Local Network/Cable - HD Commercials?

[skallajl]

Good Morning,

 

I am looking for some information in regard to HD commercials.

Are there ANY Wisconsin TV Stations that:
1.) have the technology, more specifically, HD video cameras, to produce HD commercials for clients?

and

2.) and more importantly, can any station air an HD commercial, meaning, I believe they need an HD deck in order to air a commercial - as opposed to going over a network feed from elsewhere?

More importantly, if a LOCAL business owner wanted to produce a commercial in HD, what TV stations in WI would be able to 'air' the commercial, considering they have a HD tape deck, as opposed to 'airing' off a network feed?

(I don't need to know if the station has HD production capabilities; meaning HD cameras etc.. – To my knowledge, no stations have this equipment yet, beside Time Warner in Green Bay market.)

 

Also, I was wondering if there are any good reasons why a business should consider creating HD commercials; for instance, the 2009 analog switch...would HD commercials be of any assistance in this case? What are other positives to creating HD commercials?

 

I hope that makes sense and I am looking forward to any information!

[kevbeck122]

MPTV (PBS) has their own equipment.. HD cameras.  WISN-12 has used MPTV's equipment in the past to air fireworks in HD in July.  That's all I know.

[brewtownska]

Are you asking just because you're curious, or do you have a business that wants to advertise with a HD commercial and you need to know which stations can handle the format?  If you want to advertise, you should probably send this question to the stations individually.  I'd bet they respond to this sort of question quickly...because it potentially means more money in their pockets!

Mike

[Tom Snyder]

do you have a business that wants to advertise with a HD commercial

The person who started this thread orignally emailed me and I encouraged her to post here in the forums. She is from the one production house in town that was HD before HD was cool. You think we've been frustrated by how slowly the local TV stations have embraced Hi Def, imagine these guys (keep in mind the article was written 7 years ago!):

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2000/02/21/smallb1.html

The cost of being an early adopter on the viewer side is a pittance when compared with the cost on the production side.  What's sad is that 7 years later, they're STILL early adapters.

For years we complained about how long it took the locals to even start broadcasting HDTV...delaying until the consequence of further delay was being found in violation of the law. Unfortunately when it comes to local HDTV, there are no such consequences, so while Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune... even the Billy Graham broadcasts are being produced in HD, the folks in Milwaukee are stuck watching them in SD. When a local event causes the news to run long, Leno gets shown on delay in SD.  Not sure what it would cost for the locals to be able record/play HD source material, but it's obvious local broadcasters aren't eager to pay the price.

Not sure what kind of response she'd get from the TV stations...probably the same circular cop-out "we've" gotten for years: "When the demand is there, we'll spend the money." :p

Any local engineers have any insight on this?

[skallajl]

The post was very informative.  I do understand now. I have contacted stations directly, and have just been told very top-line that they don't have the capabilities. I do know that TWC in the Green Bay market has recently invested in HD camera technology - but for what! They can't broadcast anything HD until, they say, sometime next year. It is curious why MPTV has the technology before everyone else - method to their madness?

[jjallou]

It is curious why MPTV has the technology before everyone else - method to their madness?

It's your tax dollars & donations at their finest! Other stations aren't given buckets of money.
Plus MPTV isn't driven by profits.

[vetrev]

It's your tax dollars & donations at their finest! Other stations aren't given buckets of money.
Plus MPTV isn't driven by profits.

I've been fortunate to be a guest on a couple of MPTV's Fourth Street Forum programs and also have volunteered for their auction. Yes, they do have at least three HDTV cameras (probably more) and a fully functional HDTV truck. You might contact them for possible use of their production equipment. I wouldn't think that they would turn down rental fees as long as they are statisfied their equipment would return to them intact.