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North American Affilliates/Network Set Design

American,Canadian Network & Affilate Set Designs (February 2014)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
MO
Mouseboy33
TVNEWSER just published an Update on the pending changes to the icon WSVN newsplex, one of the most recognizable sets in local news history. Regarding the "throw-back" CRT montitor wall former WSVN vet Rick Sanchez says:
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/files/2014/07/0-300x225.jpg

“Those tiny monitors were one of the most brilliant tech looks ever,” Sanchez told TVSpy. “As I’d travel around the country, people would always ask about them and many tried to copy it.” Why has no station–even, to be honest, sister station WHDH–ever reproduced the look? Sanchez says it’s about the dimensions.

What they never realized was how small they were. Everybody got it wrong. They tried to re-create the look but their monitors were too big, therefore the ratio didn’t work and it made their sets look small. We looked bigger than life because the monitors were tiny. It served two purposes really. The first, as aforementioned was the ratio. The second, “frugality,” we got ‘em cheap. And to his credit, frugality, has always been (Sunbeam owner) Ed Ansin’s forte.

Sanchez says if the monitors go, someone might look for a large quantity of balled-up chewing gum he used to stick behind the CRT monitors before going live in the ‘Plex.

As for me, I’d hate to see them go. Like the teletype music bed for New York news radio station WINS, the look is a tie to the past that makes me happy. A monster vista wall wouldn’t be the same. If it goes, it should go directly to the Smithsonian.
MO
Mouseboy33
WPLG 10 MIAMI - New set sneak peak. (BBC News -cousin????)
SFLTV gets a sneak peak at WPLG's new set. Interesting desk. Not seen anything like that in local news in US. The set is not fully lit in this sneak peak. I wonder if those blue elements on the floor light up. To me its slightly reminiscent of the new BBC News sets, only blue is the accent color. Will be interesting to see it fully lit and what the final product looks like one air. Opinions/thoughts
http://www.sfltv.com/wp783/wp-content/uploads/wplg.new_.set_.testing.jpg
Stuart and WW Update gave kudos
WW
WW Update
TVNEWSER just published an Update on the pending changes to the icon WSVN newsplex, one of the most recognizable sets in local news history. Regarding the "throw-back" CRT montitor wall former WSVN vet Rick Sanchez says:
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/files/2014/07/0-300x225.jpg

“Those tiny monitors were one of the most brilliant tech looks ever,” Sanchez told TVSpy. “As I’d travel around the country, people would always ask about them and many tried to copy it.” Why has no station–even, to be honest, sister station WHDH–ever reproduced the look? Sanchez says it’s about the dimensions.


Even ProSieben in Germany tried to reproduce that look:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/az2si/pro7newsplex2.jpg
MO
Mouseboy33
WPLG 10 MIAMI - New set sneak peak. (BBC News -cousin????)
SFLTV gets a sneak peak at WPLG's new set. Interesting desk. Not seen anything like that in local news in US. The set is not fully lit in this sneak peak. I wonder if those blue elements on the floor light up. To me its slightly reminiscent of the new BBC News sets, only blue is the accent color. Will be interesting to see it fully lit and what the final product looks like one air. Opinions/thoughts
http://www.sfltv.com/wp783/wp-content/uploads/wplg.new_.set_.testing.jpg

Earlier this year WPLG was sold to Warren Buffets' Berkshire Hathaway. Seems like the company is pouring a bit of money into WPLG after being virtually neglected by PostNewsweek which just changed its name to Graham Holdings after the Washington "Post" was sold to Jeff Bezos of Amazon fame. The old name no longer made sense.
MO
Mouseboy33
WPLG 10 - SET DEBUT!! - BBC NEWS Look-a-like set on air!
The ABC Miami affiliate launches a radical departure for Miami and creates a looks similar in style to the new BBC News sets. The set features a large glowing ring above the desk. A long video wall on one side with a back light cat walk.
The real beauty is the desk. Glowing red and glossy. Instead of the BBC's white glowing floor elements WPLG's are blue. The set features an interesting anchor backdrop with offset video squares for visual movement. There are also large video panels on either side of the anchors serving possibly as the OTS. The light design is quite good as well. From what I can tell the desk features up lighting which cures that horrible dark shadow under the chin and eyes, which makes the presenters look, old, drawn and tired.
One glaring mistake is the desk used by the weather anchor. Horrible. And since Miami is hurricane central, the likelihood of its getting extensive on-air time is a great possibility. Bad choice. IMO.
Overall its a great job by a local station achieving something not seen in local market especially OTT Miami. Guess that Warren Buffett money was put to good use.
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wplg1.png
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wplg3.png
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wplg4.png
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wplg2.png
Watch the time lapse of the construction.
http://www.local10.com/news/amazing-timelapse-of-the-new-local-10-set/27213944

http://www.local10.com/image/view/-/27224108/medRes/1/-/maxh/360/maxw/640/-/twispn/-/New-Local-10-Set-jpg.jpg
http://i2.wp.com/www.sfltv.com/wp783/wp-content/uploads/wplg.new_.set_.2014.9.jpg?resize=640%2C360
http://i2.wp.com/www.sfltv.com/wp783/wp-content/uploads/wplg.new_.set_.2014.3.jpg?resize=640%2C360
http://i0.wp.com/www.sfltv.com/wp783/wp-content/uploads/wplg.new_.set_.2014.6.jpg?resize=640%2C360
(pics from WPLG/SFLTV/SETSTUDIO)
Last edited by Mouseboy33 on 31 July 2014 7:13am - 4 times in total
MO
Mouseboy33
Canada's CTV launched HD and installs new sets across the country. All of the sets are similiar, apart from the desk and the size of the monitor array behind the anchors. The are constructed from "off the shelf" parts by a company that makes costs effect sets quite inexpensively. Not sure why CTV used different desks apart from their Ottawa sets. Having said that this give the outlaying affiliates a similar corporate look. Though the large stations (Toronto, Vancouver) have much larger and expansive sets.

CFQC- SASKATOON
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ctv.jpg

CJOH- OTTAWA
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ctv_ottawa.jpg

CKCK-REGINA
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ctvregina.jpg

for reference here is CFCN Calgary
http://www.appliedelectronics.com/images/CTV%20CFCN%20Calgary%20Video%20Wall1.jpg

CFTO Toronto
http://www.tadlighting.ca/images/cftoset2.jpg

CTV Vancouver (desk from network Olympic set from Vancouver Winter games)
*
Last edited by Mouseboy33 on 1 August 2014 2:36pm - 2 times in total
MO
Mouseboy33
WAGA 5 - Fox Affiliate Set debuts with 3 min "film"
This large airy set is certainly dynamic. Featuring multiple presentation points and the entire led backlit walls capable of changing colors. Creating different moods. Really like the simple desk with screens on the front.Hopefully this sets the standard for the new FOX O&O stations. The current sets they use are rubbish. Unfortunately they are lumbered with the clunky FOX standard affiliate graphics.
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/fox5atlanta.jpg
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/fox5atlanta3.jpg
MA
mark Founding member
Is WAGA the first station to upgrade from the O&O set?

It looks great, and I'd be perfectly happy if this was rolled out to other stations like WNYW in New York. Like you, I can't say I'm sad to see the back of the old design.
MO
Mouseboy33
The previous Devlin designed sets were hideous. UGH. KTTV-11 LA is on a different set from the O&O set. And KSAZ-10 Phoenix is on a similar set to the new Atlanta set it premiered last year. Devlin designed the new sets and seems like they clean up the WAGA set from their design premiere at KSAZ. As far as WAGA goes, I hope this is new national design. Not of a fan of the wood "touches" but it far surpasses the current O&O style sets. I would prefer a bedsheet backdrop and a plywood desk to the current O&O sets. They were ugly when they debut and always will be.

KSAZ - 10 Phoenix (again unfortunate FOX-mandated graphics)
http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ksaz_fox.jpg
Last edited by Mouseboy33 on 7 August 2014 6:58pm - 2 times in total
MA
mark Founding member
I did wonder whether the KSAZ set would be the new O&O design (although they didn't have the previous one). But, as you say, they seem to have gone for something similar but a bit more traditional with WAGA.

I'm just glad they haven't rolled out the KTTV set anywhere else. It's awful - and designed by someone with more experience doing sets for game shows rather than news.
MO
Mouseboy33
You are so right. There is so much wrong with KTTV. Its totally a game show set. But after all it is LA and the designer usually design sports and talk show sets. Ugh.

Oops forgot about KMSP 9 Minneapolis/St Paul. They are on a Devlin set. They ripped down their old 2 story version of Fox Mandated set. This debuted last year. Seems like Devlin was still experimenting. KMSP is an O&O. Could FOX dump set mandate model. Lets hope so. I prefer each station and each market to have some individuality.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/files/2013/04/kmsp_set_panorama.jpg
Last edited by Mouseboy33 on 7 August 2014 7:39pm - 3 times in total
CH
Charles
I really like the KSAZ set because they actually use their video wall to display images related to the story rather than just various city backdrops like every other station that has gotten a video wall in the last few years. It makes KSAZ look a little bit like a mini-Sky News.

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