WFRV

Green Bay CBS affiliate WFRV was the first broadcaster to go digital in the area in 2003.  Last week, WFRV marked another first in Green Bay, kicking off an expansion of its HD presence.

The station and its sister station WJMN, now owned by Liberty Media, recently finished converting its master control facility to accomidate high-definition in-house. 

Most often, most local broadcasters only pass live network programming directly to consumers while passing standard-definition local and syndicated programming at all other times.  Most stations have been reluctant to invest in the necessary equipment to record and play back syndicated programs like Oprah and Entertainment Tonight in high definition, even though some shows have been available to locals in HD for a couple years now.

With the upgrade, WFRV began offering Oprah in high-definition last week, with ET, The Price Is Right (the daytime version), and Ellen joining the HD lineup this week.  These shows are also available in high-definition on WJMN.

Also part of the expansion is the high-definition "character generator," the device that produces on-screen crawls and graphics.  WFRV has already started offering a widescreen ticker on its morning show.

No word yet on other HD plans in the works, but the milestone is an important first step into local HD in the Green Bay market.

When Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets this week, many Wisconsin fans felt like a piece inside of them died.  If you need a Favre fix post-Packers, WFRV is going to be your enabler.

WFRV has secured eight New York Jets games this season through its partnership with CBS Sports, and all eight will be available in high-definition.

• Sunday, September 7 at Noon; NY Jets at Miami Dolphins
• Sunday, September 14 at 3:15pm; New England Patriots at NY Jets
• Sunday, October 12 at Noon; Cincinnati Bengals at NY Jets
• Sunday, October 26 at Noon; Kansas City Chiefs at NY Jets
• Sunday, November 2 at Noon; NY Jets at Buffalo Bills
• Sunday, November 23 at Noon; NY Jets at Tennessee Titans
• Sunday, December 14 at Noon; Buffalo Bills at NY Jets
• Sunday, December 21 at 3:05pm; NY Jets at Seattle Seahawks

Earlier this spring, we learned that WFRV would again handle production of the latter three of four pre-season Packer games in 2008, in conjunction with CBS Sports in New York.  At the time, it was not known if CBS' involvement would mean these games would be available in high-definition but a blurb in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel today sure makes it sound as such.

In today's column by media writer Tim Cuprisin, it is indicated that two of the three local broadcasts in the Milwaukee market will be available in HD.  Green Bay CBS affiliate WFRV is the flagship station for the Packers Television Network and feeds other stations statewide.  If true, this is a good sign that more of the Packers games this season will come into our living rooms in glorious high-def.

EDIT 8/5/08: According to a press release yesterday on Packers.com, WFRV will indeed be doing their three preseason games in high-definition.  Thanks to the reader who sent in this tip!