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I am watching CBS News Detroit right now and Karen is still there. She is pregnant. Guess she is on maternity leave and just came in to do the weather today.

One of them would have to blink first and hope the other two don't wipe the floor with them.

It doesn't appear NBC will be cutting back in prime time programming from recent reports. Also, they plan on getting NBA rights back. With that, it will help them reduce their scripted programming and allow them to shift shows to other nights where they don't have sports programming.

The second theme is arguably a lot catchier so it should be an upgrade.

I don't think they're filling in for free. Whether or not they're getting paid salary or not, I would assume they would get some kind of bonus for doing the extra work, besides getting the national exposure.

The race is usually blacked out live locally.

Funny enough KABC was really late to the NS2000+ scene...didn't pick it up until around 1990, so only had it about 4 years. Before that it was Cool Hand Luke opens plus their own synth version of Cool Hand Luke for the bumpers and close dating back to the mid 80s. For this month's update maybe there was some research or thought that the teletype sound has some brand equity among Angelinos or nostalgia among the staff. At least when they ran their anniversary clips I remember something about the Cool Hand Luke music being in there more than I thought it would. Going back to 99 when WABC picked up v2 of the EWN package they really amped up the teletype sound that got diminished when they moved from the CHL based package in 94.

Funny to see that everyone on here almost universally pans KABC's switch to WABC music. I agree, but I can't help but wonder whether we might all have thought differently had they made these changes 10-15 years ago when CBS was similarly standardizing around the WCBS look. The WABC cut of Eyewitness News has become so recognizable with WABC for us that it feels wrong to hear it in Southern California. But, it's probably one of those things that doesn't matter a whole lot at this point. Most viewers are only watching for 5-10 minutes at a time at most, so who cares what the open music sounds like these days.

And here it is. 2 different music packages used during one (extended) close:

IMO, CBS Local and National don't necessarily need to be under one brand. I get why CBS is doing this because they need something to boost their station's performances. The brand unification would be better if national CBS's product (outside of 60 Mins/Sunday Morning) were stronger. As I've said before, I think the national/local synergy is hurting CBS O&Os as it further rips them of local flavor. In contrast, Fox O&Os are especially adept taking the adding local spice to the corperate station blueprint. That being said I do love seeing the national talent anchoring the local newscasts.

All of this. I'm not seeing why it matters how different stations in different markets having the same general look and feel is an issue. Viewers aren't watching out of market news. And for the fraction of a fraction of people who travel to the other city and happen to watch the news there, that has no negative impact.

I would love to see this and have it be a happy medium. I really wish NBA Finals rights were split with NBC on every year that ESPN has Stanley Cup Finals because ESPN is horrible in their coverage but like I said in an earlier comment ESPN prioritizes the NBA over all of their properties outside of MNF and College Football.

Yeah not sure I understand all the bemoaning. Was there confusion on what a station group mandate was?

If an average joe doesn't pay attention, they don't know what WABC is. Stand out more among who? Nobody but us would be watching multiple ABC O&Os at once, and everything outside of the opens are similar enough to the old look that those same average joes won't really notice, so nobody should be confusing them with any of their LA competitors. As for the shade of blue, that's just what it is. Opportunities to customize the package are based on literally any other accent element that isn't the primary blue pieces. Look at the CBS package, the in-show branded bugs have been seen in blue, red, orange, green, gold, black, and even purple, but the standard lower third doesn't change. Same thing for ABC, but they're blue.

Not sure why this continues to be a discussion. NBC Universal killed the idea a while ago. If one of the full networks decides to do this (I would bet on ABC first as a cost cutting move). then it is worth the discussion. Sorry. And why so much about Kansas City? It's all speculative.

Despite the fact KMBC is the market leader, WDAF is considered an strong 2nd place, with the 9pm timeslot being considered an leader due to the longevity (WDAF started an prime-time newscast in 1994)

Locally in Kansas City, if any and I will repeat this literally ANY Television station tries to put an 9pm newscast on thier main channel or if they are in a duopoly, the secondary channel, it WILL get defeated by WDAF-TV (A FOX AFFILIATE) because Channel 4 just have the experience with an 9pm newscast SINCE 1994. It doesn't even care if it's Channel 9, 5, or 41, it will lose against Channel 4. That's an local, but important example why the Plan B wouldn't be an More News situation.

I'm guessing they wanted a partner in North Carolina; WCCB was willing to take it and had the flexibility to schedule a limited-run show. Nexstar may make a lot of questionable choices, but they aren't going to enter into new contracts for limited-run external news programming in a world where NewsNation could do something similar, with all the potential revenue staying inside the company.

Huh, it's weird that they wouldn't re-acquire WDAF.

WDAF would have been kept by Sinclair, but other Tribune stations were slated to be sold to Fox including KCPQ, WJW, KSTU, KTXL, KSWB, and WSFL. https://sbgi.net/sinclair-provides-additional-information-about-agreements-to-sell-tv-stations-related-to-closing-tribune-media-acquisition/ It would have been interesting had WSFL actually wrestled away FOX from WSVN. But now, it's a soon-to-be independent owned by Scripps.

WGN literally killed the whole deal because of how they tried to pass it off. Even if they sold it to the station's janitor, it was the selling amount that set off the alarm bells with the FCC. Also, FOX was threatening to pull their affiliations in the markets they once had O&Os. A side effect of this deal would have been many of the former O&Os going back to Fox in order to pacify FOX so that Sinclair didn't dwarf them. Fox was well aware of Sinclair's news aspirations. Nexstar snuck theirs in after they got Tribune and WGN America, and now they're a minimal threat.

If you look at the schedule though, which has been wrong as of late; currently they seem to be carrying older Sony Black sitcoms and random infomercials on the ex-BNC cable feed, and the stream has a random Serena Williams documentary. Something is going on when you get three different programs on three different ways to watch the same network.

I’m guessing it’s not just branding concerns that caused the end of Eyewitness News.

ABC O&O WTVD got their new set in 2018, for their downtown studio, in fact it's so small they still do sports from Durham still. WABC is moving to a new building so wait that, KABC set is still fresh after almost a decade, WPVI is ight. KFSN just got a new set last year. KTRK ill admit they need an upgrade, KGO set is still pretty nice, WLS set (built in 2016) is still pretty nice, WLS is in WTVD's situation a small street level studio which makes it hard for them to build a new set.

Best implementation of the package: WPVI-TV - Philadelphia. Biggest disappointment of the package: KABC-TV moving to the WABC-TV music package. Overall, it's a very nice and clean package. -- Matt

I agree. This package was an upgrade for the visually stunted WABC but a downgrade for KABC & KGO that already had solid appearances. I did like that the ABC O&Os — despite duplicating ABC 7 Eyewitness News in multiple cities —let each station still maintain some uniqueness. As someone said, the average viewer doesn't care... but us niche crowd comes here to harpe about these things lol.

All in all If Sports will fill this gap as others say then cutting the third hour is unnecessary. But all three networks should consider this in the future as they continue to struggle to fill programming.

You're right. Valid points, @24994J Yeah overall the new look is amazing for KABC the graphics are stellar and spectacular there are still some kinks they gotta fix like the audio in some of the closes and opens also the transitions can be a bit too fast but i'm sure they'll work those out over the coming weeks. I guess when it come to the music theme, on the flipside, when I visit LA, I won't feel too homesick since I'll hear the familiar theme there too. And the Angelinos can feel the same when they visit us here in New York ;). In summary from the colors which can't be changed per the mandate as suggested, and the wild choice to adopt WABC's music, it doesn't change their product and who they are, along with the amazing talent that both stations employ to deliver an excellent news product making them the top news stations in the country. Al Primo is a pioneer in this format of local news delivery and to this date remains successful. In a way it goes back to the old days when all of the ABC O&O stations were using the Cool Hand Luke and News Series 2000+ theme, in retrospect that is what it is now low-key reminiscent of with KABC/WABC now on the same theme. The two stations in a way are now united and their tenacious spirit can now be felt coast to coast. I've even seen WABC use the "Eyewitness News" titular wordmark that KABC/WLS uses in some of their promos so it is all a shared resource and the days of being unique and individual are behind, as the world becomes more and more connected. Bravo to all the O&Os, overall I think out of all of them, the ABC look is the best!

Yeah it's a done deal. They've adopted WABC's style. I guess to be fair KABC's outgoing theme (New Generation 2) that was customized for them by the Gari Media Group was in use since 2012 so just over 10 years. Original Eyewitness News New Generation Theme (2008 - 2012) Eyewitness News New Generation 3 or 4? (2012 to 2024) The final days of their outgoing theme: Would've been so fitting to see them keep these light blue colors and the music for their new package. That would've really make them stand out more. They were also the first station to adopt the original NG theme. In 2008 during the "going HD" era. WABC chose to stick with Series 4 theme they've kept their music since September 1998 (25+ years). Which is why it's so odd to see palm trees associated with the Series 4 variation in the new KABC open it, seems out of place. If an average joe doesn't pay attention they can easily be mistaken for WABC: In my opinion the Series 4 theme should've been exclusive to the New York market to solidify both stations unique identity. The outgoing more upbeat lighter NG theme was more suited for the more chill Los Angeles market. But I digress! I guess I just really miss their outgoing NG cuts and theme lol . They seem to be having issues with the audio though this morning the closing cut didn't play. Above is the morning show clips from FATV with the WABC theme. The graphics also just don't match the light blue nature of the set, they should've just kept the background more of a light blue as well, overall I think KABC rollout of this look is the most lackluster of them all.