KPIX Goes Hi-Def; KOVR To Follow Soon
There was a long time rumor on the Internets, in various boards and forums dedicated to digital television, that San Francisco CBS affiliate KPIX-TV would start broadcasting in 1080i high definition. Sure enough, it happened Monday—according to Larry Kenney of the SF HDTV Yahoo Group, the high-def broadcasting launched during KPIX’s primetime newscast.
KPIX is the third television station in San Francisco to broadcast its local news coverage in 1080i high definition (think “widescreen” as opposed to “box”). KPIX, a CBS-owned local station, joins the ranks of other CBS-owned affiliates like New York’s WCBS-TV and Los Angeles’ KCBS-TV to roll in new cameras and technology to broadcast in high definition; in San Francisco, KPIX is fourth to go HD—behind Disney’s KGO 7, Cox’s KTVU 2 and Young Broadcasting’s KRON 4.
Anyone with a digital television set or converter can begin enjoying the widescreen presentation of KPIX’s “CBS 5 Eyewitness News” but only viewers with an HDTV tuner can see the detail in the bright faces of KPIX anchors Dana King and Ken Bastida. Not to worry—you can purchase a digital converter box in a few months through the aid of a government program if you don’t already have a means of receiving DTV.
As for Sacramento, CBS-owned KOVR and KMAX-TV have plans to go high-definition. Now that CBS has one part of Northern California covered, it’s likely they’ll focus their time on the other half—especially with the February 2009 analog shutoff/digital switchover conversion date creeping closer. As I wrote a month ago, General Manager Bruno Cohen told me that KOVR has plans of going HD and the station is eagerly awaiting much needed funding from CBS Corporate to implement the plans.
And the money will roll in—despite the high-def competition, KPIX ranked number one in news during 11PM according to Nielsen Media Research during the November 2007 sweeps month. It’s easy to believe KPIX will continue to hold strong in news now that the loyal digital audience has a new station to tune into.
In my past life, I was a tree or something. If not a tree, something that grew old and didn't move very much. I'm pretty convinced of this.