WBTV takes high perch for DNC

WBTV (Channel 3) will be aiming high with its key newscasts during the Democratic National Convention -- it plans to broadcast from its roof.

WBTV, off West Morehead Street on a hill overlooking the skyline of uptown, will do its 5, 6, 7, and 11 p.m. newscasts from an improvised studio atop its building beginning Monday. It will be an informal set -- anchors will be in directors' chairs, says Dennis Milligan, WBTV's news director.

"We have this gorgeous shot of uptown from the top of the building," he said Wednesday. "We wanted to do something special for the DNC."

WBTV will also expand its traffic coverage next week, Milligan said. Someone will be in the station's traffic center from early morning to about 8 p.m. updating road conditions for newscasts and on the station's traffic blog. Motorists concerned about travel routes can ask questions directly through WBTV.com.