Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

WDBJ (Channel 7) Operations Manager Mark Layman and Sara Nottingham from production unravel video cables before the noon news Tuesday afternoon.

After a year of looking, Roanoke's Fox station has chosen a new anchor for the 10 p.m. news.

Becky Freemal, who was most recently a reporter for Cincinnati's ABC station, signed on to WFXR/WWCW (Channel 21/27) on April 17. Her predecessor, Natalie Faunce, left the anchor's chair in March 2007 and is now a spokeswoman for Ferrum College.

Freemal brings 14 years of TV work and several broadcasting awards to her first full-time anchor job. Along with reporting duties, she will host a weekly segment on local excursions, called "Out and About with Becky."

WFXR considered more than 10 candidates before settling on Freemal, said Debbie Reardon, the station's director for creative services.

"To be a good anchor in this community, you have to be a part of this community," Reardon said. "Becky was so genuine, talented ... she wasn't grave."

Freemal, an Ohio University graduate, plans to settle in Roanoke with her husband, Curt, plus their Labrador retriever, Brinks, and one long-lived goldfish. She enjoys soccer and running, and would like to find a volunteer position in town, she said.

John Carlin, an anchor for Roanoke's WSLS (Channel 10), joins her on the 10 o'clock news.

WSLS and WFXR have had a news partnership for the past 12 years. The NBC station supplies studio space, production and news reports, Reardon explained. The Fox station provides its own producer, videographer and anchor.

WDBJ goes HD

With its 5 p.m. newscast Tuesday, WDBJ (Channel 7) became Roanoke's second station to broadcast the local news in high definition. Just in time for the spring sweeps, too.

The CBS affiliate spent the past nine months and more than $1 million to put the crisper picture of HD on local screens. The news and weather graphics also got an update.

Roanoke's NBC affiliate, WSLS (Channel 10), switched its local news to the new HD format in December.

"We can do so much better with this technology," WDBJ meteorologist Robin Reed said Tuesday morning, as workers prepared the control room for an intimidating set of new electronics.

Reed, of course, had his weather map in mind. High-definition weather means enhanced radar and satellite images, impressive zooms and a more localized picture of the weather, he said.

The conversion also may boost WDBJ's ratings at a crucial time. Tuesday's jump to HD came two days before the start of the May sweeps, a four-week period when TV ad rates are set and stations often try to attract more viewers.

A city with two HD news channels is a rarity, observers noted, though neither WDBJ nor WSLS has switched entirely to the new format. Their field coverage is yet to go HD, and WSLS has not updated its weather graphics.

This was a small concern at WSLS. "We were first," chuckled Warren Fiihr, the station's vice president and general manager. He counted himself an HD "believer" and was happy to have more options.

However, Fiihr is in the minority of HDTV owners. Only 11 percent of households have the ability to receive an HD signal in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market, which lags behind the 14 percent national average, according to Randy Smith, president and general manager of Lynchburg's WSET (Channel 13).

And Smith, who said the ABC station is unlikely to make the transition this year, wondered if the news was a viewer's first choice for HD. Rather, he counted sports and "Lost" -- an ABC show -- as examples of impressive HD programs.

The 'Big Give,' take two

What does a young entrepreneur do with $100,000? He gives it all away.

Cameron Johnson, a business-minded 23-year-old from Roanoke, was a runner-up on the April 20 episode of "Oprah's Big Give." He missed the reality show's $1 million top prize, but still collected for his appearance on the charity challenge.

"I won $100,000 and I'm going to give it all to Branson," he said on Monday, referring to Richard Branson, the high-profile British billionaire.

In May, Johnson plans to travel to Necker Island, Branson's private Caribbean island, and give his winnings to Virgin Unite, the business magnate's charitable foundation. And before then, he may work some business connections to increase his donation, he said.

Then the Web entrepreneur plans to spend his summer in California, exploring his options in television -- perhaps something in finance, he said.

Over the past year, Johnson said he has logged 140,000 miles traveling to speaking engagements and promoting his book, "You Call the Shots."

New a.m. voice on WVTF

Local public radio listeners heard a new voice on "Morning Edition" this month.

Susan Geary, a producer for the morning show on WVTF (89.1 FM), is now helping with hosting duties. Her addition reduces the workload on host Beverly Amsler, said Glenn Gleixner, the station's general manager.

He explained their roles like this: Amsler is in charge of the newscast and news gathering and Geary keeps the transitions running smoothly.

"It frees up everyone," Gleixner said.