Messages

361

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Video Wall

« on: March 12, 2012, 09:33:59 PM »

I hope they gave the video wall to recycling.

362

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Mike Bettes

« on: March 11, 2012, 04:58:57 PM »

I got to meet Mike today.  I talked to him three different times and got his autograph.

Congrats! How was the session?
 

Awesome!  Was he nice? I don't know why, but I always get the vibe that Mike might be a little arrogant in person.

Mike actually is an awesome guy. Super friendly! I got to go out to lunch with him back in October and enjoyed chatting with him.

363

The Game Room / Re: "In my pants" Game

« on: March 11, 2012, 04:54:47 PM »

The imp game has sure taken a weird turn today imp...

indeed it has imp!

364

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: March 09, 2012, 01:23:29 AM »

The STAR itself or the feed?

365

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Video Wall

« on: March 08, 2012, 11:51:27 PM »

I wonder if the 12 LCD's will have bezel's or not? I'd think not if it's going to be a video wall. That must be a somewhat large investment for TWC, but it will probably last much longer than the projection system.

I hope this new video wall won't be as much of a waste of money as the old one was!

I would argue it wasn't. It was used for a considerably long time. If you compare to other networks with live coverage, TWC really hasn't updated things in its main studios all that much. I think they got their moneys worth out of it.

I wonder if the 12 LCD's will have bezel's or not? I'd think not if it's going to be a video wall. That must be a somewhat large investment for TWC, but it will probably last much longer than the projection system.

I wonder how CNN does all of their video walls. Our those LCDs or video projection systems? In any case I hope it ends up looking something like what they have.

366

General Discussion / Re: Economy Tracker

« on: March 08, 2012, 10:24:37 PM »

One big fact you have to keep in mind about the Dow:  It is only composed of 30 big companies.  Do you think that figure is representative of an entire economy of a country all the way down to the individual level?

Very true. Its easy to point to the market and think things are going ok. However it does seem like things are improving!

Gallup shows unemployment back up to 9.1%.   

Underemployment is 19.1%

What is Underemployment? I kinda expected the numbers to increase after seasonal jobs ended for the Holidays. Still a shame

367

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Video Wall

« on: March 08, 2012, 10:14:08 PM »

Image and updates curtsey of Kelly Cass.
"This wall of monitors will likely not be used for weather maps...we will keep doing those from the green wall (mostly head-to-toe shots)"

368

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: March 08, 2012, 10:12:50 PM »

New video wall discussion

https://twctodayforums.com/forums/programming/new-video-wall/msg166762/?boardseen#new

369

Programming and Graphics / New Video Wall

« on: March 08, 2012, 10:10:07 PM »

Well goodbye video wall. This should solve a lot of their problems.

"Work being done on the old giant video wall! It will be replaced by 12 large LCD monitors. I hear it should be complete by the end of this month!"

370

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: March 08, 2012, 10:09:45 PM »

I think the main problem here is that the setup needs to be overhauled. If you look at CNNs studios, they have several lage video walls that are all sharp and bright. Probably a cost saving move on TWCs part back when they were building the studio. The new studios were a big move also to make it more appealing to buyers

Landmark was on its last legs when TWC upgraded so I won't be surprised if that was the case. As well, green products were the key back then, which is something that isn't much of a concern to companies these days due to the economy.

Well I wouldn't say they were on their last legs but they pretty much knew they wanted to sell TWC at that point. Landmark is very much a thriving company though. It still remains puzzling why they pushed to sell TWC. Perhaps they saw the market slowing for cable networks.

371

General Weather Chat / Re: Weather Station

« on: March 08, 2012, 06:54:14 PM »

Davis is the best system out there and one of the most trusted in the weather community. I had years ago the Lacrosse and Oregon Scientific and those systems broke within a few months of heavy weather. Davis provides you with the fastest updating sensor readings as well as the most flexibility with your data. Its expensive but worth the initial investment. Mine has been running for nearly 4 years on a salt water river and hasn't hiccuped yet. Even the batteries are still holding. I only had to replace the batteries on the fan aspirated shield once. Search around and you can find some good deals. Typical refresh times on the wind speeds are 2 seconds.

I'm going this time with Davis.  Which one would you choose?  The Vantage Pro2 or Vantage vue.

Tough call. I personally have the Vantage Pro2 Plus but that can be pricy. The Vantage Vue is the economy version of the Vantage Pro2. Basically all the same features but the build quality is a little lower. If you can afford it go with the Vantage Pro2 but you can't go wrong either way.

372

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: March 07, 2012, 03:47:51 PM »

I can't imagine the video wall would last terribly long each time, since it has to be turned up very brightly in order to be seen on camera underneath all the bright studio lights.  Even then, at its best, it will never appear as sharp or as bright as a map on chroma key.

It was a nice idea they had about the video wall, but putting it into practice has shown that maybe it's not the best way to do things after all.  They realized that the maps just looked too murky on the wall, so they started using chroma key again.  They realized that the wall has to be maintained far too often (and usually at great cost) in order to keep using it.

I think it's time to just abandon it altogether.  Unless NBC is giving money for them to burn... with the provision that they don't spend it on payroll (referring to the many recent layoffs of longtime staff).

I believe its a projection system. Not really that much to it. They aren't replacing the entire setup when they fix it.

I think the main problem here is that the setup needs to be overhauled. If you look at CNNs studios, they have several lage video walls that are all sharp and bright. Probably a cost saving move on TWCs part back when they were building the studio. The new studios were a big move also to make it more appealing to buyers

They may have to replace bulbs in the projector then re calibrate the color and positioning. That could take a long time when you're talking about 3 projectors working together and fine tuning it.

Yep that would be my guess as well!

373

General Weather Chat / Re: Weather Station

« on: March 07, 2012, 03:47:10 PM »

Davis is the best system out there and one of the most trusted in the weather community. I had years ago the Lacrosse and Oregon Scientific and those systems broke within a few months of heavy weather. Davis provides you with the fastest updating sensor readings as well as the most flexibility with your data. Its expensive but worth the initial investment. Mine has been running for nearly 4 years on a salt water river and hasn't hiccuped yet. Even the batteries are still holding. I only had to replace the batteries on the fan aspirated shield once. Search around and you can find some good deals. Typical refresh times on the wind speeds are 2 seconds.

374

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: March 07, 2012, 03:35:40 PM »

I can't imagine the video wall would last terribly long each time, since it has to be turned up very brightly in order to be seen on camera underneath all the bright studio lights.  Even then, at its best, it will never appear as sharp or as bright as a map on chroma key.

It was a nice idea they had about the video wall, but putting it into practice has shown that maybe it's not the best way to do things after all.  They realized that the maps just looked too murky on the wall, so they started using chroma key again.  They realized that the wall has to be maintained far too often (and usually at great cost) in order to keep using it.

I think it's time to just abandon it altogether.  Unless NBC is giving money for them to burn... with the provision that they don't spend it on payroll (referring to the many recent layoffs of longtime staff).

I believe its a projection system. Not really that much to it. They aren't replacing the entire setup when they fix it.

I think the main problem here is that the setup needs to be overhauled. If you look at CNNs studios, they have several lage video walls that are all sharp and bright. Probably a cost saving move on TWCs part back when they were building the studio. The new studios were a big move also to make it more appealing to buyers

375

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: March 04, 2012, 11:31:26 PM »

Any of you all watch The Walking Dead? I am soo hooked!