Friday, July 21, 2006
AOL Adds Closed Captioning to CNN Videos
Source: TV Week AOL is expanding the closed captioning it provides on some of its Web video services to its CNN news features.
Some video on AOL's KOL kids service has been captioned since 2003, the Web company said in a Thursday announcement. In the past, AOL has offered synchronized anchor transcripts for its CNN updates.
The captioning project was supported by a grant to WGBH-TV's Media Access Group, AOL's partner in the initiative. The captioning is done manually.
As with TV programs, which are required to be closed-captioned from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., the captions are displayed directly beneath the video window. The AOL captioning is activated by clicking on the "CC" button on AOL's media player.
Some video on AOL's KOL kids service has been captioned since 2003, the Web company said in a Thursday announcement. In the past, AOL has offered synchronized anchor transcripts for its CNN updates.
The captioning project was supported by a grant to WGBH-TV's Media Access Group, AOL's partner in the initiative. The captioning is done manually.
As with TV programs, which are required to be closed-captioned from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., the captions are displayed directly beneath the video window. The AOL captioning is activated by clicking on the "CC" button on AOL's media player.
# posted by ATN @ 1:02 PM 
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Q and A With Chad Meyers About New CNN/US Weather Set
CNN's new weather set debuted this week. CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers answered some questions concerning the new set sent to him by WHAC:
> What are some of the advantages the new weather center has versus the old?
The new weather center has three cameras and eight lit positions. The old set was really just one locked down camera pointed at the blue screen. We used to bring in extra cameras and lights for special weather segments, but now that won't be necessary.
I really like the rear projection screen, too. It gives more depth and the option to zoom manually into any one area -- a chroma key can't do that. Plus, it's easier to get out of the way of the maps now. Before you had to walk off the screen to show the whole map.
The viewer will also notice the huge number of sources that can go in the rear projector. I don't have a number, but any webcam, website, satellite feed, live camera, Google Earth and other sources of satellite images can go on the screen. Expect some very cool video during hurricane season.
> Can we expect expanded weather segments?
I can't speak for the producers that time out the show, but CNN has invested some serious time and resources making this weather studio, and I know everyone in the newsroom understands the importance of weather to the audience.
> Will this improve CNN's weather coverage and weather forecasting operations?
The set, along with the new hardware and software we have installed, will make weather more interesting. We have the opportunity to do "smarter TV." CNN viewers are savvy....they want to know why, not just when. We can do that better now.
> The Atlanta Journal Constitution spoke with CNN weather anchor Rob Marciano about the new set.
> HERE's the press release.
# posted by ATN @ 9:48 PM
New News Floor Weather Center in Operation at CNN/US
CNN's new weather center is up and running. Chad Meyers gave a brief tour of the new center on Tuesday's American Morning. The center features several plasma monitors on the walls featuring what I call "window's to the world". Tower cam shots of several cities were on the screens. The new center is located on the 5th floor CNN/US newsroom floor. I will attempt to find some screen shots later today.
# posted by ATN @ 8:47 AM
