KTVK, the Belo independent outlet in Phoenix, plans to make a giant leap to HD later this month by airing what it says will be the most local HD content of any broadcaster in the United States, with a little help from its sister station in Tucson, Ariz.
KTVK said it will produce more than 50 hours of local news a week in high definition-- with most of it airing in Phoenix, plus a 9 p.m. newscast stripped across five weeknights and produced and aired by KMSB in Tucson.
According to Belo, Cox Cable will air KTVK-HD on Channel 703 starting on Thursday, April 26. The Phoenix outlet is already in a joint venture with Cox and the Arizona News Channel, which will continue to re-air KTVK's newscasts in SD, Belo said.
To get ready for the HD leap, KTVK invested in two new studios, HD studio cameras, an aerial HD camera for its news helicopter, and an upgraded graphics package from Vizrt.
