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On the Road With Mack:
April 2007
This is an extended version of the "On the Road With Mack" column that appeared in the April 2007 edition of FX In the News printed in RTNDA's Communicator magazine.
Has it been a year already? Time really does fly when you’re having fun!
Everyone at FX Group has been on the road quite a bit this year.
Some of our project managers and installers have spent more time in the air than at home.
Fortunately for us, we have been able to check in with our meteorologist friends around the country and have avoided most of the bad weather this year.
FX has been blessed with many exciting projects and opportunities, from the “best local news set in the country” at KWTV-TV in Oklahoma City to four HD launches.
At KWTV-TV, we built a circular two-story set that revolves around the station’s desire to showcase its meteorologist Gary England and his amazing technology.
I’ve enjoyed the challenges presented by HD conversion and everyone at FX continues to learn new tricks to keeping your newscasts looking great in this digital age.
Stop by the FX-sponsored RTNDA@NAB “Prepping for HD Conversion” session Monday, April 16 at 4 p.m. to learn more about our HD experience.
That experience includes HD projects at KRNV-TV in Reno, Nev., WTVF-TV in Nashville, Tenn., KCRA-TV in Sacramento, Calif., and the first HD set here in Orlando at WFTV-TV.
Having clients in town is great because we can see our work on a daily basis. Plus, when I tell neighbors what I do, they can actually see what I’m talking about.
In fact, when I watch local news here in Orlando, I can see our work on WESH-TV (NBC), WKCF-TV (The CW), WFTV-TV (ABC), WRDQ-TV (Independent), WOFL-TV (Fox, fabrication only) and cable’s CFN 13.
There’s only one station left to go — WKMG-TV (CBS).
Another of my favorite projects, the Golf Channel, was also here in Orlando.
I’m an avid golfer and really enjoyed getting behind the scenes at the network.
The Golf Channel needed a new set after winning the contract to present the entire PGA season and turned to us for state-of-the-art scenic and lighting design.
We were able to bring the network’s look into the 21st century with some of the latest technology available using blended Christie video projectors (thanks to Steve Capling at Christie Digital for the great assistance) and a Vista Spyder for multi-image control (thanks to Victor Vettorello at Vista Systems for his expertise).
In doing these cable projects, we are able to stretch ourselves with new technology and design ideas that we are then able to use in our affiliate projects as technology prices continue to drop.
Outside of work, I’ve also been active in my community, serving as the president of the Golden Knights Club at the University of Central Florida, the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival Board and as the City of Winter Garden’s appointed liaison to the Orange County School Board.
I have been traveling quite a bit this year and we have several exciting projects that will be launching in the next 12 months, including four more HD projects.
I can’t wait to share the stories on some of those with you in the next issue of our newsletter.
Until then, may your ratings be high and your lead-ins blockbusters.
For more information about FX Group, call Kathy Mosher-Boulé at 407-877-9600 or
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