CBS Los Angeles has debuted a groundbreaking virtual studio, following in the footsteps of other CBS Stations that have embraced similar technology. The impressive 3,400-square-foot facility, measuring 68 feet by 50 feet, made its debut during the 9 a.m. newscast on June 11th with meteorologist Paul Deanno. This marks the largest augmented reality and virtual-enabled news studio within the CBS-owned station network, becoming the seventh virtual studio deployed by the company.
Designed to significantly enhance the presentation of weather and sports coverage, the studio is situated 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,” stated Tim Wieland, regional president and general manager of CBS Los Angeles. He emphasized that 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 progressively expanded this technology to stations in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, and Colorado. Jennifer Mitchell, president of CBS Stations, explained, “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.” Throughout the launch day, CBS Los Angeles utilized the new studio to present immersive weather patterns and sports analysis during its broadcasts. The virtual environments leverage Zero Density’s Reality solution, rendering from the Unreal Engine, and camera tracking from Stype.