complicated than I realized before. Plus, a whole range of electronic equipment that supports the on-air signal has been replaced, along with the set and graphics. It’s going to take us a few weeks to settle in and settle down in this new system. I hope you will be patient as we make these adjustments that were impossible to predict beforehand because of all the moving parts involved in this change.
Congratulations on the new look, but was there a problem with the new studio’s sound system for the 5, 5:30, and 6PM broadcasts yesterday? I had the volume on my set all the way up and still had trouble hearing the news clearly. The commercial breaks were as loud as they normally are.
Yes, Josephine, there were audio problems that had not been anticipated. Engineers are working on the problem — stay with us while we get this worked out!
I am very suprised that 11 days later that the audio is still a problem???
Apparently, there is more than one problem that is not easily solved, Jeff. It’s a technical situation that is being addressed…but, obviously, there is no quick fix. Please feel free to email newsroom@wivb.com with your questions and we’ll see if we can get a good answer for you.