An occasional HD Notebook series spotlighting current HD projects underway across various media and media groups.
The Hearst-Argyle Television Inc. station group currently consists of 33 owned and/or operated stations in markets ranging from Boston (DMA no. 7) to Monterey-Salinas, Calif. (DMA no. 124). Among other things, it prides itself on rolling out some of the earliest HD operations in the country, including some “firsts” relating to local HD broadcasting, according to Hearst-Argyle spokesman Tom Campo:
- WCVB-TV (Boston) and KCRA-TV (Sacramento)—WCVB-TV was first to air local HD in the country (periodic episodes of regional newsmagazine starting in 1999); both stations among the first to deploy HD cameras mounted on local newscopters; first to launch local HD in their respective markets.
- KMBC-TV (Kansas City) and WESH-TV (Orlando)—Both stations totally rebuilt their facilities with digital infrastructures; KMBC-TV first to launch local HD in its market.
- KITV-TV (Honolulu)—America’s first commercially licensed DTV station (December 1997).
