Miami station uses 900 LED panels, sleek new desk to build new set

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 Admin

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A Miami station has unveiled a standout new set that pushes the envelope in U.S. news set design by essentially using only a video wall and anchor desk to create a home for its newscasts.

WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami, Florida, had been broadcasting from a temporary version of the set it first debuted in 2014.

The new set is essentially only two elements: a 60-foot curved video wall and a circular anchor desk.

Working with Michael Wright of WrightSet, the new set is created using over 900 seamless LED panels supported by a large metal frame. The new video wall was installed over a period of six weeks in early summer 2024.

Five separate engines are used to run the graphics on the video wall, which could also be considered a smaller-scale LED volume.

WPLG retained its previous graphics package, though having such a large surface to feed graphics required creating some unique elements.

The station’s default look during newscasts is a series of angled elements in either blue or red, with the latter used primarily during breaking news and top stories.

Animation can be used to make the angled elements “slide” open to reveal other topical graphics inserted within the look. So far, the station has used a variety of formats behind anchors.

In this two shot, a larger American flag graphic with angled elements on either side sits behind a boxed image with a headline.

Two shots can also use just a boxed graphic, with the space behind filled with a colored background and highly extruded 3D rendering of South Florida. The map element is a common feature of the video wall graphics, often appearing before animated reveals or behind other elements.

Anchor one shots on either side of the set can include OTS-style graphics on the video wall framed by more angled elements, including blocky angled segments inspired by the station’s main graphics package. This variation includes a topical American flag background instead of blue or red. The video wall is close enough to the anchor desk that the graphics reflect on its glass surface. Note the small portion of the 3D Florida map element on the right side of the screen.

The boxed graphic space can also be used for live shot feeds when anchors toss to the field.

Another layout allows a box to appear without a topical image behind it; instead there is a most solid background color with some angled elements the Florida map to the left side of the screen, with the anchor strategically framed by two angular elements.

WPLG also puts text directly on top of the map element, such as this oddly-framed ‘coming up’ look.

The video wall topical graphic often matches the element used in the stinger directly before the anchor on-camera read.

The station also uses the video wall for ‘video on video‘ shots, such as this one showcasing various live camera feeds from around the region.

The camera right portion of the video wall can also be used for weather and sports segments.

This weather segment uses the weather computer’s feed inserted on the video wall in front of the background elements.

WPLG has, however, also continued to use chroma key for select weather updates, including with its quasi-virtual set background.

Sports backgrounds are large and dramatic, taking full advantage of the plentiful pixels.

Both the weather and sports talent positions allow for a wide cross toss shot from the anchor desk. In these wide shots, a rather wide span of angled background elements appear between the camera right anchor and standing talent.

Besides the video wall that dominates the space, WPLG also invested in an updated circular anchor desk that retains the bold, glassy red look from its old set but adds in a grill of lighted white horizontal lines and layered glass segments on the sides.

The actual glass desk surface is raised significantly higher than the base — and anchors are seated on higher chairs with foot rests. The clear top allows a series of ring and circular elements built into the desk to show through.

The new WPLG set follows the modern design trend of using a large, curved monitor wall. This is seen on the national level such as on the set of “ABC World News Tonight”or the 40-foot video wall NBC installed in Studio 1A in 2018.

Prior to the 2014 set, WPLG used what was dubbed the “stained glass” set, an eclectic and colorful space that debuted along with the station’s 2009 move to a new building.

WPLG’s latest set is unique among U.S. designs in that, aside from the anchor desk, there’s really no other scenery besides the video wall. This approach aligns more closely with what many overseas broadcasters in Europe, the Middle East and Asia have been doing for years.

Video wall brings flexibility

Switching to this approach obviously requires careful consideration of graphics and the workflows that will generate them, though WPLG appears to have built out looks that can be efficiently modified as the news cycle shifts.

It also give the station significantly flexibility for updating its look in the future or creating alternate looks for special event coverage or even additional programming.

Both ABC and NBC have used their respective video wall installations to create a variety of looks in their studios. “Today” uses a wide variety of desks, demo stations, seating and other elements in combination with video wall graphics to create a myriad of unique looks.

ABC and NBC also have used their video walls to simulate real-world environments, such as weekend “Good Morning America” broadcasts produced in front of imagery inspired by the real set or the simulated array of windows behind “Today” anchors, both of which also venture in the realm of virtual set extensions.

While WPLG hasn’t shown it’s headed in that direction yet, the video wall installation it invested in certainly gives it that flexibility.

Miami local stations’ set design

Many stations in the Miami market use vibrant looks designed to match the city’s vibe, though the flashiest in the market is Fox affiliate WSVN, which is know for its fast-paced, graphics-heavy newscasts from its “newsplex” set.

Some of that over-the-top look is has been evident at WPLG too, namely in its raised newsroom standup position with curved LED ribbon snaking around the walls that can showcase its Local 10 News branding and topical headlines and looks.