KGW Plans New HD Studio in Portland
George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 2/4/2008 9:06:00 AM MT
Belo’s KGW is planning a new high-definition facility in Pioneer Court House Square in downtown Portland, Ore.
While no details on equipment or vendors are yet available, construction is expected to start in several weeks and the NBC affiliate plans to begin broadcasting from the studio this summer prior to the Olympics.
The new studio will take over the space in formerly occupied by Powell’s Books and will feature a glass wall that will allow pedestrians to watch the anchors at work, KGW TV president D.J. Wilson said at a ceremony announcing the plans. Costs for the new HD facility could eventually reach as much as $1 million.
KGW will use the new studio for its morning and noon newscasts and allow the station to expand its high-def coverage of a variety of musical, seasonal events held in Pioneer Square. The studio will also supply content to Belo’s regional cable news network, Northwest Cable News and the KGW.com
Pioneer Square attracts some 9.5 million visitors each year. It hosts about 300 events each year in the open-air square and is in the middle of an area of the city that allows people to ride public transportation for free.
The street level KGW studio will be the second launched by a Belo. Its WFAA affiliate recently opened a street-level studio in Dallas’ Victory Plaza.
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