KOAA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colo., has debuted a refreshed set from FX Group. See the before image and read more after the jump.
The original set, shown above, was designed by Sightlines Designs, which, incidentally, is the company behind the original “Unwrapped” diner seen on Food Network.
The new look keeps much of the set’s existing structure with some surfaces refinished in a wood tone instead of the grayish-white.
In addition, the left and right side of the set now features graphical panels mounted in a metal frame. The center duratran has also been changed out.
While the new look does add a splash of color to the set, the side panels seem like they might be a bit distracting on air, especially if they are used in conjunction with an OTS graphic. In addition, the center duratran’s image of mountains seems a bit overpowering and out of proportion. The place of the gap in the mountains is interesting as well, since it seems like it would be covered by an anchor’s body most of the time, making it seem like the anchors are sitting in front of a vast expanse of rock.
Perhaps the biggest improvement, however, is the lighting. Not only did FX add a textural lighting element about the camera center background, but the entire set has a much richer feel than the relatively flat look it had before.
I think the bottom picture is the original Sightline Designs set. It’s still featured on their web page. The top looks like the FX Group. FX typically does enhancements to the floor; it seems to be one of their signature changes to any set design. Plus the lighting looks like it was reworked more in the top pic. The comment about the continuous mountain chain in the center duratran is interesting, because that is the FX “upgrade” center duratran. Both set designs use a mountain chain in the center two shot, so I don’t see much of an improvement there. I might have included the city scape in front, with Pikes Peak in the back. The original design uses Pikes Peak, but offset, behind the right side. I’ve noticed FX Group seems to use a lot of blues and blacks together. Perhaps someone in Colorado Springs could see which set is really being used now. My only concern might be if FX then came in and redesigned a competitors set in the market, and they both look like they were done by the same architect.