The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.
Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.
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This evening, we broaden our horizons, literally. Tonight's 'Nightly News' will be the first national evening newscast available in true, 16:9 wide screen, high definition.
So, what does that mean to you? If you own an HD set and are hooked up for HD reception you should see a picture as clear and crisp as we see in the Nightly control room. You should hear music and audio from the program in a fuller, richer way than you have heard it before. But, truth be told, tonight's broadcast will not be revolutionary. In fact if you're watching on your standard-definition television you should notice an improved picture, a few new graphics, and little else. What tonight's broadcast will be is a big step down a path of continuous evolution that will bring major changes to Nightly News in the weeks and months ahead.
I'll explain why I qualify things by saying "should" later, but first, a glimpse at a few of the changes you can expect in the future.
High Definition Newsgathering
NBC News field gear is gradually being upgraded to HD. As our camera crews and edit rooms are upgraded you will begin seeing reports from our correspondents with clearer, more detailed video.
John Williams has you Surrounded
Tonight we also begin broadcasting in 5.1 Surround Sound. In preparation for our move to HD, John Williams rerecorded NBC News' classic theme music "The Mission." It was recorded with an all-star, 99-piece orchestra on the same sound stage used for the Wizard of Oz and dozens of other classic films. It was masterfully mixed in 5.1 surround. Tonight you will hear an improvement, an interim step, but soon we will be able to blast you with the full production. I was in the room with the orchestra for some of the recording session. It was the most exhilarating musical experience of my life. Hearing "The Mission" in surround sound brings a lot of that experience back. (You can watch a video of Williams conducting the full piece -- albeit NOT in surround sound -- here).
New Digs
We can't reveal all of our plans for competitive reasons, but suffice it to say that we are exploring new ways and new venues for the presentation of the broadcast. HD and 16:9 change present some great challenges and opportunities.
Space Exploration
The move to 16:9 HD provides intriguing spaces on the edge of the screen that will be new to most viewers. We're looking at ways to use that space in news programming. (Don't worry, it wont say, "Eat at Joe's.")
Now, earlier I said you "should see" improvements instead of "will see" because, if you are like my friends and family there is a 50-50 shot that you went out, bought a fancy TV, brought it home and plugged it into the same cable or antenna you'd had before . You probably believe that the slight improvement you saw is true High Definition. It's probably not. I'm sorry that I can't make house calls like I do to my techno-challenged friends, but there are a lot good resources on the Web to help you understand HD and your connection better. I think one of the best is CNET's "HDTV World."
It is also important to note that most cable and satellite providers and even local stations air HDTV programming on a separate channel from the normal signal. Your station or cable/satellite company probably has this information on their Web site or will be glad to help you find it. (In the increasingly competitive landscape of television and video, even my personal nemesis Cablevision has become somewhat customer service oriented.)
Tonight is an important step and another first as we continue to grow and change "Nightly News." You can now find Brian and Nightly broadcast in SD and HD; online in streaming video on the Netcast or as an audio or video podcast. You can see us live and complete or condensed and delayed on your cell phone through "NBC Mobile" and "NBC News 2 Go". We're seen by audiences in over a hundred countries through CNBC's international networks and alliances, and you could even catch us if you happen to drop in on the International Space Station.
I hope you'll tune in and as always, send us your feedback, let us know how we're doing.
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VIDEOS FROM THE FRONT
I saw last night's broadcast on the cable's system DVR.I was watching in the regular non-HD channel on a non-HD TV.The picture was much sharper with the titles the same.Ironiocally I saw a piece on Ebay over the weekend that was a promo artcile about NBC news going color back in the Mid 60's.That was being offered for sale.
Deloy sterns, Irvine, Ca (Sent Mar 27, 2007 4:56:47 PM)
Who cares if the news is in HD? I don't really care if I learn about what's up in Iraq on an HD broadcast, or watching it on a little black and white tv. Why is it such a big deal? I mean, really, it's all the same news.
(Sent Mar 27, 2007 12:30:17 PM)
Just last night I was checking out a web page dedicated to NBC's first days of color and how it led the way. It was a pleasant surprise to see the newscast in 1080i glory tonight. I congratulate the Peacock on being first once again on a historic technological step and look forward to upcoming field reports in HD.
John Howard, Mayfield, KY (Sent Mar 26, 2007 8:18:08 PM)
Mr. Holey, We have certainly come a long way in technology. I can't imagine what my grandparents would think of all this improvement. I remember when our family watched Nightly News with John Chancellor on a small black and white TV. Although we had a large color TV there was no remote and one had to get up from the chair and change the channel. But of course we always stayed on NBC. Tonight, I did like the graphics and the picture was much clearer and brighter. Mr. Williams looked great as always! There was also no such thing as a blog. Anyway, thank you and keep up the good work!
Lisa McNeil, Alpharetta, Georgia (Sent Mar 26, 2007 7:19:56 PM)
Thank you for broadcasting in High Definition. It is a pleasure to see high quality content on my television. I am overjoyed to see more and more HD content reach my television set, justifying the increased cost of a specialty television. The specialized content is worth the extra price to pay, and it is a pleasure to see clarity in the quality of the broadcast reach your program. Thank you. Keep up the good work, and don’t stop improving your broadcast!
Derek Zollinger, Indianapolis, Indiana (Sent Mar 26, 2007 7:06:42 PM)
THANKS! The info and updates are wonderful. We went to check and make sure we were set up okay. (I'm told I am a rotary dial sort of person)...we found an interesting phenomenon. Dr. Phil is on. HD or not...no matter.....HD was at least 3 seconds BEHIND timewise to regular TV, i.e.; the two were not in timing sync. Is there a reason for this?
Looking forward to the Newscast tonight!
Gwendol Bowling, Newnan, GA (Sent Mar 26, 2007 5:48:17 PM)
I viewed the taping session and was reminded, as I listened to the music, why I have always preferred NBC - the images I've watched for 50 years (at least to me) have always been so much more clear and crisp and the characters are sharp and articulate. More that that, I always leave with a sense of fresh hope no matter how bad the news was. Please allow more opportunities for the theme to be played. It's a beautiful piece of music that is skillfully presented and sends the right message - that life is a mission that is played out in varying degrees of highs and lows, by multitudes of different individuals who make beautiful music when they work together.
Theresa Richard, New Orleans, LA (Sent Mar 26, 2007 3:13:39 PM)
Thanks for the upgrade and moving ahead - Brett and thanks for taking time to explain your future ... We're daily viewers in Nashville and are glad to see you being 'front edge' with your presentation. We'll be watching and enjoying.. HD is just 'icing on the cake!' Your content is what we watch and you have the best content and superb reporters to get it to us. It will just be nice to see it all a little more clearer :)))
Benton P. White, Brentwood (Nashville) TN. (Sent Mar 26, 2007 2:02:38 PM)
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