High definition comes to NewsChannel 5
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
On February 6, KSDK NewsChannel 5 will go live with a new look and new technology. The Gannett-owned NBC affiliate announced the launch of news and local programming broadcast in high definition beginning with the 10 p.m. newscast on that date.
When the station first broadcast as KSD-TV in 1947, it was the first to broadcast in the city and was the only television station in St. Louis until 1953. It was also the first to broadcast in color. Now it will be the first in St. Louis – and only the 7th local station in the nation – to broadcast in high definition.
“Viewers will see that all of our news casts will have a better picture. They’re going to see a dramatic difference in the quality of what they’re watching,” said KSDK News Director Mike Shipley.
“HD is where our industry is going, and it’s our history to be pioneers. We’re only the 7th station in the country doing HD. We’re very proud of the new set, and we think viewers will be excited when they tune in to Monday’s newscast.”
In addition to the new technology, viewers will see a newly designed set, new graphics and music during the February 6 debut. Emmy award-winning Production Design Group designed the new set specifically for KSDK. The company has won numerous awards for its work on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams as well as MSNBC and ESPN.
The new set is two stories tall and includes an integrated interview set, reporter stand-up areas and a new weather center. The new design includes several wide-screen video monitors in addition to state-of-the-art lighting, a camera boom and Sony HD studio robotic cameras. The window set for Show Me St. Louis was also redesigned.
“There has been a real sense of energy in the building and that’s because it took everybody in this building to make it happen,” Lynn Beall, KSDK general manager, said.
“I think people will see a really magnificent set, a clearer, sharper, brighter news experience and a sense of pride that we have in bringing this kind of product to the St. Louis market.”
KSDK anchor Art Holliday said the new technology and set design will help KSDK continue its commitment to quality news coverage in St. Louis.
“The set is fantastic,” Holliday said. “When people tune in, they will notice an immediate difference. HD is another investment that KSDK is making in the St. Louis community to bring better pictures and enhance the quality of the news coverage that we take so much pride in bringing to viewers.”
The February 6 launch will be followed later that same week with the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games from Turin, Italy, also broadcast in HD, on Friday, February 10.
