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For practical reasons, now you have to dedicate 15-30 seconds for the montage at the end of the show, instead of possibly eating that time up for other stories and having just a quick goodbye on some nights. For reasons based on TV geek-ery, we lose those nice affiliate shots, sweeping camera moves in the studio, and hearing the theme's closing cut without natural sound or someone talking in the background.

That WJZ opening graphic is supposed to be a tight zoom on a CG model of their Television Hill candelabra-type tower.

Hey people. Respect that.

I guess I won't be attending Test Closing Message school today.

Also, I have noticed this week his read has been a lot more monotone, at least compared to when he was anchoring the weekend editions of CBSEN. He doesn't feel as animated or engaged this time around.

Here we go with the WJZ, WBAL and WMAR 11pm newscasts from September 17, 1992. First Up: WJZ: No Denise tonight, but someone forgot to change the closing script... (check out the very end of the newscast to see how Al Sanders rolls with it!) I don't remember this open/Chroma Cues variation, but it's not bad. I am trying to figure out what the opening graphics mean... [MEDIA=vimeo]244942607[/MEDIA] WBAL: First off is the end of the WBAL version of the "This is CBS" promo - I think the 'BAL lyrics are a heck of a lot better than the network ones... Second - The theme doesn't have the same impact (to me) that Pride Inside or Signature have - it's just "there". Finally - Butch Alsandor (nice guy, I met him at Houston Texans or Astros game) was busy that day - it looks like 'BAL didn't have anyone else in the Sports Department there... [MEDIA=vimeo]244947177[/MEDIA] WMAR: It's good to see Sally Thorner again, before she jumped to 'JZ. Not much more to say on my part... [MEDIA=vimeo]244943219[/MEDIA] Comparing the newscasts, it's easy to see why 'BAL and 'JZ were/are the market leaders over 'MAR and (the unseen) 'BFF (those cringeworthy clips are coming soon...).

Folks - The WJZ and Ohio clips were posted without me finishing up prepping them. I want to share with everyone, but need to get everything finished and cleaned up before posting. As soon as they're done on my end, I'll release them. This is the second time someone has been posting from my site before I got things finished up. I'm posting these out of the goodness of my heart - please allow me the courtesy of getting things prepped and squared away. I promise that I will post them as soon as they're ready. I've been spending many hours of my time getting these newscasts digitized, converted and uploaded. I'm sharing them with y'all, since they do absolutely nothing collecting dust in my basement. I'm posting as I find the tapes. If I have something, especially 1990s or earlier that I recorded, I'm posting as soon as it's done processing. I nearly wet myself (just a joke) when I found the tape with KYW and WJZ (it also has WHYY, WMAR, WBAL and a good chunk of WBFF - so far - there's some DC on it also...). (and yes, I'm ticked off right now - for many reasons - this is just one of them) Jim

The open graphics were sort of lackluster — they were an affiliate package that a couple other stations used (KCCI, WBMG) — but the music was and remains incredible, and the in-show graphics were definitely ahead of their time. 25 years on, it still sounds amazing. The v3 Sunset 10 that they introduced with it was also very good and an improvement at small sizes over the v2 that was used in The Vision era.

Tell us the story

Bloomberg is free on anything that has a functioning web connection at this point (though without the sidebar GFX). They probably figured that into why not to carry it. TWC you can excuse as dumb, but Bloomberg has just as much blame here for their looseness with how you can watch their channel.

Another dumb move by Verizon after dumping The Weather Channel.

Hair shaming? I think we have hit a new low on TVNT. I will be turning in my diversity card.

WXIN Fox 59 in Indianapolis is apparently getting a new set with construction starting today. No more details than that though at this time.

I ended up meeting Natalie Pasquarella that day.

Tonight was Maria Salinas of Univision’s last newscast. [MEDIA=instagram]BcdhGC1AIFq[/MEDIA]

Same time, same station, early 1986: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=7zD1d9_tDg0;m=14;s=28

The current ND at WGCL worked with Sharon over at WOIO/WUAB. (Ironically, two of the anchors at WGCL - Mike Dunston and Alicia Roberts - both worked together at WEWS in Cleveland on "Good Morning Cleveland.") I have a feeling they'll continue what they were trying to achieve at 19/43.

Time for the Channel 10 News...

God so we have Kenneth The Page as the next man up at WBNS...Oh good god no! Guess what, WCMH... It looks likes there might be a NEW worst station and NEW icon for me coming soon!

Meanwhile in Hampton Roads, WAVY reporters Erin Kelly and Liz Kilmer left the station. Kelly is heading to WVTM in Birmingham, while Kilmer is heading north but can't say where...yet (VARTV's words, not mine).

Considering the sheer number of lights in their "newsplex", that's a half-hour's worth of savings on their electrical bill.

Starting Monday Dec 4, CBS 4's (WFOR) morning news starts at 4:30 joining WPLG and WTVJ. That leaves WSVN as the only station to start at 5:00.

Kathy Griffin would be ultimate redemption. GO Big!