CBS Los Angeles has launched a new virtual studio, joining other CBS Stations that have already adopted similar technology. The facility made its debut during the 9 a.m. newscast on June 11th with meteorologist Paul Deanno. This impressive 3,400-square-foot space, measuring 68 feet by 50 feet, is the largest augmented reality and virtual-enabled news studio among all CBS-owned stations.
This is the seventh virtual studio deployed by CBS and is specifically designed to improve the visual presentation of weather and sports coverage. The studio is located in the space previously occupied by the main news set of KCBS, which was replaced in 2023 following the rebranding to KCAL News. "CBS Los Angeles is proud to be the first in Southern California to bring this level of immersive storytelling to our viewers," said Tim Wieland, regional president and general manager of CBS Los Angeles, highlighting how the technology makes "complex information more accessible, engaging and visually compelling."
CBS initially introduced AR/VR capabilities at its Bay Area station, KPIX, and has subsequently expanded the technology to stations in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, and Colorado. "We began this journey two years ago with KPIX in the Bay Area, driven by a vision to invest in local journalism and deliver the news in ways that resonate with today’s audiences. 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," explained Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Stations.
Throughout the launch day, CBS Los Angeles utilized the new studio to showcase immersive weather patterns and sports analysis within its programming. The virtual environments are powered by Zero Density’s Reality solution, utilizing rendering from the Unreal Engine and camera tracking from Stype.