I had seen it in recent days on coverage of the capital murder trial of Justin Thurber and wanted to write about it, but had not. Then Today Anon 3:02 of the previous topic wrote about KAKE and KWCH "'Skyping' live shots from Winfield." If you have seen any of the live coverage at 5 and 6, (I would also assume on the 11:30 or Noon shows) the live pictures from outside of the courthouse with the reporters on KWCH and KAKE have a "Skype" logo over them. Its not like the viewer wouldn't notice something is happening to their picture, if the logo wasn't on. The picture looks horrible. Its an absolute joke. I think the picture quality is terrible, however KWCH probably handles it best compared to KAKE. KSN's video with reporter Anthony Powell looked normal so it doesn't appear as if they use the Skype tool.
I think this really shows how the broadcast world is really in a world of hurt and danger when stations lower their broadcast quality in order to save money by using Skype.
From my research Skype was developed as a way for people to use the internet to talk to each other like a phone, however video images are transmitted as well. It wasn't long until TV stations soon saw the possibilities to be able to transmit a live picture as long as there is internet access. The alternative is more costly and often involves using a satellite truck. I am not sure the rates, but apparently stations must buy time to transmit from their trucks and the costs can quickly add up.
As I wrote before, I think using Skype shows how the TV news world is really in a world of hurt and danger when stations lower their broadcast quality in order to save money. Its as if they are willing to air any video quality if it saves money. I assume they are doing this for money saving reasons, because surely it isn't enhancing the on-air look.
Of the local stations using Skype, I must say KWCH has the best look of the two. They do not use the picture to its full size, thus the poor quality of the picture isn't as noticeable. However you can definitely tell its not a regular image, especially when a car passes by. On the other hand KAKE uses the Skype image to the full size of the TV and all the imperfections of the shot are definitely there. (The link online, doesn't show it as bad as it appears on TV). Its really bad when they show the Skype image and the anchors in the studio at the same time. The anchors look fine, while Cayle Thompson's picture looks rough.
Kansas 22 now KSN's and not KAKE's - I think the change over happened several weeks ago when the KSN radar was seen spinning around on Cox Cable's Channel 22. Then last week KSN personalities and stories appeared on the station. Before that KAKE did short versions of the newscasts with weather and sports for several years. KSN does it now. I like the look of the graphics and layout of the screen. I will especially be interested to see how KSN handles days when there is a lot of breaking news. Although I didn't watch KAKE's efforts with the channel very often, I didn't feel they took advantage of it on days when there was breaking news and enough information out there to update the content. I'll be interested to see how KSN handles these days and if they have updates and will they run events live like news conferences on big items and other big events. -Hal
Update 2-7-09 - 11AM: A comment mentioned it and I saw it as well. Like I mentioned above I was interested to see how KSN would handle live news as it happens on 22. I liked what I saw Yesterday when KSN ran the KC Chiefs press conference live on 22. It looked good with graphics and noon fill-in anchor Anne Meyer taking viewers in and and out of the press conference. If they can do similar things, for other situations, it will be a nice service. -Hal
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20 comments:
It's not a cost cutting measure. Oprah has been using Skype for her interviews for well over 6 months now. If anyone has money to kick around it's Oprah. It's about using technology to its maximum. Yes it is cheaper than booking up large chunks of satellite time, not for breaking news but for something like a trial that will go on for weeks.
Why KSN is spending money they don't have on satellite time I don't know, especially on the heals of asking Anita to take a pay cut to help keep things afloat.
Funny how Hal loves to talk about how the internet is taking over things, how great it is but when stations actually use a new tool or experiment with it, he bashes them. A little hypocritical don't you think?
BTW: Only live shots are Skyped, stories, video are not.
12's shots look fine. 10's look like crap.
Also, the quality is really no different than 12's SatCam or 10's Weather-mobile while storm chasing.
It's just a 3rd way of getting stuff back from the field in addition to Satellite and Microwave. Another tool in the toolbelt isn't bad.
Are you serious? You dont think the stations all over the country are using Skype to not lay off a ton of photogs in this economy? You are in a serious state of denile Anon 7:48.
Its going to get every station and every television market really hard in the next year or two, have your resume ready and learn many skills that can be used in other jobs and careers.
748, What is so good about this Skype garbage, besides saying that it is an experiment. It's a failed experiment. Its OK to try things around the station, admit they don't work and then give it a few more months or even a year and probably the technology will advance to the point where it WILL be standard and the norm. Once it improves then use it. Then watch out for the VJ or 1-man-band world.
And Anon 751, you say the quality is no different then 12's SAT cam or KAKE's mobile contraption they use for weather, but in those cases it isn't possible to drive with a satellite dish up or a metal mast up on a vehicle chasing a storm. In this case it is ALL about sacrificing quality for a few bucks.
I think it is funny KWCH uses Skype when it looks terrible, yet they are so quick to remind everyone over and over they are the first to have their studio in HD. For what? So we can see a scrambled up Cliff Judy in a rural county after we see their HD set. Talk about a jump in quality.
It's now official. 7:48 -- the KWCH troll, or one of his clones -- will say just about anything, without regard to truth. KSN has been feeding the majority of its reports through the internet, and NBC has picked up sat time. You are an embarrassment to your station and yourself. And to your follow-up point that 10's looks like crap? More proof that you're full of crap. 10's looks way better. Yours looks like it's run through dial-up internet. I don't think anyone takes you seriously anymore.
3:46 you are the troll if you actually think KAKE's shot looks anything halfway decent.
NBC is not picking up sat time for some dinky trial in nowhere Kansas. They are cutting back everywhere and are certainly not forking out hundreds of dollars everyday for a trial no one outside the metro cares about.
You guys are going under and your taking it out on others. Pathetic.
Here's your answer: $1 will get you an item on McDonald's Dollar Menu. Or it will buy you 2 shares of Gray Television Stock--with 14 cents change.
French Fries? Or a TV Group?
Does that answer your Skype question? It should.
6:33... Are you throwing a temper tantrum? And KSN only went live one day. And yes, NBC picked up ONE day because other affiliates wanted it. Get a life. You are sad, like a bullied child who is taking it out in an anonymous blog.
But the broadcast world is in danger -- and it truly is morphing into a different product than what it was 10, 5 or a year ago.
Face it, newsrooms are looking for all sorts of ways to cut back. And those deep cuts are coming from high-paid people and even more expensive products.
New talent has the upper-hand here, but only at landing a job... they'll just have to take it at bottom prices.
The fact is this economy will put a deep strain on every business, but the fact is, newsrooms will get smaller, less experienced for a while. I can only hope that they'll find some way to retain a quality product.
Smart move by KSN to put the KC Chiefs announcement of Todd Haley as coach live on KS 22 this afternoon. Airing events like that is good and if they continue to do things like that, they will offer something a little different and unique.
Was the past two nights on KSN possibly a try out for Stephanie Bergman? On the heels of it being announced that Anita will give up her anchor chair, Stephanie fills in for Anita Thursday and Friday nights. I didn't know Stehpanie could stay up that late. I am just used to her doing mornings. I can't remember her in recent memory ever filling in for Anita. Maybe its only coincidence.
In response to Anon 8:29: KAKE often provided news conferences and other breaking news items on on 22. So far, KSN isn't doing anything seriously different than KAKE ever did. Sure, their graphics look a little better, but that's about it. I guarantee you that KSN will be regretting dumping a huge amount of money into this project in about a year or two. Their employees will come to resent having to do extra work for it. It's just not worth the trouble. KAKE realized that and quit putting effort and money into it.
Anon 1126 you are right. More work and no more pay.
stop your bitching! KSN is doing a great job with 22, and the only ones there who are complaining are the ones who will be doing the same no matter where they work.
The fact is 22 is another form of revenue for KSN and if they do a good job of it, continue to improve their product, make good decisions as to Anita's replacement(s), then they will be poised to make a very nice leap in this market.
I like the new graphics on 22. Very modern looking...better then the old KAKE crap. My best advice to KSN, keep the info/headlines fresh. KAKE used to have old stuff on there all the time.
Look, let's call it like it is. Skyping is being used because it's cheap. Can anyone HONESTLY say the quality looks as good as if you went live via satellite or microwave?
Like so many other things in life, with the increase of technology, the quality of television news continues to go downhill.
Technology might mean convenince, but not quality.
Just about everyone out in the field hates the quality of Skype. It's people in the station, who sit at their desks all day, that like the idea of Skype.
It's a novelty that should've never been used on air!!!
if ksn has all this extra time and resource to "improve upon" channel 22 (its all the same thing, folks...), why dont they use it to add weekend morning newscasts? 12 and 10 have them. instead they are "investing" in something no one (at 10, 12 or at home) really cares about...
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