The trends that drove broadcast design in 2016

In the round

2016 also saw the application of more “in the round” style setups, particularly at the local level and in non-panel style setups.

Tegna stations have made a conscious effort in this area, using a unique “spoked” anchor desk design that allows for both traditional anchor desk shots while also being instantly reconfigurable for panel discussion, debriefs and other similar looks.

So far, Tegna stations in Seattle, Denver and Houston have all been equipped with this concept.

The Tegna design is also notable for its lighter, less structural look achieved with frosted panels and smaller sections of solid elements to make the barrier between the desk and camera less obtrusive to viewers.

It’s worth noting that “in the round” doesn’t necessarily mean talent have to be seated in a circular arrangement.

Take the 7-shaped anchor desk at WJBK-TV in Detroit, which was strategically designed to include a variety of shot options with talent interaction.

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Versatility

News sets are also seeing second lives at many stations across the country, including one particularly interesting application at Fox O&O WTXF-TV in Philadelphia.

The station’s new set doubles as a talk show set for the station’s locally produced “The Q on Fox,” with the anchor desk becoming a DJ booth.

While not every station is making such a drastic changeover for a single set, designers and industry experts report the stations are looking for more and more versatility in set designs so that multiple unique looks can be created within the same footprint.

This often combines the LED trend of 2016, a good example of which is WSB-TV in Atlanta, which makes use of both a stationary curved LED panel behind the anchor desk along with a multisegment reconfigurable storytelling wall on one side of the studio.

At China’s STV, an “in the round” layout is combined with a flexible layout that allows the anchor desk to be used from a variety of angles, each with different scenic elements in the backdrop.