Thread: Ellen to Go HD on 9/8/08

"The Ellen Degeneres Show" to be Broadcast in High Definition After Moving to New State-Of-The-Art Production Complex in Warner Bros. Studios Lot

Emmy®-Winning Series from Telepictures Productions and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Moves to New Home and Will Launch Sixth Season on Monday, September 8.

Burbank, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) May 7, 2008 -– Emmy®-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will go Hi Def this fall when “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” begins its sixth season on Monday, September 8, and is produced and broadcast in High Definition (HD) after moving its production operations to a newly constructed, state-of-the-art facility on the Warner Bros. Studios lot. The announcement was made today by Hilary Estey McLoughlin, President, Telepictures Productions, and Jon Gilbert, President, Warner Bros. Studio Facilities.


The one-hour series, renewed through the 2010–2011 season, will now originate from the newly constructed Stage 1 complex on Warner Bros. Studios’ 110-acre lot. The new facility – consisting of stages 1, 2 and 3 – has undergone an extensive retrofitting under the supervision of Warner Bros.’ Advanced Media Services, Studio Facilities and Real Estate units, working closely with the “Ellen” production staff as well as creative and production operations executives from Telepictures Productions.


In the works for more than 15 months, the resulting complex is a tapeless, High Definition production facility encompassing three stages and 32,000 square feet, and is reflective of the Studio’s significant commitment to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the digital future of High Definition production and distribution.


“We are thrilled to move production of ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ to the Warner Bros. lot as we begin the sixth season. The lot will provide an exciting, new creative playground allowing Ellen and the producers to innovate fresh comedic elements into the show and letting Ellen’s comedic playfulness shine through,” said Estey McLoughlin. “The vibrancy and bustling activity of the lot, along with access to the Warner Bros. talent working there, will create new energy, excitement and added spontaneity to the show, while also enhancing our production values.”


“When they asked me if I wanted to move to Warner Bros., I was so excited. And it’s not just because they film tons of movies and shows there, or because George Clooney has an office next to ours, or that there’s a Starbucks,” said DeGeneres. “That’s all great, but the main thing is I get my own golf cart! Finally!”


“We are excited to welcome ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ with all of the energy that a daily television program with a live audience generates, to her new high definition home at Warner Bros.,” said Gilbert. “The new, tapeless facility will give the show the ability to take advantage of new creative freedoms and benefits the studio by expanding the types of productions that we can house on the lot.”

Elements of the new facility include:


Tapeless environment allowing all production personnel access to program content on their computer desktop, greatly eliminating the need for tapes and viewing stations, resulting in significant cost savings with eventual elimination of 90% of tape machines


Tapeless environment allowing for near-instantaneous editing of material during live production, with technology having major positive impact on workflow, speeding it up considerably


Creation of a comprehensive digital video library containing all episodes of the show, searchable in multiple ways using various types of metadata


A fully self-contained, 19,000-square foot production facility on three floors was constructed within the stage 3 building. The “Ellen” building contains the show’s control room, machine room, audio and editorial suites, host and guest dressing facilities, and the green room.


Expansion of “Ellen” audience capacity by +50% to allow seating for 300 attendees on stage 1, thereby increasing ability to accommodate more fan ticket requests for each taping.


Creation of an “Ellen” lounge/audience waiting area on the Studio lot, inside the Stage 1 complex, complete with flat screen televisions playing video from the show, couches for relaxing while fans wait to enter the stage for the live taping, and an “Ellen” store.


Fiber-optic connectivity between the new “Ellen” control room and a number of other stages throughout the Studio will allow for greater production flexibility on the lot. DeGeneres can go mobile and connect back to her control room from a number of places on the lot. Additionally, when “Ellen” is on hiatus, productions can position cameras or camera heads on other stages and, via fiber, can use the “Ellen” tapeless control room for the production, opening up the Studio as a venue for producers of live specials and events, as well as giving existing shows on the lot the creative opportunity for live production.


"The Ellen Degeneres Show" to be Broadcast in High Definition After Moving to New State-Of-The-Art Production Complex in Warner Bros. Studios Lot

this is one that I will not watch either in HD, 3D or SD...

Ugh! Aren't there any HD decency laws on the books...?

its about frickin time.....woo hoo!!!!