Yeah, I can confidently say, (in my humble slightly biased opinion, of course) that WABC for the first time in pretty much forever, is the clear winner with the graphics in the O&O group (and arguably in all of NYC at this point.) WNBC comes close but I think WABC has the edge with their new graphics. Finally, and major props to WABC!
It's so crazy how it took them a very long time to "perfect" their graphics. When I reflect on my time here on this great forum, some of us TVNewsTalk veterans talking about WABC's on-air presentation in the local New York Forum way back when TVNT was not even born yet (Local News Discussion) those who have been here long enough remember that forum haha, the graphics were always WABC's biggest gripe and chief complaint from the astute viewers of Channel 7, and we just felt that it just wasn't fair for "the top station in the nation" to have a lackluster boring, and pretty much subpar look. We collectively felt that WABC deserved to have a graphic package that is representative of a top local news station. And I gotta say, they sure as hell nailed it now with this new group O&O package! Above and beyond really, sure its flashy here and there but it's smooth and it works for them.
Finally, after all these years of complaining about how WABC has had a lack of luster on-air presentation with their graphics, most people can probably put that to rest. Their news set while starting to show its age, (debut back in 2012 and over 10 years old now) to me still works, considering what they had prior which was pretty awful. The set still looks great and it still works to this day, as we've discussed on the New York forum for the WABC thread, the accompanying studio can be very versatile and just needs to be used more creatively and if they use it more they can squeeze more life out of it before the big move to Hudson Square. I think WABC is pretty much perfect right now and is finally looking like the #1 Station in the nation.
I hope they continue with this package even through their move to Hudson Square. The graphics are so incredibly refreshing overall. Great Job!!