KBTX is now going to HD, but only on sudden link and Dish network. When will it come to directv?

They have had HD for a few yrs now.... I assume this is about them upgrading their local content (news broadcasts) to HD..... kinda irks me too because they have been advertising this for months and still have yet to have a news broadcast in HD.

The new NBC station still might end up beating them to the HD newcast party if they don't hurry up.

Next thing you know KBTX will have a helicopter with an HD camera covering local breaking news stories.

Thanks DC for the heads up! Appreciative. Had to respond here. Jagouar1 - I'm a little confused. The first we mentioned of HD News, unless I'm missing something, was when I blogged about it last Thursday. We first went HD with network programming in 2003, added commercials and syndicated programming in early 2010, and at that time, as part of the next phase, starting receiving equipment for HD News conversion. It's quite the process since all equipment to produce local news has to be replaced. We started with graphics about a year ago and now the big build-out including the new control room, newly designed set, and a new newsroom facility. This has been several years in the making and the conversion started before news of KCEN's plans were released for Bryan-College Station. Their infrastructure was in place due to the build-out in Waco. Hard to explain, so yes - it will be easier to go HD here with that in place. We're changing out our whole facility. Thanks for sticking with us. We'd like to be "first" - but we'd rather get it right. We'll keep things update on our website and here from time to time as well. As always, call anytime or better yet, drop by to see what's happening. DIRECTV: Their choice. They have the HD signal available to them now. DISH launched KBTX HD about a month ago. Scruffy: as part of my build-out goal, we hope to have at least one story of a "newsworthy" nature.
Mike Wright

I'm excited that we'll finally be able to see every blemish, zit and wrinkle!

Lol Duffel... I was going to ask if the news would be somehow more newsworthy or true because of the HD?

Don't get me wrong I am glad it is coming but I don't understand the complaint that it isnt here NOW! Doesnt change the content or the facts. The news will still be the news.

We just might get xtra goosebumps due to the HD quality during that insta-replay of sporting event X.....

I have been watching HD content on KBTX for years....

[This message has been edited by Allonym (edited 7/13/2011 9:08a).]

Mike.... I was referring to the tv ads running on kbtx. I remember seeing it for the past few weeks atleast if not months about KBTX being the leader in HD or something to that effect (and showing HD shots of the news broadcasts). I atleast got the impression that the hd upgrade was in the works from that tv spot.

Jag! - Got it - and to a degree, yes, you are correct. We rolled out a lot of HD programming in stages and the news will be next. Most recently was KBTX in HD on Dish. So, you are correct. And the focus now goes to news. And to anyone I've mentioned about this, while I haven't been QUITE as crass as some, we are aware of blemishes you will now see. It's been part of light-hearted conversation around here. Always appreciate the input - and yes, we laugh at ourselves at times, but are intensely serious about improving the product and holding each other accountable for lack of attention to detail.

I have suddenlink and KBTX is not in HD..at least the news is not

So when will the news actually be broadcast in HD on Dish?

Please tell me that the current logo is a redesign? I am tired of seeing that big 3 and that generic red white and blue scheme. Change it up! And I hope the new studio looks more like the ones in larger cities. We love you KBTX!

Mike what is this camera showing? new front desk? weather center?

MASON M

Can KBTX, explain "DIRECTV: Their choice."?

I have Directv, and they are telling me that KBTX won't upgrade the line to the Directv feed point, to broadcast KBTX in HD. That is not DIRECTv's responsibility to upgrade a local feed cable. What's the real truth?

Kev and AggiePhil: Suddenlink 710 is the KBTX HD Channel, 711 is our CW Channel. You are correct in that the news on KBTX is not yet in High Def, that's what we're working on. All other available programming should be airing in High Def.
KBTX went on Dish Network in HD about a month ago.
As for the question from Mason regarding the camera-odd that The Plaza still has any mention of the camera on their website! Frankly, it's odd the Plaza has a website! We are timelapsing construction of these phases. That is the primary control room which has to be completed before the newsroom and the new studio set. Didn't know that was still on their website! How odd.
bcstx: While love is sometimes hard to find on here, we thank you for that line, cynical or not, we'll take anything these days! While there will not be a full re-design on the logo, it will be "adjusted" and won't be in the background as it presently is. We have the set design drawings, and you are welcome to come take a look if you'd like. We ALWAYS strive for a large market look, the new "lower thirds graphics" is an example of that, major investment. This set is very dated, I get that. Knowing high def was coming, we waited. Current set went on-air in 1999. New design started in 2009, has been a work in progress. Hard to explain, but I'm really pleased with the design. Serious about dropping by.
Mike Wright

Skippy-Thanks for the question. KBTX invested thousands of dollars to fiber our signal and other data directly to Waco where both head ends are located. The HD signal was offered to Direct some time ago. Providing them the KBTX signal is now a very quick process because of that fiber. The signal has been upgraded, it is done on our end. That's the bottom line. Always thanks your way for asking.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the clear reply. That makes sense to me! Looking forward to seeing KBTX, news in HD! I'll keep working on DIRECTV to get them onboard!

I agree that I've never especially WANTED the news to be in HD - I can't imagine how that could be a terribly pressing issue - but who knows, maybe some of the mobile footage of live events might be more captivating.

What I really hope is that this won't be another case of KBTX's technology getting worse with "improvements." Like the iphone app - started out being slick, easy-to-use, easily the best news interface for the phone I'd seen. Then they "upgraded" a few months ago and the new version is a dim, slower version of what it used to be. Oh - and the old one won't work any more so you have no choice but to upgrade.

Or the Desktop Weather app.... used to be intuitive, easy-to-view, nested itself in the bottom toolbar. One right-click to find anything you wanted. And then they "improved" it a while back, and apparently quit supporting the old one. The new version is clunky, less informative, and gets in the way of other windows because it now floats above the bar instead of being part of it. I can't make the radar work anymore. I can't figure out how this is supposed to be better.

So, Mike - is this "improvement" going to be like the others we've seen so far?

Yup local media, government, and restaurants get their fair share of gripes. Me, I'm glad to see KBTX go HD on the news. Why would anyone NOT want that? It's like preferring black and white TV over color or silent movies over talkies.

I see it as a plus. When people, including me, invest in a big screen tv and only get to use 80% of it I feel shorted. I can't wait.

Double Tap-Wow, where to begin. Here's my offer. Bring in your i-phone, show us first hand what it is your are talking about, and allow our IT person to figure out what is happening. Same with desktop weather. We'll show you what it should look like, and if there is a problem on our end, we will fix it. All we have to "somewhat" go by is that since the upgrade on the new app, page views on i-phones have almost doubled. I'm not saying there is no problem on your end, it could very well be us, but I'm not the person to answer that. Others in KBTX can. Overall, we have received some complaints, but people who call in are offered a simple fix. Let us take a look at what you are seeing and we can help. Improvements? I agree - there are often adjustments. In fact, the "upgrades" are NEVER the choice of KBTX, it is the choice of provider. True, they offer KBTX information, but you make it sound as if we are solely responsible. We are often given no choice. With HD, it can only be better. Will the anchors look better or the news coverage improve because of HD? Nope - though our continual goal will be to get better at all we do. I agree with Mason. Maximizing all that is available with an HD signal is our intent. Bring your phone by, ask for me or ask for Peter. We will see whats up with that. Thanks
Mike

I think KBTX is working really hard to make things a lot better. Thanks Mike for your hard work. I would like to see KBTX as more of the innovator and not a wanna-be large market station. So, with that question in mind, why is it that when watching the news, we always switch to a "Live Shot" outside the jail when the person arrested was brought in a 9AM? Why do you have to be live at the jail, in case they escape?

I have always seen between those lines. It makes you look "live and local"? We see this a lot. I can always see playing earlier footage of the guy being drug in the back door by his hair, but live in front of a closed building at 10?

There are other new ideas to think of.

Just curious.

Again, thanks Mike. You care about KBTX and want to improve. You also listen to people.

The Eagle will pick this new concepts of yours up any day now.................well, probably not.

They still like to endorse candidates for public office, a special treat paper media did back in the 16th century. As if we care what their opinions are.

[This message has been edited by mymainname3 (edited 7/15/2011 2:34a).]

quote:

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I hope the new studio looks more like the ones in larger cities

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I DON'T,I don't like the generic feel from news broadcasts in bigger cities.I moved from one and when I started watching KBTX,I was very impressed that they had a "home town" feel with there sets on the news.Slowly we are turning into a Houston or Waco.

Wow! I didn't know KBTX was in HD on DishNetwork! I need to go reprogram my DVR to use Channel 3 instead of the Waco CBS.

The Bryan commercials are much, much better than the lame ones in Waco (of course, with DVR you can bypass them, but still)

KBTX News 3 is finally in HD. Its nice, but uh is that the new studio? Still looks dated.

Was just coming here to ask. I just noticed. Was it like it on the morning news or just now during the news at noon???

glad the finally switched!

The studio looks awful but I think they're still building the new one. I also hate that you can see other newscasters walking around and doing various things in the background during a broadcast. If I'm listening to Meredith Stancik talk about a news story, I don't want to see her husband walking to the bathroom in the background. So distracting. Maybe that's just me though.

I think I either read on here or their website a comment by Mike Wright that they were planning on getting rid of the newsroom look but then brought in a consultant or something/one like that, that said stations were moving back to the newsroom look.

I hope they do some type of frosted glass wall or something that hides the newsroom some, but still shows it some.

Found this.

Oct. 4th Update

http://www.kbtx.com/blogs/mikewright/KBTX_HD_Transition_Update_Worse_before_Better_131063338.html

Sorry about that AggiePhil!

I'll try to go before the newscast now. ; )

Shane

Anybody else have volume problems with KBTX? We are on Direct TV and everything but the commercials is very low. As a result we get blasted when the commercial comes on because we have the TV up so loud.

Most of the time we just watch the CBS Waco channel because the volume is so much better there.

now they aren't using it for the 4 o'clock news. I guess the noon news was a test.

quote:

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Sorry about that AggiePhil!

I'll try to go before the newscast now. ; )

Shane

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Haha...I was more or less joking about that Shane. But in general, I'm just not a big fan of seeing the random person go walking by in the background. Almost looks like an accident. It'd be one thing if it was NASA mission control back there but that just isn't the case.

http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/KBTX_Broadcasts_News_in_High_Definition_131477058.html

Wow, what a difference. The new format looks awesome. Great job KBTX.

[This message has been edited by AggiePhil (edited 10/10/2011 9:49p).]

this link works.

http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/KBTX_Broadcasts_News_in_High_Definition_131477058.html