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WBBM has made the switch…

A couple of additional points (from the article).... "The extensive rebranding effort comes as part of a broader strategic pivot for the network previously known for letting its anchors sound off about politics under former CNN President Jeff Zucker. Licht's mission is focused on offering viewers a more centrist perspective over the long term as the network heads into the 2024 election cycle — and avoiding getting pulled into the outrage machine." "Licht has asked producers to dial down the use of the descriptor "breaking news" because it is so overused it has lost its meaning, according to a memo obtained by Axios. He also discouraged them from referring to election denial as "the big lie" — preferring "Trump election lie" or "election lies" — because it was a phrase used by the Democratic Party, according to Mediaite." 'Zaslav has given Licht time to find his footing without the pressure of ratings scrutiny.' I will say I like were they're going with News Central and their attempt to contain 'opinion' to certain programs. Also, what they plan to do with the L3s sounds intriguing.

It's hard to expect much in Market 203.

The Pittsburgher in me is coming out saying: Can some of yinz stop complaining for once? Yes, WBBM pulling a WCBS isn't as exciting as exciting as them using call-letters would be. Just because the verbal branding hasn't changed doesn't mean the product itself is. And the mish-mash of the font for the 2's between the bug & website and the open is driving my graphic designer brain up a wall.

Discussion ongoing in the new O&O graphics thread, if you want our, um, mild opinions.

Living in Baltimore and having WJZ stuck in the same standard Chroma Cues package for 20 years straight, this is leagues better.. Besides, WJZ is always the last to get upgrades, yet it is among the highest rated CBS Owned and Operated Stations.

WJZ needs to get with the program now.

I see that Jennifer Lopez not that JLO LOL is now back on TWC I know she was working at WSB in the ATL when she left TWC for a couple of years. Always liked liked Jennifer Lopez glad she is back as OCM.

New CNN graphics are expected in June. The article is paywalled but here's the beginning of it: https://www.businessinsider.com/cnn-chris-licht-brand-refresh-ad-campaign-warner-bros-discovery-2023-5?utmSource=twitter&utmContent=referral&utmTerm=topbar&referrer=twitter Elegant. Hmm.

Well, CBS 2 finally got the new Graphics. Are we digging the new look?

Good catch! Meanwhile, WCBS often incorrectly used the WBBM 2 in the previous look. Very similar but not the same!

I guess Chicago is enough of a channel number market to warrant keeping the 2. Although I have no idea why they're using their 2 in the intro and the WCBS 2 in the bug.

Goddammit. At least the CBS2 isn't still outlined...I guess?

Not to get too off-topic, but they did a fairly decent job of making a small, cramped set look big.

Kait have switched logos and brought back K8 while keeping the current graphics package.

You do know that dimensional is a very small package, right?

I'm 100% certain. Dimensional isn't a robust package.

Hate it! Hate it! Nothing authentic about what WBBM did at all. KDKA, KYW, WCCO, and WWJ are all authentic! WBBM is just a mess.

Chroma cues was written specifically for the station. I mean I think they're getting close to moving to the CBS O&O form. When Newman ran WJZ, it was because they didn't have the money. Now once he retired and handed the reins to Audra Swain... it was a transformative time for the station. I'm really surprised that CBS-Paramount Global hasn't bought WUSA from Gannett to make it CBS Washington. Apparently the turnover is getting close according to the current WJZ general manager.

The freaking desk.

I have mixed feelings about this... I knew WBBM was going to play it safe, but I'm disappointed they didn't take advantage of the new branding/graphics. They're treating things as if it's just another Wednesday (continuing to use/say CBS 2 News, no updates to the set, etc...) with a half-hearted mention of the new graphics and music before tossing to weather. Such a wasted opportunity.....

Nice. I hate it.

Anyone know the status of the new studios for News4NY and Telemundo47? Any timing? From some plans that were posted last year, I'm assuming it will have some elements from WRC (the circular look).

This was used at the end of a promo for a special report to air tomorrow. It’s possible they didn’t get around to making a new one with the new graphics, etc... or they sticking with promos like this.

Because no one gives a damn about that basic attention to detail. How can they be one of the last stations to switch, and look not at all ready? No updated video loop, the desk graphic in the same. Shall I continue? Points for not using the CBS Sports Los Angeles graphic, because the bar is just that low.

Vivian has sadly never freelanced after her departure from TWC. I was quite sad when she left. She was a huge staple of when I watched in the 90s and 2000s.

Jeff recently came back in... I believe 2021 for the first time since his original departure. I haven't seen Vivian at all since she originally left.

Technically, Sinclair only provides services to both WNBW and WGFL under a master services agreement. WNBW is owned by MPS Media and operated by New Age Media, and WGFL is owned by New Age Media. Back in 2013 Sinclair tried to acquire them, but there were too many conflicts in several of their markets, so they worked out in an arrangement to where either service agreements were started or non-license assets were moved or acquired. This is how the FOX affiliation moved from WDSI to WTVC 9.2 in Chattanooga as well as in Tallahassee where it moved from WTLH to WTWC 40.2. It's basically a complicated spiderweb so Sinclair can be involved without owning the stations outright.

This makes sense given they brand their election coverage as 'America Decides'. Best to have all things political aligned in some way across all platforms. Didn't care for the Red & Blue moniker, if you will, anyway.

Payment has been made

That’s a really good point; CBS does provide the best/easiest way to access their local newscasts digitally, especially compared to the other stations in the market. I wish ratings companies would take digital impressions into account; viewers are viewers at the end of the day, and it shouldn’t matter where they’re watching.

It's taken this long, but Sinclair is hell bent on turning themselves into the TV version of IHeartMedia. They say that TND is powered by the journalists across the nation at all the Sinclair stations, but where is this reporting? It's basically a ruse for all of Sinclair's "correspondents" to be in one place at one time, spreading all of their reporting at the expense of actually providing useful local information.

I think the ideal logo would be the gold "5" of old, combined with the font from that WBTV proposed design.

The GrayONE look has launched at WCSC.

I assume Colleen will continue solo at 11pm. She definitely has the chops to lead the 11pm on her own, she already does it at 7pm. KCBS/KCAL has Pat Harvey anchor solo at 11pm (6pm as well). Marc Brown anchors KABCs 11pm solo. KNBC could complete the big three network trifecta with this arrangement.

NBCLX is shutting down.

Why use a CBS News Chicago "tab" on top of the lower-third if there's already a bug saying CBS 2 CBS News Chicago? And why isn't the text aligned? This look has some promise but the execution has been incredibly sloppy across the board.

For nearly 15 years now. The growth in Tri is crazy, from both westsiders (i.e. Seattle area) and from out-of-state. New housing developments popping up weekly. Not necessarily $300-400K budget homes either. Plenty of McMansions up on the hill, too. The area saw a 21% increase in population between 2010 and 2020, while Yakima only gained 6%. Nearby Hermiston, OR is jumping in population too (nearly 20,000 live there). KNDO's studios shut down around the same time as KAPP. They had dueling studios on S 24th Ave, near the airport. They sent everyone to Tri-Cities except for a multimedia journalist at a tiny downtown sales office for each station. This would have been during the recession (2008, 2009). That's when KAPP dropped to the 2.5 minute newscast that is seen at 11PM.

KDRV and KOBI are celebrating. A lot of channel 10 viewers will come back to them. The walls are closing in on KIMA, I'm sure. I've said it for years, eventually that tired, old building will be demolished, everyone will move to KEPR, and local Yakima news will cease to exist. The must-runs and out-of-market stories are destroying this station from the inside, while KVEW and KND...ahem! NonStop Local, continues to improve. If that happens, Jake Taylor could just join Scott Stovall at the anchor desk in Pasco. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if the factor keeping 29 on the air *IS* Alan Sillence...a nearly 30-year career on sports and still going strong with his coverage of local high school teams. The other stations don't come close. KVEW doesn't even do sports for the most part. NonStop Local combines Tri-Cities and Yakima, so on a busy fall Friday night, there's not as much video from HSFB games in our area (but tons from the Richland/Kennewick/Pasco area teams).