HD sports ruined by weather info

[BigBob]

While watching HD coverage of the US Open, NASCAR racing and World Cup soccer on channels 4, 6 and 12 (repectively) on Sunday something aweful happened.  All three stations put those weather bulletins on the screen and to do so, they converted all footage of the sports to standard def.  What's the deal?  I'm new to Digital TV and this is the first time I've seen this.  Does anyone know if there are plans for the stations to get HD compatible eqipment so this doesn't happen?  I'm especilly disappointed with WTMJ, who could just have an occasional drop in saying "if you want severe weather info turn to 4-2" instead of ruining the primary program.  At least I'm viewing OTA and not paying for signals - because then I'd be mad.

Bob

[Milwaukee12]

Let's not start another thread about this crap, please.  And by the way, I think this time it is justified.  Read a report directly from the National Weather Service:

1927  RUBICON  DODGE  WI 4334 8846 TORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND IN
THE CITY OF RUBICON MOVING TOWARD HARTFORD. (MKX)

1932  1 S HARTFORD  WASHINGTON  WI 4331 8839 ROOFS OFF OF HOMES...MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY. (MKX)

1943  1 S HARTFORD  WASHINGTON  WI 4331 8839 ROOFS OFF OF HOMES...MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY. (MKX)

[LoadStar]

But I'm sure someone will insist it wasn't even raining, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

[Milwaukee12]

They always do.

[GBK]

This isn't the point.. put up the cash to make sure that useless crap goes over the HD feed or point people to 4-2 in the case of channel 4.  there is no reason they need to drop from HD other then being cheap.

Let's not start another thread about this crap, please.  And by the way, I think this time it is justified.  Read a report directly from the National Weather Service:

1927  RUBICON  DODGE  WI 4334 8846 TORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND IN
THE CITY OF RUBICON MOVING TOWARD HARTFORD. (MKX)

1932  1 S HARTFORD  WASHINGTON  WI 4331 8839 ROOFS OFF OF HOMES...MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY. (MKX)

1943  1 S HARTFORD  WASHINGTON  WI 4331 8839 ROOFS OFF OF HOMES...MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY. (MKX)

[Milwaukee12]

I would love to know how much it costs a tv station to actually split their feeds into multiple streams.  Not to mention those graphics they use are in the thousands.  Maybe they should make it smaller and find a way to keep the HD feed going, but until 2009,  I'm really not going to get on their asses about it.  They have plenty of time to invest in equipment to do what you want them to do.  

One other thing, and I keep saying this over and over, WE ARE EARLY ADOPTERS.  Roughly 15% of Americans have HDTV's or are able to watch HDTV channels with tuners.

**  Read the "Lost not in HD" thread to see an idea for HDTV weather alerts.  And I also don't know if I am offending or rude to anyone.  I don't mean to be.

[GBK]

unless we early adopters get on their ass about it there have no incentive to even think about doing something about it.

[Joseph S]

But I'm sure someone will insist it wasn't even raining, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

No rain here...

in Boston.  :rofl:

I still find it amusing that Hear$t-Argyle's prized station doesn't bother with 15 logos on the ABC broadcasts. As of this Friday, I will have access to Hartford, Springfield, and NYC with stationary remote PVR in Boston.

[Absopo]

What's weird about this whole thing is, most of this "severe weather" is almost always well outside of Milwaukee. By the time it reaches the city or even Milwaukee County the storms are usually nothing major. So viewers in the city where the population is highest end up with ruined programming, so they can warn far fewer viewers out in the sticks? That seems kind of like a bad business move.
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[picopir8]

I might complain but personally I would rather watch weather info over the golf, auto racing, or soccer.  For me, that is the perfect storm of boring sportscasts and justifies a weather report in itself.  :p