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Had the WGN brand stuck around on cable for a little longer, could the brand recognition have been higher? I know WGN on cable isn't what it used to be, but still, keeping it around may have helped NewsNation a little with visibility....

For how good, yet low-profile Newsy has been for Scripps, they knew having it as a traditional cable channel wasn't working and ended it in June for a streaming-heavy model, along with OTA coverage on the Ion stations. I wish Nexstar would realize the same thing, along with cannibalizing their station's audiences in primetime (If you hear about Newsy on a Scripps station it's usually for their investigative reporting, not generic crime/human interest roll stuff like NN).

WMAQ, WGN, and WLS during Chicago's 1995 heatwave (includes opens):

The timing for Glor wasn't right in 2011. He had just been installed on the doomed Wragge-Hill Early Show, and I'm certain they wanted the stability there. Hell, Glor wound up as temporary anchor when Chris Wragge went back to WCBS late in the year. Besides, CBS hadn't exactly given him a higher profile, as he had only spent a short time as Saturday evening anchor, before Russ Mitchell added that to his Sunday role. Personally, I think Russ should've been in the mix to get the top job as soon as Rather was shown the door. When Couric was stepping aside, they wanted a clear, 180-degree shift in format and tone from Katie, which made Scott Pelley an obvious choice to fill such a program. Jeff didn't have that established style and voice to convey the network's intentions. For example, look at ABC's anchor change in 2014. David Muir had been on weekends for like 7 years, had been the most frequent fill-in for Diane, was molded in her image, so upon reaching the weeknight chair, the show's format remained the same. The transition was so smooth. What CBS attempted in 2011 is like if ABC installed Stephanopoulos after Diane. Such a move would've signaled an obvious departure from the Sawyer style, heralding a return to the more serious program that it had been under Jennings and Gibson. If Jeff had succeeded Katie, they would've not only had to promote the hell out of the tonal shift, but also build up the image of a comparative unknown, while trying to shift eyeballs from absolute rock stars in Sawyer and BriWi. Plus, by promoting Pelley, they had a whole body of 60 Minutes work to make clear their intentions. Jeff was right to succeed Scott, though I feel it was too soon, but his ultimate demise was even swifter. At this point, they can play with story selection, visuals, set, and sound, but they need to commit to Nora for the long haul. Every anchor change has hurt the ratings, and they don't have many more viewers to lose.

At least they can have an audience at Studio 1A.

Dan Skeldon has become one of my favorite people on 69 News. He handled over an hour of tornado warnings yesterday with ease and kept calm, yet kind of excited in a way, with clear explanations of what we're seeing on the radar and also what a warning means vs. a watch. Also, and maybe this is a weird way to judge people, but I know he did the weather in South Jersey for so long, but he's learned the geography of the Lehigh Valley really well in naming various locations on maps even when they're not labeled. I think I like him better than I ever did Ed Hanna!

WSOC anchor/reporter Brittany Johnson is joining NBC 5 (KXAS) as the stations reporter and 10pm co-anchor with Brian Curtis. Her first day will be Sept. 22nd.

Sad news from WABC-TV News Director Rehan Aslam — he announced publicly today doctors recently removed a tumor from his head. The pathology report determined that is a glioblastoma, a very aggressive type of brain cancer. He continues treatment later this week at Sloan Kettering. Aslam just joined WABC-TV in May of this year as VP & News Director after six years in management positions at sister station KTRK-TV in Houston.