Fireworks Not In HDTV

For the second consecutive year, the WEBN fireworks will not be in high definition -- for the same reason. It's too expensive.

"We looked at doing it in HDTV early on in our process, and decided against it. We'll re-evaluate it for next year," says Richard Dyer, Channel 5 general manager. Last year Channel 12 bailed on doing the fireworks in HDTV, after two years in high def, because of the cost, says Hank Hundemer, Channel 12 chief engineer.

With most HDTV production trucks committed to major sporting events, the price for renting the equipment for a one-shot event is .... well, in the words of Hundemer... "brutally expensive, painfully expensive, ridiculously expensive. The price was completely absurd."

Maybe next year?