WFMJ preparing for high-definition

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown’s major television stations are getting a new look.

Three stations — WKBN, WYTV and WYFX — already have begun broadcasting their local newscasts in high-definition.

A fourth station — WFMJ — will join them in the coming weeks.

All of the local stations have been airing HD programming from the networks with which they are affiliated for several years.

The switch at WKBN-WYTV meant every piece of equipment in the news-gathering chain had to be replaced, according to Gary Coursen, news director for the two stations.

“We are not only HD in our studio, but the field cameras are now HD, as well our microwave live trucks,” Coursen said.

The studio news set used by WKBN and WYFX was upgraded last year to an HD design, said Coursen. Similar work is being done to transform the WYTV set.

Jack Grdic, sales manager at WFMJ, said his station is in the process of converting to high-definition for local programming.

“We are finishing the build-out of our high-def master control, which should be done in a few weeks,” Grdic said.

“Viewers may be noticing changes already,” Grdic said. “Our severe-weather alerts are in high-definition, and so were our election crawls.”