WAVE-TV in Louisville, Ky., (Nielsen DMA no. 48) began airing its local news in 1080i this week (June 30).
The NBC affiliate said it was the first in the Louisville market to expand HD beyond its primetime programming, and its national news content from NBC News, to its local newscasts.
Like its national network, WAVE-TV’s HD news production will be mostly restricted to studio segments. Its field reports will continue for a while in SD, although the broadcaster will transition to the 16:9 aspect ratio for both its SD and HD news segments, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
WAVE general manager Steve Langford said he expects his station’s jump to speed up the transition of competing local newscasts in the market. WAVE-TV is a Raycom outlet.
