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Kudos to Channel 4 for its new HD local news
Kicking and screaming, the days of low-def, analog TV are finally coming to an end.  
By Andy Tarnoff RSS Feed Twitter Feed
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More articles by Andy Tarnoff

What is a blog?  For us it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Published April 9, 2009 at 12:54 p.m.
Tags: wtmj-tv, local news, hd, high def

I hate to admit it, but I've become an HD snob. That is, I probably won't watch a show if it's not in high-def. There are exceptions, of course: Brewers games, "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," to name a few. But as a Time Warner Cable subscriber, more often than not, I'm hovering over the "500s," if you catch my meaning.

Until very recently, all of Milwaukee's local TV news was decidedly low-def. If you're a regular reader of my blogs, you know that I rip on local news a lot, and frankly, they've got it coming. Whether is repurposed news from the paper (or sometimes from OnMilwaukee.com), the breathlessly exasperated storm team coverage, or infomercials/VNRs/network promos passed off as "live from the newsroom," I'm not always a big fan. But I still watch it, if only for the train-wreck factor, and that a few talented reporter/anchors still do a very good job in town.

But starting now, I plan on watching a lot more of Channel 4, since it's the only station that currently broadcasts local news in HD.

I could say that it's about time, that other cities have broadcast their local news in high-def for some time. Instead, I'll just say kudos and hope that other stations follow suit soon.

One knock on WTMJ-TV, however. Their new graphics package looks like it was generated on my Commodore 64's Print Shop. They took a clean font and presentation and replaced it with something that looks like Optima or Impact. Yeah, I'm a font snob, too.

Still, their news looks really sharp right now, and it's a model for all other stations to copy. Kicking and screaming, the days of low-def, analog TV are finally coming to an end.

8 comments about this article.
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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by FunkyBrewster on April 14, 2009 at 5:29 p.m. (report)

The only show I watched recently not in HD was Real World? Whats up with MTV? They added Travel Channel HD THANK GOD! But its all 1080i and yes I can tell the difference if I get up close. A good option for HD is these PRISTINE files on Piratebay that fit on dvd, are 1080p but are a type of file that is for PS3. Just copy it to your ps3 hard drive off the disc you made. Which reminds me Quantum of Solace is the worst James Bond movie ever made.

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Posted by CoolerKing on April 14, 2009 at 6:31 a.m. (report)

I'll agree it's cool that they have the technology, but their reporters wrapping up every story by saying "Today's TMJ4...HD" has gotten quite old.

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Posted by Wrick9000 on April 10, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (report)

It is about time. I do not watch much local news either but I will certainly check out channel 4 news now. Speaking of watching the Crew in SD, why are there so many games still broadcast in SD this year? I sat down for the game on Tuesday expecting it to be in HD to find out that again this year only a certain number of games are in HD. Granted there are a lot more in HD this year but not all. devidia where were you watching HD broadcasts? I have not met anyone, including my half blind 90 year old grandmother, who has not been amazed by properly presented HD broadcasts. Now if you were watching a SD broadcast stretched out on a HD TV I can understand that looks like crap. My problem is that Blu-Ray has raised my expectations and now HD TV broadcasts just do not compare.

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Posted by curlyboy1978 on April 10, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (report)

About time! And yes I agree their graphics seem pretty cheezy. Now in WI only two stations have news in HD: TMJ4 here and a station in MadCity.

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Posted by nomadme on April 9, 2009 at 5:32 p.m. (report)

it'd be even better if they stopped destroying local businesses by making "news" by scaring the sh*t out of people about rainstorms and snowstorms that may or may not happen. the weather IS NOT news! we live in wisconsin people! stop striking fear into people about weather advisories!

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Show me the other 3 Talkbacks
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