Branding, Local News

Creator of ‘happy talk,’ ‘Action News’ Frank Magid dead at 78

Frank Magid, a veteran television consultant often dubbed the “news doctor” has died at 78, reports the Washington Post.

Magid, who founded Frank Magid Associates, a top research and consulting firm for a wide variety of industries, is known for creating the “Action News” format to counter the success of the “Eyewitness News” brand. The first station to use the “Action News” format, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, remains a dominant station in the market today.

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Networks, Set Design, SetStudio

Jack Morton helps relaunch ‘Sunrise’ on Channel 7

Jack Morton and lead designer Jim Fenhagen helped develop a new look for Australia’s Channel 7 morning program “Sunrise” that launched last week.

The new set, located at Channel 7’s Martin Place studio, uses various wood tones and LED lighting to create an inviting morning show set.

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Set Design

TV interview catches banker viewing racy pics

Well, here’s one of the downsides of a newsroom set.

An Australian banker has achieved YouTube stardom after his computer monitor showing semi-nude photos of a model showed up behind one of his coworkers who was giving a live television interview. The company the banker works for, Macquarie Private Wealth, says “action” has been taken but the staffer, David Kiely, will remain employed by the firm.

Click here to read more and view the video.

Music

615 Music updates site with new news music for WSFL-TV and KTLA-TV

615 Music has updated its site with some recent work including a package created for WSFL-TV and KTLA-TV.

The package for WSFL-TV, which debuted a few weeks ago, features an upbeat pace and light acoustics. The package is used for WSFL-TV’s morning show “The Morning Show” and is named “First Report.” The package works well for a morning show setting and lacks the usual full orchestral, sweeping, urgent tempos found in 615’s regular news music.

KTLA-TV’s package, named “Connect,” features a unique sonic brand that helps create a multi-note theme for the entire package. The package contains 11 main themes and over 565 mix outs and cuts. This package is more well rounded and features various cues you would expect from a full news music package with a more urgent pace and tone.

It’s interesting to note that both packages have a disclaimer in the descriptions that “This package is not available for licensing.” Is 615 Music doing more custom work that is on an exclusive basis or did these clients just want a different license?

Set Design

WCNC-TV begins broadcasting from a temporary set

WCNC-TV, the Charlotte Belo owned NBC affiliate, began broadcasting from a temporary set this week. Is HD in its future?

Graphics, HD, Local News, Set Design

WTLV-TV and WJXX-TV debut new HD studio and graphics

WTLV-TV and WJXX-TV, Jacksonville’s second duopoly, debuted a new HD set and updated Gannett HD graphics package Monday. WAWS-TV and WTEV-TV debuted in HD the previous week.

The set was designed by FX Group and is a “different look from its past work” according to the company. The set features a stand up pod which is used for some of the newscasts along with newsroom backed desk.

Thanks to Metro Jacksonville for the video captures.

Music

Stephen Arnold Music sonic brands ‘Inside Africa’ for CNN

Stephen Arnold Music recently completed this new package for CNN International’s “Inside Africa” program.

Graphics, Site Updates

WAWS-TV and WTEV-TV upgrade to HD

Sweeps is upon us and so are station changes.

WAWS-TV and WTEV-TV, the Jacksonville CBS and FOX duopoly, debuted an updated HD graphics package last night. WTLX-TV and WJXX-TV are expected to go HD today with a new set and graphics package.

View more graphic grabs on the WAWS-TV graphics page. Thanks to FLNewsCenter.com for the tip.

Online

Anatomy of a news package

It’s Friday, and we thought maybe you’d need a funny video. From the BBC program “Newswipe,” this video breaks down what’s in a video news package… from the walking talking shot to the graphs and illustrations to grab viewer attention.

May contain some colorful British humor and language. Via TVByTheNumbers.com

Set Design, SetStudio

KMAX-TV ‘Good Day Sacramento’ added to SetStudio

We’ve added pictures from “Good Day Sacramento,” KMAX-TV’s morning program, to SetStudio.

The set was designed by Park Place Studio.

Graphics, SetStudio

WFOR-TV added to SetStudio and Graphics section

We’ve added captures from WFOR-TV to SetStudio and the Graphics section of NewscastStudio.

Graphics, HD, Set Design, SetStudio

WFOR-TV debuts HD home

WFOR-TV, the Miami CBS O&O, debuted a refreshed HD set and graphics package on Sunday.

Along with the new graphics, WFOR-TV dumped its previous logo of ten years for a new bluer logo. Continue reading for more pictures.

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