In today's highly competitive broadcast market, TV stations are always looking for new ways to differentiate themselves from competitors.
In the past, the anchors at WESH-TV in Winter Park, FL, sat in front of a piece of glass with a working newsroom behind it. This setup had become outdated, and the station wanted a more dynamic and contemporary look. Installing new Panasonic projectors helped the station achieve this enhanced appearance.
Things to consider
The first step was finding a projector that was easy to install, could be used directly behind the main anchors and would never crash during a live broadcast. The projector also needed to have a high lumen output.
When you're watching a movie in your living room via a projector, you can turn down the lights to see the image more clearly. But that isn't possible in a TV broadcast environment. Broadcasters need a projector that produces a background image bright enough to be seen easily under the intense studio lights.
WESH evaluated several professional-grade projectors. The station chose to purchase two Panasonic PT-DW7000U projectors.
An easy installation
Working with Panasonic, the station met its installation deadline. A designer built the new set and created a tunnel for the projector to prevent any ambient light from entering.
The two projectors were then calibrated to the station's news set. Looking at the projector screen through the camera lens is an important step in calibration because it shows the image as viewers will see it.
The result: brightness
The projectors give the studio the dynamic look it needed. With two projectors, the station can now broadcast different backgrounds for different newscasts. For example, one unit can project the anchor's background image, and the second projector can cast a sports team's logo or other graphic.
The widescreen projectors also give WESH anchors the flexibility to either stand or sit without relying on switcher-generated, over-the-shoulder graphics. In addition, the station can differentiate its stories by using bolder, brighter graphics.
Both projectors have two lamps, which are critical to ensuring that they will not crash during a live broadcast. If one lamp stops working, the other lamp provides enough brightness to maintain the background image and prevent the anchors from sitting in front of a black screen. Both projectors output enough brightness to keep the studio lights fully lit, helping ensure that the audience sees crisp, high-quality images.
An added bonus of these particular projectors is their extended lamp life. Each lamp lasts about 1200 hours, exceeding the station's expectations. The new projectors are reliable and produce high-quality images, giving WESH a true edge above the competition.
David Richbart is the unit manager for WESH-TV.
