Oregon Media Insiders

"Yep, that's why I tune into the local news...the technology."

I don't think that's what the poster meant. But looking at this new, all of sudden jump to HD that Z21 is doing, I can't help but think that they are scared that SOME viewers will be lured by the thought of brand new technology being used at a brand new station. So hey, why not compete and say oh by the way, we have HD too, look, that new station is nothing special. You can't deny that people will be intrigued by the thought of seeing news in HD, perhaps enough to get them to switch and check out that new other station for a day.

As far as this quote:

"I wouldn't call Bend underserved. It's market 192. It's little, without much to report on anyway. We'll just have to see how this whole thing pans out between KOHD and KTVZ. KOHD may be "high-tech", but they haven't been there for the last 30 years. Not that I think KTVZ is exceptional--it's a small, fresh-out-of-college station."

First, to address that Bend isn't underserved, I would say that you are mistaken. Yes, Bend is market 192. However, let's not forget that Bend is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. The sixth fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation to be exact. Having ONE news station...for 30 years...with no competition, that's slightly ridiculous. Even in smaller markets, Casper, Wyoming for instance, there is more than one news station.

There are over 150 thousand people in the Central Oregon or market 192's reach. To just say that "there is little or nothing to report on" is kind of an insult to everyone out in there. It's growing tremendously, there is a lot of money out there and development is skyrocketing. There are TONS of issues considering development, crime, and to put it general, the overall direction of the entire city. In ten years, Bend and the surround areas have gone from rural, resort but don't stay here communities to places where people and industry want to relocate for a REALLY long time.

Sure, Bend and Central Oregon are still small in relative levels like if you're going to compare it to the Willamette Valley, but that's not the point. It's growing. It's already big enough to deserve a second news station, and it's only going to get better and the community is only going to face more issues.

As for KOHD, I don't think their intention is to come in to Bend and to wow everyone with technology. Sure, it helps to put on a slick LOOKING newscast, but I think they are coming in here with the intention of BETTER SERVING THE COMMUNITY. Helping to communicate. After all, isn't that what the point of TV news is? Sure it's swayed a little, there's no debate there, but news stations still operate to serve the public.

As for experience and being established for 30 years, sure, it helps to have a few people around that KNOW Central Oregon. KOHD is probably smart enough to realize that, and likely have people from Oregon and from Central Oregon working in their newsroom in some way shape or form. And lets not forget...even if a station's call signs have been here for 30 years, that doesn't mean the majority of their staff is from Central Oregon. I'd be willing to guess that KOHD and KTVZ have an equal level of "Central Oregon expertise" in both of their newsrooms.

Bend won't be able to escape the "small out of college" market feel for a while, probably ever. But that doesn't mean that's all Bend media can attract. It's a VERY desirable place to live for the young and the old. Point being, Bend media is not home to simply just "market jumpers" and "natives."