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People like her make a compelling case for an outright ban on TikTok.

I like WWJ’s news opening. They aren’t flashy and it’s reflective on the serious tone CBS is going for. I think KCAL/KCBS is way too flashy. KPIX is too. I think WCBS is getting the new graphics very soon.

Sandra Maas wins case against KUSI. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2023-03-09/maas-verdict?fbclid=IwAR14_Dm8iCQ0iGpU1FKCbm8OtkeoDtjtfc9OIj1V5M3HefrkG8rBAy_1dv0

I totally agree that they've got the bigger problem of not having anything anybody wants to watch anymore and not having a clue how to create things people want to watch.

The ratings are already low on these nights. The networks have tried many different types of programming on these two nights and have not been successful. Even if the ratings are geared towards older viewers, if the older viewers tune in, and if they can attract other viewers in addition to the older viewers, the total viewers might be more than whatever they're getting now. Isn't the main goal of the networks is to get as many viewers to watch the programs that they put on the air? I understand it is also about making profit off of the programming. This might be a way to argue that they can attract more viewers with the classic programs that put on the air.

What if NBC puts all of its film and TV shows on Peacock tv from its film and TV studios? That would boost subscribers for peacock. From Universal films, tv, and etc. Then all they need to do is add more sports.

CNN should be trying to woo Shep Smith. He’d be an excellent addition. And given all the current turmoil at FOXnews, I wonder how many of their journalist on and off camera are considering a jump to one of the other cable news nets.

Will NBC consider airing content from their movie and TV studio to fill the gap at 10PM? A few years ago, NBC had the slogan, if you hadn't seen it, it's new to you. Why not air classic shows on certain nights of the week with old shows and movies that they have? They should do this on Friday and Saturday nights. Then put more recent shows that have been off the air, put them at 10pm if needed. NBC should make all the films and TV shows that are part of their studios available on peacocktv.

NBC doesn't have to put Dateline, but should consider putting other shows instead of cutting back an hour of network programming.

The Jay Leno experiment years ago was a disaster. NBC, when considering this, which is now tabled and not going to happen, was clear about returning the hour to local stations, not providing programming. One consideration is that Dick Wolf successfully programs two full nights from 8-11 pm EST and are highly rated shows (granted that includes DVR viewing and streaming). They have also had 10 pm success on other days.

Instead of cutting back on network programming, NBC should put more alternative programming or just put Dateline at 10pm hour.

Why didn't NBC try to make a deal to put some more college basketball and football on USA network with the Big 10? They are trying to build content for Peacock, but I thought they wanted to turn USA to the destination for sports like what TNT / TBS are. I think NBC should drop Nascar and get the NBA back. They can put games on NBC, USA, and Peacock.

Well, CBS designed the entire intro, which has portions that all three stations are using. And it's up to the stations to pick cuts from the long version to shorten it down. Seek to 0:45 for the full intro. https://youtu.be/xPGBEiM49lQ

Oh, my bad. I don't live there anymore, and I shared this from the Discord.

Visiting Denver for the weekend and had to tune in CBS Colorado News. While the CBS Colorado box in the lower left is designed with the rest of the L3 in mind, I find it a bit large and distracting. Several times it covered up content on-screen, plus it sits on top of their legal ID, so all you see is “NC-TV Denver” I also chuckled at Jim Benemann’s comment that the “graphics and music showcase our community” - generic graphics and nation-wide music don’t showcase the community. Music from a local composer (going back to the Jerome Gilmore days) more fits that IMHO… I see that they’re using the term “Community Journalist” - wondering if they have renamed reporters this, or if certain reporters have certain “beats” that they cover, or if this is a case of a contract stringer… Jim

I also think KDKA, just like the silly little Pittsburgh Steelers fans, are stuck in the past. They know they can’t resist the inevitable lol. They will soon be called CBS News Pittsburgh. Same with you KYW. Silly little traditionalists lol.

Lol, The agenda will be complete once WCBS gets the rebrand.

Well, CBS Sports has went local. At least in Colorado so far.

KCNC is now known as CBS Colorado, joining KCBS/KCAL, KPIX, and WWJ as the stations to completely do away with their channel reference. Who’s next? Lol IMG_3994.MOV

I'm surprised it was a twenty-year grant of trademark for Audacy rather than just five. At least one situation's seemed to go well outside CBS; WTMJ-TV is "TMJ4", and WTMJ is still "Newsradio 620", and they both made clean breaks, while KMOV just changed it back in 1988 after being sold to Viacom I and there's never been an issue between them and 1120. Meanwhile there wasn't much issue with the WBBM stations in Chicago (which has finished the "Newsradio 105.9" transition without much issue, and B-96 just mentions calls at the top of the hour). And KYW...at least "CBS 3"/"KYW Newsradio" is easy enough to differentiate. Even WCBS is fine with "CBS2", "CBS-FM" and "Newsradio 88" (which feels like it'll be sold off sooner than later with the WINS newsroom merger). Then you have branding disasters like the LA/SF KCBS situation I mentioned a few pages back, and the WBZ stations with '''three''' different owners (and an FM with headache-inducing sports hot takes a la KDKA). The KDKA mess is a quagmire that can only be fixed with either a format blow-up (not happening) or AM being sunsetted (more likely), while KDKA-FM just kinda exists without a provocative sports format. And this isn't CBS-related, but Disney just needs to pay off Cumulus already to yank the KGO calls of 810; they in no way should be associated with degenerates talking about betting on Montana State-Glendive vs. Central Tennessee Presbyterian girl's volleyball, and KABC might as well just be sold off to VCY already because it wouldn't even be a good station under Salem. WABC just has too much tradition and differentiation, though (not a station I'd listen to, but at least the billionaire is putting in effort there).

KDKA radio carries a format where the hosts are likely to say outrageous things. It wouldn’t have mattered if KDKA radio and TV were under the same umbrella, but they are not, and it’s a brand sharing with underlying liabilities. So of course KDKA-TV is going to remove the call letter branding and go by “CBS Pittsburgh”. It’s the path of least resistance. All this could have been avoided, by the way, if CBS ordered Entercom to change KDKA’s calls when it was sold. Sinclair made KOMO radio do just that when it was sold to Lotus, so nothing is sacred.

CNN will launch its dayside lineup News Central in April. https://deadline.com/2023/03/cnn-daytime-lineup-cnn-news-central-1235275556/

I would wager that CBS has done [or will do] their due diligence when is comes to deciding whether a station will continue to use its call signs, logos and the like. As others have stated, viewers are going to continue to refer to a station the same way they always have and these changes being implemented by CBS isn't going to stop (or prevent that). Granted the execution, thus far, hasn't be the greatest; once the rollout is complete, I'm curious to see how everything shakes out.

Would this be a suitable graphics package in smaller markets? That would be an excellent large-market Gray package going forward, but is it too big for a market like Lake Charles, Twin Falls, Dothan or Binghamton?

My argument is that this is just like a retail store. If they're not open when you need them, and you're forced to go somewhere else, sooner or later you get out of the habit of going there. So if Kroger closes at 9:00, but Meijer's is open until midnight, you're going to get into the habit of going to Meijer's and Kroger's fades away for you. Radio tried that. The argument is that they have so few listeners after 7:00 p.m. that it's not worth it to have live talent. You can see how relevant radio is everywhere except for the car anymore.

I used to wonder why networks don't do this during off seasons. The question with classics is, how will they hold up in the ratings against new episodes on other networks. That's why I think the elimination of 10pm might have to be on all three networks for it to work.

The difference is though NBC wouldn't be adding a late night talk show in primetime, they'd just be moving the local news up an hour. Fox has had local news at 10 for years, so it's not implausible that it could work for NBC. I do agree that NBC will be at a disadvantage from CBS and ABC. All big three networks however need to consider this because it's clear they're struggling to fill programming.

I think Peacock is a much bigger priority for them than USA. Trying to make a sports destination out of a cable network that isn’t ESPN is an uphill battle in 2023, and NBC has severely lagged behind in the streaming race. The problem with their strategy is that a few live sporting events alone won’t convince enough people to subscribe to Peacock. Other than “The Office,” much of their content is awful (this video takes a good look at it). FWIW, they are looking to make a run at NBA rights, so there’s that.

The KPIX Late News format feels like trying to add a sprinkle of seasoning to otherwise bland food. CBS still cannot shake this inauthentic corporate looking format that they have on their local stations. Other than anchor personality, background music choices, graphics and how they write when they report all contribute to the "spice" of a station. Tegna has this issue to. KTLA is a good example of a station that has cookie cutter corporate elements but still manages to have its own individualistic spark. Fox O&Os are also somewhat good at this too.

As if the bland-o WCBS graphics and Enforcer were any better. The uniqueness of KCNC withered away when CBS stripped out the last of the NBC look back in 2003…

Resistance is futile! Come on KDKA, come on WJZ, come on KYW, WBBM, and WCBS. Lol

Expansion of morning newscasts are official. Drew Barrymore moves to WKBD overnights at 3 am beginning next Monday.

I'm sure we're all thinking about the KCBS/KCAL failure with that name but I'm interested to see what they've got.

I don't think its as big of a deal now. You don't hear much about KDKA radio these days (the controversies died down the moment they canned Wendy), so the brand isn't as "toxic" as it was a few years back. Not to mention the KDKA-TV branding is a lot stronger than the radio branding these days so they were able to overcome any controversy from the radio side. I don't even know where Wendy is these days. She keeps bouncing around different radio stations in Pittsburgh that have a much weaker signal compared to AM 1020. She's basically an obscure nobody these days.

I'll also add this, since it was brought up. How much of a big deal is the Wendy Bell fiasco in 2023? It's been 2 and a half years since she was taken off the air at KDKA Radio. I don't follow her, I don't know if she's still on broadcast radio/TV or just on the internet. She's never going to be back on KDKA anything, ever. I would think by now many people have largely forgotten about her time on KD. I could be wrong, though, as I don't actively follow her. This is an aside, of course. Back to the main topic.