Oh WISN, When Are You Going HD?

[BK7725]

WISN,

You are the number one station in Milwaukee. I thought you were going to go HD last year. At this rate, CBS58 will pass you up. The fourth HD station is also our #1 station? Lame. When will you go HD?

[LoadStar]

I'd love WISN to go HD as well... but frankly, if it came to a choice between concentrating on maintaining their emphasis on true journalism, and going HD, I'd pick the journalism any day.

I'll continue to watch them, HD or no, as long as they continue delivering a high quality newscast.

[trev57]

I sent an email to Tim Cuprisin of onmilwaukee.com and he said that the economy has hit local news stations hard, and switching HD only costs them money. But, that being said, he would expect them to be in HD by the end of the year, but wouldn't be surprised if they switched later than that.

[Steve Mann]

But, that being said, he would expect them to be in HD by the end of the year...

Damn, I checked the date of your message hoping to find it was posted at the end of December (2009). No such luck.  

[AndrewP]

I'd love WISN to go HD as well... but frankly, if it came to a choice between concentrating on maintaining their emphasis on true journalism, and going HD, I'd pick the journalism any day.

I'll continue to watch them, HD or no, as long as they continue delivering a high quality newscast.

I stopped watcing WISN when WTMJ went HD:wave:

[trev57]

I still watch WISN because they have a better newscast than anybody else, but if I'm going to watch local news in HD, I would watch Fox 6 over TMJ4.

[trev57]

I really hope Tim's wrong and WISN goes HD sooner rather than later. Especially if they look anything like...

WCVB in Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6icsTHi5e6M&hd=1

-or-

WTAE in Pittsburgh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgkpZ0Cc5No&hd=1

Both are Hearst owned stations like WISN.

[foxeng]

I really hope Tim's wrong and WISN goes HD sooner rather than later. Especially if they look anything like...

WCVB in Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6icsTHi5e6M&hd=1

-or-

WTAE in Pittsburgh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgkpZ0Cc5No&hd=1

Both are Hearst owned stations like WISN.

While my market is smaller than Milwaukee, the Hearst station here has made no effort to do HD news. In recent years, they have been the market leader with new technology. They were the first on air with digital almost 9 months before anyone else in the market.  They were the first to do non-network HD syndicated  programing a good year ahead of the rest of the market. They were the first in the market to do HD crawls for weather 2 years ahead of the rest of the market. Now, they are the only station in the market who does news that is still 4:3. Makes one wonder if they are holding on to their money until things get better. If that is the case, I can't blame them. They have laid off a lot of people in the market in the last 12 months.

[LoadStar]

I stopped watcing WISN when WTMJ went HD:wave:

Just out of curiousity, and speaking strictly from a journalism aspect, do you think that WTMJ has a higher quality newscast than WISN? And if not, is it fair to say then that a prettier picture is of a greater importance for you than a high quality newscast?

[duncantuna]

Now, they are the only station in the market who does news that is still 4:3.

(cough) CBS58 (cough)

[LoadStar]

(cough) CBS58 (cough)

Foxeng was referring to the market in which he works... he wasn't talking about the Milwaukee market.

[Talos4]

Just out of curiousity, and speaking strictly from a journalism aspect, do you think that WTMJ has a higher quality newscast than WISN? And if not, is it fair to say then that a prettier picture is of a greater importance for you than a high quality newscast?

I do not think a prettier picture makes a better newscast.

I think it's silly to think so. I continue to watch WISN because it's newscast is a better NEWS show.

Everytime I watch WITI I sometimes feel it's a carnival sideshow. Joking around, Fluff, Fluff, Fluff.

Over at WTMJ I feel like I've run a marathon after watching one of their news shows. The frantic pacing and delivery just wears me out.

Over at WDJT I fall asleep in just 10 minutes.  

The news is the news, I don't need power zoom, sliding SD weather maps, etc.

Now having said all of that, lately I've reduced my Newscast watching to just weekday early mornings, and an occasional Saturday AM. Mostly because there are better news outlets available than ever before.

Today's local TV news is mostly headlines, and many times incomplete.  

I'll still take content over presentation.

[AndrewP]

Just out of curiousity, and speaking strictly from a journalism aspect, do you think that WTMJ has a higher quality newscast than WISN? And if not, is it fair to say then that a prettier picture is of a greater importance for you than a high quality newscast?

I don't really see any difference in reporting of local news, I can't see how WISN is better, just can't see it. I can see difference in Fox News and MSNBC, but WTMJ, WISN, WITI?
Common...:confused:
That is why my vote is for best picture:rock:

[Steve Mann]

I would tend to agree when it comes to local news. They are all a bit amateurish. And with that, the better picture would be the deciding factor.

I say that as a WISN News fan.. don't know how I got started watching them, but somehow I originally gravitated to them. Now, I'm checking out the others due to better presentation.

[Talos4]

If a better picture is really driving your viewing choice consider:

Does the Postman become a better movie because it's on Blu Ray?

How about Batman and Robin?

Waterworld?

A steaming pile is still steaming pile even if it looks better in HD. That's not how I'd characterize the local news but you get my point.

Just because the picture looks better doesn't change the content or how it's presented.