CBS affiliate WUPA in Atlanta, Georgia, will launch two new newscasts from a cutting-edge extended reality set on September 15, 2025. The station, previously an independent CBS-owned channel until August 15, 2025, assumed the CBS affiliation in the market the following day, succeeding Gray Media’s WANF.
CBS subsequently announced a local news and weather operation under the banner CBS Atlanta. WUPA recently completed construction on a green screen studio enabling the production of local news and weather from a virtual and augmented reality set. This setup mirrors similar installations at numerous other CBS stations nationwide. Many stations utilize these spaces for weather segments, with some employing them as primary sets for news and sports.
Jobina Fortson-Evans has been hired as the solo anchor for the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. “Our newsroom is built on the belief that local journalism thrives when led by people who know and care about the community,” said Shawn Hoder, vice president and news director of CBS Atlanta. “Jobina’s talent, integrity and deep Atlanta roots make her the perfect choice to lead our coverage as we continue to expand our news operation.” Fortson-Evans joins CBS Atlanta following her role on “ATL Live” at WANF.
Since August 18, 2025, WUPA has incorporated local weather segments into “CBS Mornings.” To accommodate the new virtual set, CBS expanded a studio at the WUPA building, installing specialized camera tracking technology and software. CBS Atlanta highlights its virtual set as a first for a local station in the Atlanta market.
CBS News and Stations has invested substantially in virtual and augmented reality technology over the past few years, equipping its owned stations with green screen studios and extended reality technology. These stations generally use a similar virtual set design—a rounded space with large windows displaying simulated skylines. Wood-toned vertical slats with prominent CBS eye logos are also a common design feature.
While many stations retain a physical set, KTVT in Dallas–Ft. Worth, Texas, primarily utilizes its virtual setup since 2025. The sets incorporate augmented reality elements allowing interaction with on-screen graphics. CBS has also introduced alternative virtual set designs, including a simulated arena for NCAA college basketball coverage.