Yeah, I understand now why they kept it, because when watching some of the older opens, that news-ticker jingle that begins in the start of the theme, is super catchy and sounds just like the original Cool Hand Luke theme from the 70s and 80s and early 90s. So I get it now, but they can do a newer rendition of it no? But I guess it might be a theme to stay for the forseable future. I'm assuming WABC has access to the entire Eyewitness News Package.
The theme that they use for the "Protect Our Children" is KABC's Morning Theme.
WABC-TV "Protect our Children" Theme (Eyewitness News NG4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=gVrypA0hlfs;t=20
KABC-TV "Morning' Theme (Eyewitness News NG4)
So since these are the same themes, I would assume that WABC has the rights to the entirety of the ABC O&O Eyewitness News Package.
So WABC could easilly change up their themes and experiment with the package if they wanted to, which is something I hope they do.
WABC Opens from the 1970s to the Mid 2010s. And I think the reason now, the "a-ha" moment behind them keeping the current theme and jingle for all of these years, since 1999 is because of the reminiscence it brings to the classic themes. The catchy news-ticker sound at the start of the opening sequence. So I get it now, it pays homage to their early days.