For gamers, virtual reality and augmented reality are each key attraction points. But can a television news department benefit from VR and AR capabilities?
WBBM-2 will soon find out.
The CBS News & Stations home for CBS network and “CBS Chicago” local programming will launch its AR/VR technology-driven studio Tuesday (10/1) during its 4pm Central newscast.
For those who grew up with now-retired Tom Skilling at crosstown WGN-9, WBBM-2 is committing itself to “revolutionizing” how weather is reported in the market. Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon will debut the new technology during the weather forecast.
WBBM-2 joins siblings in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and New York in employing the new technology.
CBS Chicago’s AR/VR space covers upward of 1,100 square feet of floor area and reaches 16 feet tall.
CBS Chicago President/GM Jennifer Lyons calls the AR/VR technology “a game changer, offering our viewers a deeper, more engaging way to understand the weather. Whether it’s preparing for a winter storm or simply planning their day, our audience will benefit from an interactive and visually immersive experience that only AR/VR can provide. It’s about elevating the storytelling and giving our viewers what they need – clear, concise information, using state-of-the-art technology, unlike anything they have seen when watching the news.”
CBS Chicago’s AR/VR format will allow viewers to visualize everything from storm paths and microclimates to temperature changes within the forecast.
In the future, the station plans to use the technology in various other ways to inform its audience of news.
KPIX-5 in San Francisco was the first in the U.S. to embrace AR/VR for its broadcasts. Under the leadership of CBS Stations President Jennifer Mitchell, the Bay Area property was the originator of AR/VR-driven news and weather presentations, pioneered the technology and created the code and blueprint that is now being launched across CBS Stations.
“Our focus has always been on investing in journalism that truly serves our viewers,” Mitchell said. “Launching this AR/VR technology across CBS Stations is just one example of how we are pioneering new ways to deliver the news that matters most to our audiences. We constantly ask ourselves how we can enhance our storytelling and make it more dynamic, informative and relevant to people’s lives. This AR/VR-driven weather format is just the beginning, and it reflects the mindset we bring to all of our journalism: we are committed to being ahead of the curve and delivering what our viewers want in the most engaging ways possible.”
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