WLS-TV has entered into a three-year lease with Columbia
College whereby the ABC affiliate will access the truck for a certain number of
dates throughout the year, but with the educational institution having full and
general use of the mobile van. The partnership will also provide WLS
internships for Columbia College Media Arts students.
The new production truck was designed and built out by the
college's Television and Audio Arts and Acoustics Departments, part of the
School of Media Arts, under the supervision of chief engineers Dave Mason and
Brett Johnson. It will go live this fall and will familiarize students with a
full complement of production gear, in addition to the Panasonic HD cameras.
The HC931Bs, with 1080i/720p capability, are outfitted with
Fujinon zoom lenses with 2X extenders, as well as color LCD viewfinders and
two-inch HD electronic viewfinders for alternate studio/handheld use.
Additional Panasonic gear in use includes the AJ-HD1400 DVCPRO HD compact VTR,
and two Panasonic BT-LH1700W 17-inch LCD monitors.
The cameras are being set for 720p acquisition, but can be
switched to 1080i if desired, or to SD.
The college's purchase follows a previous acquisition of
three AG-HVX200 P2 HD camcorders, which are used for production of the college
television station, Frequency TV.
The station's programming about student life can be viewed in dorms,
downloaded as iTunes podcasts, and is displayed in elevator lobbies and lounges
throughout the campus.