While NBR is marking 30 years on the air, I'm about to mark my 15th year with the program. As I look back over that time, it strikes me how much technology has changed over that time... making it easier for us to produce the program, and helping us produce a better program.
15 years ago we used to send an associate producer to the library to do research for stories. Now, all the libraries in the world are on the desktop of everyone in our newsrooms, courtesy of the internet... and information on businesses, governments, and economics is all there for the surfing.
Speaking of computers, 15 years ago, the software we used to get the program on the air was poky and cumbersome. Now, all our bureaus are connected with high-speed lines, making communication easy and instant. I can read show copy from a hotel room in China... and I have.
15 years ago getting any kind of non-local video on the air was a chore. Satellite and fiber set-ups were expensive and tough. Getting video from Europe, for example, used to require an international satellite uplink from the continent... a downlink at a teleport in the U.S. ...another uplink, this time on a domestic bird... and a downlink at the end point.
Now, we get material from all over the globe FTP'ed to us via the internet. It's simple and cheap and effective.
15 years ago the TV itself was nice... a color set was the norm, obviously.
Now, TV is on the brink of a major transition to digital.. and the impact is going to be enormous. I remember the first time I saw High Definition television more than a decade ago. Sony packed all this new gear into a huge trailer and did a cross country road tour. The thing was set up in the station's parking lot, and, sitting on folding chairs, watching a huge screen monitor, we saw the future of TV. It was awesome.
The video had been shot underwater, on coral reefs in Asia. It was truly amazing... the color and quality just blew everyone away. I'm a divemaster, and I've been on some of those reefs, so it was incredible to me, personally, to be able to see that natural beauty again without schlepping dive gear or getting wet. It was fantastic... and I couldn't wait to see the quality again. Now, seeing it again means just turning on the HDTV set in my den.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next 30 years!
P.S. Don't forget to tune into the special, 30th Anniversary edition of Nightly Business Report on January 22, 2009.
Comments
Wondering: in Heidi Cullen's excellent coverage on ethanol and corn-why no mention was made of dire fin. straits of Versa Energy and Pacific Ethanol-including their stock perfomance-and chances of survival in a post oil-bull market.
Is the ethanol paradigm viable? Where's the
workable fin. model? More info needed.
PATRICK DONOVAN
Thank you, NBR, for continuing to provide a politically neutral report on the market and the economy. It's a pleasure to listen to NEWS delivered in a straight reportorial style, instead of the partisan infotainment that clutters the media stream. Happy 30th!
William -- Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. NBR isn't in HD yet. We are currently scheduled to broadcast in 16x9 digital on February 17, 2008 -- when broadcast stations are scheduled to go digital.
Happy Anniversary!
I want to say I have watched the Nightly Business Report for many years. I remember when Paul Kangas was there with Linda O'Bryan, Dean Shepperd, and Neil Cavuto. I really miss Linda. She was always wore a nice scarf and I was sorry to see her leave but cheered when she came back on for a program here and there. I like Susie Gharab as well as I am used to seeing her there now. Paul Kangas always has his "Best of Good-Bye's" signature sign off that my mother always waited to see. It wasn't until recently that I saw it meant Good Buys as in stock picks. But I still see the former not the latter.
Keep up the good work, and Paul, I am a fan of yours since day one (when NBR came to KVIE Sacramento) and really liked to see you share the counter with Linda. Hope she is doing well.
Take Care all of you! Sincerely, David Cole
I was there in 1979. Just started my job in the Channel 2 publicity department and couldn't believe the excitement of launching the 15-minute program. I helped prepare press releases on my typewriter and hand stuffed envelopes to mail around town. It was wonderful to be a part of history in the making! Happy Anniversary to all my NBR friends. Arlene
Congratualtions to Paul, Susie, Rodney, Wendie, Melissa, Jeff, Johnnie, Scott, Suzanne, Darren, Stephanie, Diane, Jack and everyone else on the NBR team. My years with NBR will always be treasured and I hope that the show continues to get better for many years to come!
Best from San Jose...Bill
Does NBR broadcast in HD? If so, I'll start bugging my PBS affiliate to broadcast it in HD.