Oregon Media Insiders

ahhhh....i agree with most of what you said... but, well, isn't it BRIAN Wood?

Just a quick correction -- it's Brian Wood, new KATU anchor/reporter.

Second, the graphics underwent minor tweaks (as far as I can tell). The top and bottom headers of the on-screen information have been accented black to emphasize those white letters they've got as well as blend in with the KATU logo and temperature widget thingy in the corner. I like it.

I notice that with the weather, but not with the information postings. I somehow can't get my TV to see the entire picture. All I get is the left side of the logo and the first number of the current time. Tried everything and still doesnt work.

Third, the best, is the new set. It's a bit busy - but that's just because my TV isn't very good (really need to go HD sometime soon). The previous KATU logo branding the front of the news desk has been replaced with an LCD monitor which continuously animates the logo, nice and subtle though.

Well, its a lot better then KGW. All we need is one TV

B)The background in general behind the two anchors is a giant KATU logo watermark toned blue along with a cityscape-like scene.

I notice that to. I was hoping for a night/day background. but only one immage, such as the waterfront. Day will show sun, blue sky, and night will show night, starts and city lights. I also notice they went back with the "katu.com" everywhere.

in addition to the new set arrived the fresh Storm Tracker Weather center, just a glance to the left of the news desk (if you're sitting at the desk). Cameras have been positioned to accommodate this transition. It seems Rod and Ronda and the rest will have plenty of new monitors to look at. The backs of these black monitors gets pleasantly shielded by part of their desk and the bottom on-screen display header.

Makes it easy to track advance storms. Winter storms will do great here. I remember one of their old weather centers. Just a small room off to the left (from our POV)

UPDATE: There are 10+ MONITORS! Too many?

I dont think so, its the way most television news broadcasts are going but your right there can be to many, but i think KATU did everything right.

UPDATE: New weather map(s) (animated ocean, bold fonts)! Also, swank new weather graphic/realistic thumbnail squares that show downtown and are dynamically different with each different type of weather. For example, Rod showed hail on the next two days and then the third day it would be partially cloudy - thus these patchy clouds floated by in the sky over the big buildings. Additionally, there is a thumbnail whilst on the map view that shows in which part of the state we are viewing the weather for. Neato! Can't wait to see the Ten Day Trend :)

I enjoyied the new title cards for the weather. They match well with the information postings. I was hoping for a whole new set, but I can tell they still use the old sun, cloud etc. Well, at leasts its better then the old cartoon style they had before the last major revamp in 2000.I'm afraid they will still have the 7 day. to bad, 10 day was unique

Steve just took viewers on a mini tour of the new set - and wowzers! The new traffic center will be neat to see in the morning. There's a large screen accompanied by four smaller one's to the left and right. On the opposite side of the traffic center is an interviewing/special feature area that has a GINORMOUS screen (according to Steve Dunn it is the largest in Portland broadcasting - a nice jab there for the competition) Also toured is the VERY large green screen for weather that, for some reason, even covers part of the floor (is rod going to be walking on water? :)

Traffic center is nice. Its gonna be real sweet. I'm surpirsed they dont have a sports center. The green screen I think was made when katu switches to full HD next year. I heard they will move to channel 43 when that happens. anyone confirm this is true?

Over all with the news set (best looking in portland in my opinion, KGW is in 2ed place, KPTV 3rd and koin dead last in 4th)and brain wood joining I fell katu may be on trace of becoming 2ed or may be even 1st place in portland news

Does anyone know who did KATU's new set? Was it FX Group? Whom ever did it, it looks excellent. Great job KATU!

Maybe the cost of all this is another reason Grant McOmie has been let go (at the end of the month) aside from outdoor stories no longer being relevant...according to the article on OregonLive.

From what I hear, won't ever be on that set. Contract not renewed

I think it's great... for 1997.

First, the good:

- The weather center. Money very well spent. Makes the other guys look small-time. Gorgeous big screens.

But why show off your new gigantormous green screen, then shoot Rod Hill so tight he fills up a quarter of the screen? C'mon, the man's tiny to begin with -- let him dance around like a leprechaun in chroma key heaven!

Now the bad:
- The backdrop with the giant 2 logo. Blurry and distracting. It's not identifiably Portland.

- The anchor desk looks TINY! The wood's kind of yellowed, too. And what's up with those glowing white things on the side? Did the Star Trek production designers have a fire sale on warp drives?

- Frosted glass!? Why not toss in some ice block while you're at it?

- You may have installed the largest projector in town, but it's dim (or overlit) and framed with a giant piece of ugly wood that makes it look small. The secondary projector/reporter position is even worse with white plexiglas that looks like an afterthought.

- Blue-to-red gradients all over the place? I'm back running Windows 98!

- Looove the blue faux texturing on the bottom of the set! Not!

- Ugly gray floor! Got paint? I hear lumber liquidators has great deals on laminate, too. If you're going to shoot your floor, you have to treat it like part of your set.

- (Sings) "And she's buying a stairway to... nowhere." WTF? A spiral staircase to crawl up and down during teases? Even ESPN doesn't actually USE their fake staircases.

- The lighting is awful. It looks like Fisher spent so much on the set they forgot to hire a lighting designer.

- It already looks kinda cheap in standard definition. How bad will it be with high def cameras and a year or two of wear & tear?

Lest you 2-fers think this is sour grapes from the competition -- I wish. I really do. I was truly hoping you guys would top 8 & 12's new sets and clean up your graphics. Nothing would be better for KPTV & KGW than some real competition. Portland shouldn't be a 2-station market, but KATU just spent a boatload of money that still makes them look like a 3rd place station. It's a shame.

I have to agree that I was a little disappointed with the set as well. The blue "faux texturing" reminds me of what FX did with the KOIN set. The primary backdrop with the K2 logo is also rather drab - they should have put one of their huge rear projection screens there instead. It really reminds me of the work FX did when they originally installed the KOIN set, it seems dated. Perhaps I had an unrealistic expectation, but upon hearing the new set would be built by FX, and looking at some of the projects FX has recently completed (even in smaller markets than Portland) this one is sub-par. I guess though, after looking at the temp. set for 2 months, this is way better! I concur that the new weather center is one of the better ones in Portland, although I still like KPTVs more. The lighting seems softer than the previous set, but I don't mind too much. At least KOIN now knows they don't have to try too hard to have the 3rd best set in town once they decide to remodel theirs.

Don't know if they need to be low to allow the monitors to be effective, but the set seems underlit.

The best thing about the new set was Deborah Knapp was sitting in it at 5! YEAH!

You guys are so mean.First of all katus new news set is the best of all the portland news sets. Second Brian Wood is not better than Steve Dunn. Steve and Angelica were much better together. This newbie has no interaction what so ever. He reminds me of Wayne Garcia. No personality. Does not interact at all. Lame and boring. Third Yes it is great to Have Deb back but Angelica is just as cool. I do not know what you think about fox 12 being good because it is not they are all cheaters who shoved their way through life to get their positions. That is why Mark got to cheif. Rod should have been the top meteorologist over there. Wayne is awful so are the new reporters excluding Sophie soong. They use people over at fox and then when tired of them dump them down the toilet. The only folks good over there are Pete, Kim, Jim Hyde, David Wilson, Kerry T. Shauna Parsons, Tony Martinez, Andy Carson, and Drew Jackson. Katu act like family they enjoy eachother and have fun with one another. At fox even the good people do not talk to one another like they used to. Same at koin. They just get to the flow for the job. Katu does the job and has fun. Kgw is the only other that acts like family. Thats what I have to say you can either agree or disagree. By the way what about the weather person at katu.

I just saw Margy Lynch on KATU news.

I was not fired I am only 17 but they are my opinions.You want more of my thoughts eh well let the list begin

Wayne Garcia- should be dumped. Kurt and Shauna were way better you know it.
Julie- is a disgrace to any news at all I am shocked that she is on 12 and got promoted to the week
Sophie- should be on the weeknights or weekdays anchroing if it were not for her just getting a job there she would be best off going to katu. Before they dump her at 12.

Shauna should stay she is very talented as well as all the GDO classics

Joe V should get taken off Drew was way better

Bill Diez some one get him off before I puke along with Julie

As for Mark Ross he looks like a potatoe head awful with that smile

Mark Nelson or mr. Show off should get out of Portland. Rod should rule the weather

Steph should be a teacher before she embarrasses herself more she looks like a over stuffed smiled bunny rabbit

Now time for the station ratings

Katu A+

kgw B+

kptv B- or C+

koin F-

Rod All The Way along with Steve, Deb, Angelica, Brian Wood, and that awsome Katy Brown

Those Are My Thoughts

Now Time For Yours,

Regards

The old saying that you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. That goes not only for KATU, but TV News in general... it's entertainment which serves only to support the commercials. Don't get too carried away with the glitz and chrome.

I’ve had several days to digest the new KATU set – now here’s my critique.

The weather center is huge – maybe a bit too large. Rod Hill looks like he is commanding a battle carrier group. The monitors on the desk seem a bit over the top, but given KATU’s drive to capture KGW in the ratings, I guess over the top is a necessity.

The desk – it’s tiny. Smaller than I would like. I think the KGW desk is more appealing. And those chairs – they look huge, and awkward. Something lower to the ground would seem more appropriate. But given its height, I’m sure the bar stools they’re using make sense. No more jeans behind the anchor desk.

The largest monitor in Portland – good move. It creates a theater like atmosphere on the set. Plus the reporter or anchor isn’t dwarfing the monitor. It’s a win-win situation.

The staircase. It seems like a waste of money to me, but oh well.

The backdrop. The only issue I have with the backdrop is the inclusion of the KOIN Tower in the picture. They should have found a way to work around putting it in the picture. Every time I see Steve Dunn or Brian Wood, I see the KOIN Tower in the background.

What I do like is a lack of those fake monitors with still photos found on the KOIN set. I found those so annoying – and cheesy.

Overall, I’m slightly impressed but was expecting more. I thought the space would have allowed for a larger anchor desk. Now it’s time to see how much money Meredith is going to dump into KPTV’s new set this fall.

A weather center can never be too large!

In fact someone in Portland needs to make a double or triple level weather center. Maybe an all glass elevator or escalator? It should feel like: Dr. Dewpoint, the Prince of Precipitation, or the King of Kold, has arrived in all his meteorological glory when he struts down those steps or glides smoothly down the escalator...lots of bling displayed as well.

What do you think?

It makes that comment so much more fun. Rumor has it that TWC will be doing something very similar come June 1st when they launch in true HD.

Pure rumor and speculation...could Fisher be grooming Brian Wood for an eventual return to Seattle, his hometown?

Guys I think that Fx is the one that built the Katu set here is a similar project that they just did on our set in Los Angeles at Knbc. It is very similar to you set at katu
http://www.fxgroup.tv/portfolio/knbc/photos/#

Ya its probalbly good to. With mannequins no one can get emotional whether they leave or not. They probably would do a better job less hecticness. They are better if you ask me.