There’s a new news director at KNOE, according to Jake’s DTV Blog: Bob Walters began at the CBS affiliate in Monroe, La. this week.

Walters joined the station, which is Hoak Media operates as part of a duopoly with KAQY, Parker Broadcasting’s ABC affiliate, on Monday. He spent more than 10 years as news director of WTVW in Evansville, becoming news director of WEHT when the stations merged last year. He was cut from the stations in June.

As Jake’s DTV Blog notes, he will be competing with his former employer, Nexstar Broadcasting, in his new role. Nexstar owns Fox-affiliated KARD and operates NBC-affiliated KTVE.

KFYR, the NBC-affiliate in Bismark, ND, began broadcasting in high definition this week, completing a weeks-long transition that included the construction of a new set.

“What we’ve always delivered is good, comprehensive news,” KFYR news director Monica Hannan said.  “What we haven`t always delivered, is a pretty picture. This is a pretty picture.”

There are still a couple of shows that aren’t yet being broadcast in HD but the majority of KFYR’s schedule, including its local newscasts, is now airing in high definition. Read more

This week KSFY became the first station in the Sioux Falls market to broadcast its newscasts in HD, as the ABC-affiliate unveiled a brand-new, HD-optimized studio along with a sleek new logo.

“We’re so excited to be the first station in the area to deliver newscasts in an HD studio environment,” said Jim Berman, KSFY’s president and general manager. “This is a huge leap forward for KSFY that will set us apart, and we believe news viewers throughout the area are the big winners.”

The Hoak Media-owned station began upgrading its studio with HD equipment in January and then eventually gutted the entire space. For the past eight weeks, crews have been working to build the new set, which you can take a virtual tour of HERE.

KSFY has also posted photos of the renovation on its Facebook page.