CBS debuts new virtual reality weather studio in Los Angeles
The station is the sixth to launch an AR/VR studio in two years.
Paramount Global has debuted its largest augmented-virtual reality studio at its local television station in Los Angeles.
The new studio will be used for weather and sports reports at KCBS (Channel 2) and its sister station KCAL (Channel 9), with the station to experiment with other forms of news delivery through the augmented-virtual reality studio in the future.
The new studio at KCBS/KCAL is 3,400 square feet, making it the largest augmented-virtual reality studio to debut at a CBS-owned station since the company began launching new production facilities two years ago.
The first augmented-virtual reality studio debuted at KPIX (Channel 5) in San Francisco. Similar studios have launched in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver and Miami over time.
“CBS Los Angeles is proud to be the first in Southern California to bring this level of immersive storytelling to our viewers,” Tim Wieland, the Regional President and General Manager of KCBS and KCAL, said in a statement. “This new AR/VR studio redefines how we deliver weather and sports, making complex information more accessible, engaging and visually compelling. It’s a game-changer for our market and a testament to our commitment to innovation.”
“We began this journey two years ago with KPIX in the (San Francisco) Bay Area, driven by a vision to invest in local journalism and deliver the news in ways that resonate with today’s audiences,” a Paramount TV executive said on Wednesday. “Bringing this technology to the nation’s second-largest media market was a natural next step. This is about standing apart through innovation, and continuing to lead with purpose, creativity and cutting-edge storytelling.”
KCBS and KCAL debuted the new augmented-virtual reality TV studio during its newscast early Wednesday morning.
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A version of this story was first published at The Desk.