Ready....SET....Go
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A number of stations have been taking the wraps off of new news sets and a number of other stations are long overdo for an upgrade.
Let's look at some of the recent sets to debut.
'Tis the season for new local news sets in Chicago, Houston, Orlando, and Phoenix, among a few markets to unveil newly renovated studio sets.
Chicago has seen two sets within a month. WFLD Fox 32, the Firm's Chicago station rolled out its new Clickspring Design digs at the end of April. Yesterday, Tribune's WGN Channel 9 debuted its new set (pictured right), just days after news broke of Sinclair-Tribune merger.
Houston, Graham's KPRC Channel 2 debuted its new WrightSet design, when it moved into its new state-of-the-art facility in early April.
Phoneix, Meredith's KPHO CBS 5 debuted its new Z Space Creative (company that used to be known as Studio A Designs) set. KPHO also debuted WFTV-esque graphics, and music package "A New Wish" by 615 Music.
Sacramento, CBS O&O KOVR CBS 13 got a design by Broadcast Design International that looks similar to (as well as inspired by) sister station KCBS.
Orlando, Hearst's WESH 2 debuted its new Devlin Design Group set. Hearst has opted for Devlin at its Pittsburgh (pictured), Baltimore, and Omaha stations last year.
Buffalo, Scripps' WKBW Channel 7 debuted its new set as well at the end of April. The ABC affiliate was long overdue for a makeover.
Scorecard of stations due and/or overdue for set makeovers...
ABC O&O group: Raleigh-Durham (WTVD) has had its current set since 2008, while Philadelphia (WPVI) has had its set since 2009 with a few touch-ups here and there.
CBS O&O group: Chicago (WBBM) is likely to be next to receive a makeover, while Baltimore (WJZ) seems to be a long shot for a new set.
Fox O&O group: Austin (KTBC) has moved to a temporary set, while their main news studio is getting a makeover. Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), San Francisco (KTVU), and New York City (WNYW) are the remaining holdouts. KTVU still having its Cox-era set, while KDFW and WNYW have the dated Blyth Design Group sets.
NBC O&O group: Philadelphia (WCAU) is supposed to be moving to its new state-of-the-art facility at the end of 2017, and it'll be interesting to see which designer is selected, and whether it'll be like most other NBC O&O sets.
Raycom: Memphis (WMC) is due to receive a new set, and whether we could see the FX Design Group "Raycom look" (think WBTV, WAVE, and WVUE set designs) remains to be seen.
Hearst: Sacramento (KCRA) and Birmingham (WVTM) would be good candidates for set makeovers.
TEGNA: Washington, DC (WUSA), Cleveland (WKYC), and Phoenix (KPNX) are due for makeovers, along with Dallas-Fort Worth (WFAA), and it'll also be interesting to see whether they get the Jack Morton PDG "TEGNA look" (think KING, KUSA, WHAS, and KENS) before the KXTV-WTSP format gets around to them.
Sinclair-Tribune: Cleveland (WJW) and New Orleans (WGNO) are due for new sets. WJW also having the dated Fox O&O look, and WGNO set being 10 years old. It's unclear whether they may get makeovers before Sinclair-Tribune merger is completed. On the Sinclair side, West Palm Beach (WPEC) has been on its current set since 2008.
