Broadcasting & Cable reports that CBS will flip the switch of the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric” in HD July 28.

The broadcast’s set was HD ready and the show’s graphics package will be presented in HD as well.

It’s also interesting to note that the lease for the studio space used by “The Early Show” is apparently up for renewal sometime next year — keep in mind that CBS just installed a new set in the General Motors building windowed studio.

Last night’s edition of “NBC Nightly News” saw a new use for the studio’s giant rear projection screen.

Anchor Brian Williams and correspondent Richard Engel were standing in front of the screen with a map of the Middle East on it. During the report, Engel and Williams pointed to various locations, with Engel holding a red-tipped pointer to reinforce his points (images after the jump).

Overall, it was an effective use of the screen, though the projected image did seem a bit washed out and Williams and Engel casted some distracting shadows on the screen — both common issues with using rear projection screens in this way.

One does wonder, however, why the virtual studio used for election coverage wasn’t used to create a 3D map for Williams and Engel to walk around.

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