Anchors Squirm in HDTV's Glare

As HD takes hold, TV personalities face a new challenge: namely, hiding that zit in magnified resolution. Makeup techniques that traditionally hid flaws have become as obvious as the blemishes themselves, the Baltimore Sun reports. And, er, seasoned anchors worry the improvements could shift focus from content to complexion, forcing stations to seek youthful replacements.

While standard TVs have 480-line resolutions, HDTVs can show 1,080 or more, highlighting previously masked features. "I learned that I have a little fatty deposit under my left eye," says CNN's Anderson Cooper. With the feds demanding the analog-to-digital switch by 2009, stations are exploring new makeup and lighting techniques to keep your eyes on newscasters' lips—and off their fatty deposits. (More HDTV stories.)