Chicago Station Starts Using AR/VR

WBBM (Chicago) launched its cutting-edge AR/VR (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality) technology-driven studio yesterday afternoon. Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon debuted the new technology during the weather forecast.

WBBM is the only station in the region to deliver weather this way. It joins sister stations, CBS Philadelphia (KYW), CBS Denver/KCNC, and CBS New York (WCBS), CBS Bay Area/KPIX, which have already introduced this innovative approach in their markets. CBS Chicago’s AR/VR space covers over 1100 sq ft of floor area and reaches 16 feet tall.

 Jennifer Lyons, president and general manager of CBS Chicago, expressed the importance of bringing this cutting-edge technology to the Chicago market, “We are beyond excited to be the only station in Chicago delivering weather in an all-new AR/VR format. This technology is a game changer, offering our viewers a deeper, more engaging way to understand the weather,” Lyons said. “Whether it’s preparing for a winter storm or simply planning their day, our audience will benefit from an interactive and visually immersive experience that only AR/VR can provide. It’s about elevating the storytelling and giving our viewers what they need – clear, concise information, using state-of-the-art technology, unlike anything they have seen when watching the news.”

WBBM’s AR/VR format allows viewers to visualize everything from storm paths and microclimates to temperature changes within the forecast while giving them the tools to make better-informed decisions about their daily lives. In the future, the station plans to use the technology in various other ways to inform its audience of news.

And here, All I care about is it going to rain or not?