On August 11, 2025, KCAL, the independent arm of the CBS-owned duopoly in Los Angeles, aired its 10 a.m. newscast entirely from its new extended reality (XR) studio. Morning anchor Chris Holmstrom promoted this groundbreaking event on social media, highlighting it as the first newscast in the Los Angeles market produced using a virtual set.
The station is utilizing an existing studio, launched in June 2025. “It’s bold. It’s fresh. It’s never been done here before,” Holmstrom stated. This development follows a nationwide initiative by CBS-owned stations to install large virtual studio facilities. These typically incorporate a chroma key volume, along with advanced camera and tracking systems.
In Los Angeles, the same news department produces content for both KCBS and KCAL, although both stations brand on-air as “KCAL News,” a practice established in early 2023. The CBS News Los Angeles name is also used. Prior to this 10 a.m. newscast shift, the studio primarily hosted weather and sports segments, mirroring a common practice among sister stations.
CBS News 24/7 has already been utilizing a virtual studio, shared with New York’s WCBS, for its “CBS News 24/7 Primetime” whip-around newscast, and appearances on “CBS Evening News.” “CBS Evening News” itself originates from an LED volume in Studio 47 at the network’s New York headquarters, employing virtual set extensions.
CBS News has a long history with chroma key technology, notably for “60 Minutes,” though on a smaller scale. “CBS News Sunday Morning” also incorporates key wall technology for anchor intros, blending 3D renderings and real set photos. KTVT in Dallas–Ft. Worth, Texas, also utilizes a green screen space for much of its news content, although it maintains a separate, traditional hard set.
While it’s currently unclear if KCAL News will expand its use of the virtual studio to other newscasts or transition to it as its primary format, it’s apparent that CBS News and Stations are rapidly expanding their network of AR and VR studios across the nation, exceeding the pace of other station groups.