Fox's WNYW Adds High-Def Chopper

[Gregg Lengling]

WNYW, Fox Television's owned-and-operated station in New York, is taking its news and traffic reports to new heights with the addition of the market's first high-definition news helicopter.

Called Skyfox, the specially-equipped copter from Helinet Aviation provides up to three times more detail than standard broadcast resolution and has enhanced zoom capabilities allowing license plates to be read from thousands of feet away.

WNYW is only the third station in the nation to lease an HD copter. Over a year ago, KUSA-TV, Gannett's NBC affiliate in Denver was the first, followed by KABC-TV, ABC's owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles in May.

Both high-definition viewers and standard definition viewers should notice the difference with the new chopper. "Being able to capture and broadcast life, high definition images from the air is the most significant development in airborne news gathering in many years," said Kai Simonsen, WNYW airborne reporter. "I have access to numerous video, audio, and communication sources in a configuration that I can tailor to my own needs with a flip of a switch.

[hdtvtechno]

Not in Widescreen, not in full HD  

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=47566

[John L]

I'm sure some year we will see that here.  Won't be until at least one of the locals offers News in HD.

-John L.

[murdoc]

So those of us getting D* waiver for Fox 5 NY should see HDTV helicopter shots?  Does this mean the Fox 5 news will be broadcast in HDTV as well?  When exactly does this change take effect?  I'm sure that Fox 5 may fly the helicopter around the city shooting video of the skyline and the buildings.  I hope that they do, as I would definatly watch then.

[Mark Strube]

This is kind of confusing... perhaps the camera is actually HD but they're not displaying it in HD because the news isn't HD yet in the first place? Why would they call it an HD camera if it wasn't HD? Crazy times. :rolleyes: