WSAZ Completes HD Local News Transition

Gray Television’s NBC affiliate WSAZ Charleston-Huntington, W.Va. (DMA 64) has completed the final conversion phase to high-definition broadcasting with the transition of all locally produced news programming to an HD format.

“This represents the end of multi-year, multi-million dollar project and the beginning of a new way for all television viewers in the Charleston-Huntington market to see their world,” said Don Ray, regional vice president and general manager.

WSAZ says it is the only television station in the market that is gathering and producing local news in full 1080i high definition. So now, the station’s local news, syndicated programming and NBC network programming can now be viewed in full-screen, 16×9 HD.

Ray added: “our owners, Gray Television, have made a tremendous investment in this area. Because of our commitment to both ends of the market we had to spend twice as much money as other stations would”. Ray is referring to the split news that allows both ends of the market to watch local news designed just for them.

WSAZ donated no longer needed news cameras, editors, video switchers, television audio consoles and studio cameras to West Virginia State University in Institute, W.Va., to support its communications curriculum.