KGW TV’s 5pm newscast Monday, January 21, 2008 made broadcast history for the greater Portland area. The station aired its local news in high definition.

KGW’S director of technology says it’s the biggest change for the station in decades.

“We have basically ripped up the infrastructure of this television station,” said Eric Dausman.

 More: HDTV Q & A

Slideshows:

New HD set

Behind the scenes 1

Behind the scenes 2

“We have taken out alot of equipment and added allot of new stuff, all new electronics that carry our hd signal all thru the plant into this broadcast facility, in thru our master control facility and the cameras in our studios and ultimately to the transmitter," said Dausman.

Work to over haul the system began last summer.

It included installing 500 new pieces of equipment and stringing 10 miles of cable to carry the hd signal.

Directors had to learn a new switching board before the 5pm news, everything was changed.

"I think once everything works, in my mind, I feel like, okay I can get it on the air,” said 5pm newscast director Chris Pausz.

“It’s just whether it’s functioning or not," he said.

KGW General Manager DJ Wilson compared the overhaul to working on a car as its moving 90 miles an hour.

But she said the end result is worth it.

“Its stunning!” said Wilson.