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Sooner or later, these companies have to go digital. It's out of the FCC's realm. And it's an area Nexstar needs to update itself on. Sinclair is at least trying with STIRR and willing to go DTC on their sports nets. Relying on websites and trying to tie their web streaming to cable providers is a bad idea in the works....

There's nothing anywhere that says the copyright needs to reflect station ownership. It's a Nexstar-produced newscast, featuring people paid by Nexstar, airing on a station that Nexstar has a contract with to provide services for. There's not much difference between this and a news share agreement where one station provides news for another owned by a different party.

Michelle, like most traffic reporters, were sidelined because of the pandemic. Unlike her counterparts at WLS, WMAQ, etc... who hold duo roles as news/features reporters, etc..., she didn't have that opportunity at WFLD because she was not an employee and hadn't been seen on GDC (until a couple of days/weeks ago) since last March. Whatever is going on, I don't know. Maybe she is upset about not being able to come back sooner. That said, it's a tough call to make given there hasn't been enough going on 'traffic-wise' to justify having someone do traffic reports.

Cool WXYZ clips - that transition from the 5-6pm with the 6pm anchors walking on set is a gem. Probably the most interesting dual set I've seen - lots of variety in shots. And mixing it up with original Cool Hand Luke and the Gari cuts is another nice touch.

I think it's wishful thinking on Nexstar's part. If the company really wants an Atlanta news presence beyond a token capital bureau, then just do it. Commit the money and launch a newsroom dedicated to digital platforms. Hire a few people to chase news dayside and nightside. Shoot, edit, publish without regard to timeline, without worry about interrupting network programming or making slot at 5:02. Use the News Nation branding if you like. Hire some account executives to sell it. If sufficient following is achieved, maybe you can work up to a traditional newscast, maybe lease time on an existing Atlanta station. It could be a model for other NXST market holes like Phoenix or Seattle or Minneapolis or Boston.

I could see every station being acquired this way and operated by Nexstar. Every. One. Of. Them.

What you saw today is the final product; anchorless and weather from Grand Rapids with just a few mmj's based in Lansing. It's probably unfair to judge the newscasts on the first day, but if I'm WILX I would bring back the 7-9am and 10pm on a subchannel. I believe Scripps has suspended adding a news op in Miami.

How 'bout some vintage Detroit TV from Chris Sloan!