Leaderboard

The new set really appears like something designed for another space (ahem, KCAL) rather than something bespoke like the 2008 set. The new one has a lot of missed opportunities: nothing really to see on that left wall, weather center completely obscures one wall of windows rather than taking advantage of it, and there's seemingly no option to swivel the cameras around and have a standup presentation inside with a window backdrop. Also, is it just me, or are some of the wooden pegs above the main video wall not installed straight??? I'm glad that they're back in that space though. It's probably just a result of them being unable to lease it out to retail, but oh well. Window sets can be really finicky – I know firsthand (who knew studio walls also provided insulation from RF interference of IFBs and mics!?) – but I think they're cool and worth the hassle. Not every station can pull them off, as most stations are in boring midcentury suburban boxes. Complicated studios like these really require the buy-in of a GM to make them happen. It appears that was the case here.

I wouldn't be surprised if KYW is the next O&O to fully shed the channel number from its branding. The Eye-3 logo is really only vestige of it left as they don't mention 3 at all verbally. Everything is "CBS Philadelphia" and "CBS News Philadelphia". They might as well just finish peeling off the band-aid already.

Going back to the streetside studio almost didn't happen AFTER being announced a couple years ago. Lyons prematurely announced moving back to the streetside studio BEFORE getting any permission or approval from bosses above. They actually didn't want the station to do it but eventually gave in to her demand. Also, initial plans for the set were different. The station had their own plans for their own set design customized for the space. The original design included a bunch of "moveable" pieces (similar to the original 2008 set) for a more versatile set with a variety of different uses. That set was rejected from bosses above and the station was told they would be approved for the standard (KCAL) set so a scaled down version was created to fit the space. I believe the interview set is remaining up in the other studio for the time being as it may still be used. Although, I think they moved all the cameras over from that studio. Lyons HATES the music package and that's why they're barely touching any cuts from it. Was told she actually likes the previous 2008 music package but they're not able to go back to it.

One of the videos they posted on YouTube they said they have 6 different studios. https://youtu.be/rqod17YldhE?si=_2imFugQ_ANXM-cB

The reason The King of Queens is leaving broadcast syndication is because Sony Pictures Television has cut a deal to bring it and Married… with Children to Cozi TV’s lineup. King will join the network’s prime time lineup (displacing Frasier in the 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET slot) on September 9, while Married… (following an eight-hour marathon two days before) joins the late afternoon schedule on August 5 (replacing Monk in the 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET slot).

I cannot get over what they did stage left with the "blah" colored wall with the CBS eye, and then the set just ends in the middle of the room.

I'm kinda underwhelmed with the new set... Looks very basic and plain.. No character.. Although with what Scipps is doing to their product, I guess we can't expect decent sets if they aren't going to be using anchors...

I don't think they're going to make it. Already, most dayparts are no longer fully live, instead recycling content from the first hour of any given show. It just keeps getting worse and worse.

Definitely a faux pas but I don’t think it was anything egregious. It seems like a private conversation in a private moment where George was not aware he was being recorded, unlike official appearances where he must maintain neutrally. Perhaps he could’ve answered differently but his answer was not anything too different from the line of questioning he had for the president during last week’s interview and certainly nothing too different from what most Americans are feeling. I’m glad to see that he and ABC issued quick, short statements. He was on Good Morning America this morning and he and the network appear to be moving on and not letting this become a bigger story than it should.

While I am glad they're back in the street side studio, they wasted an opportunity to do something grand and did the bare minimum. Unlike with WLS, WBBM has no obstructions to deal with and could have built something that fit the space. It's as if zero thought was made and someone simply said...hey..let's 'build a set two other stations already have' with a massive (and unnecessary) weather center and call it a day. And don't get me started on the graphics. They had a chance to fix the mistake they made the first time around (of not taking the opportunity to modify them color-wise, etc...) and instead double doink and added 'stars' for good measure.

Not a surprise at all. That 2 was an appendage that needed to go and the new logo—with the Chicago flag stars—is more Chicago-y than any other Chicago station.

Was George not aware that he was being recorded? While George is certainly entitled to his opinion off the clock, journalists have to be careful about where when, and to whom they share their opinions. This to preserve their image of neutrality. In George's position, I would have probably said " My lips are sealed as an objective journalist. I have to keep the public away from my stances." EDIT: This was nothing major and George should be left alone. Again...beware of fans and watch what you say around them. You provide perfectly valid and balanced points. Totally agree that we need to be careful of insulting/dismissing the public's intelligence to explain their preferences. Subjective statements ahead lol...I have to maintain that GMA's abuse of "breaking news", "breaking overnight" and constantly speaking in present tense adds a false sense of urgency to the news, which is problematic journalism. GMA and WNT play on sensationalist fear mongering and click baits to maintain an audience rather than informing and educating them. But, GMA is only a small drop in the bucket. Yes, TV news must evolve and change with the times, but let's make sure we aren't deevolving. We don't even necessarily have to look to the past. International outlets like BBC World News and France 24 really hightlights how insulated and watered down many American news programs like GMA are. There has to be a way to preserve intellectual quality while maintaining an audience. CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes' continued successes prove there is an appetite for such. The notion that the continued dumbing down of journalism is just what has to happen to keep up with the times is bad. Meanwhile, audiences will turn to YouTube channels and podcasts to get the in depth reporting and serious conversations they cannot get from the news.

In addition to transitioning to the CBS News Chicago brand on air, WBBM has returned to the streetside studio after 7 years, along with a KCAL-style set to boot.

With the advent of streaming, one could argue local tv news ratings don't really matter as much as they once did. WBBM, WMAQ, WLS and WFLD all have streaming channels which serve as revenue generators along with their respective linear channel. Plus, people are pretty set in who they watch that there's not much (if anything) anyone can do to change that.

It'd still be incredibly messy as content libraries span both Paramount and CBS. Good luck splitting those up (again) and finding out which company gets what. KKR would only take CBS if they could find a buyer, and even they would know better than that. Then again, they fucked up royally selling Storer Broadcasting to junk bond denizen George Gillett 35 years ago. Otherwise, Larry Ellison's trust fund kid is screwed.

I suspect the company, regardless of what Skydance says, will be split. CBS and Paramount will go different directions.

I wonder how this sky dance deal eventually affects CBS NEWS & CBS News & Stations? That will be interesting to watch.

I agree that there’s opportunity to do something along that back wall. Every inch of space was utilized previously, so there’s no reason why they couldn’t do the same thing now.

I feel like you're ignoring the movie and TV libraries Paramount owns - which would be the real attraction. But a Big Tech firm being interested in that would undermine a key principle of the Streaming Wars™: that content is interchangeable and ultimately disposable.

They should've gotten something like their sister station WXMI... I just rewatched the latest newscast and just shake my head...

I am sure they will adjust this as time goes on... Maybe some tweaking of the colors to make it match the Scripps blue, and the shadow with the floating TV could be corrected as well.

Well, a lot of producers are going to have to find some new "kickers" for their newscasts. Jeanne Moos has retired from CNN. Well, at least there's still "take a look at this!"

Tyrannical Bastard answered the question very eloquently, but to expand on his point...let's say, for example, that the new sports streaming joint venture between Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox, and Disney becomes a success (and if it gets off the ground), if that doesn't put a nail in cable TV's coffin, it'll expedite the process much further. It also probably doesn't help that streamers such as Apple TV, Peacock, Prime Video, ESPN+ (with separate content from linear ESPN) and now Netflix are offering more and more live sports content, along with certain individual NBA and NHL teams now offering in-market telecasts via streaming and/or over-the-air TV without the use of a cable/satellite subscription. Traditional TV providers are continuously losing subscribers left and right, either to the likes of YouTube TV, Sling, or Fubo, or going back to the old "rabbit ears", with the streaming platforms serving as a complement. Not even the news channels are strong enough to keep cable alive IMO, especially when you have multiple streaming outlets to get live news from--from the Big Four themselves, their O&Os, their station partners, or independent outlets (including certain newspapers like the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times). Also, we've seen in recent years that you no longer need the use of cable/satellite to watch the premium movie networks...if you're not a sports fan, or even a news buff, those alone can entice you to "cut the cord", and subscribe to whichever individual streamers that may have your favorite movies. With the current setup, it's going to continue to make traditional cable TV even more useless outside of live sports and news.

KCCI is starting a 4pm newscast this Monday: https://www.kcci.com/article/kcci-tv-des-moines-new-4-pm-newscast/61532703

I agree that those channels have become useless rerun vats. Not to verge too off-topic, but what is the future of cable television? Non existance?

Produce more sequels for Top Gun, Terminator, the Star Trek movie franchise (which would be wholly owned by Ellison now), G.I. Joe, etc. Looking at the Skydance roster of Television series, I am wondering if David Ellison will shutter Paramount+ and pivot the Paramount content to other streamers with relevant relationships, especially Netflix, Prime and and Apple Studios, he'll relaunch Paramount+ as Skydance+ or he'll keep it as it is, which is having select content keyed for Paramount+ while using the Skydance brand to shop content to other streamers. Given how saturated the streaming market is I also think dissolving Paramount+ and creating some sort of hubbed agreement, like Paramount+ on Netflix, a marketing arrangement of a store-in-store retail concept might be interesting.

This set is ugly! The previous one was gorgeous. In style, colors, lighting.

Perhaps one thing I could agree with Mr. Muck is that all of the Paramount cable networks are all-rerun farms, outside of what you've mentioned. As an example, because I watch plenty of classic reruns on days I work from home (if I'm not watching news or sports), Logo is all-day/evening marathons of either Bewitched, The Facts of Life, The Nanny, Mama's Family, Will & Grace, Three's Company, or Married...with Children; the few original programs they had in the past that are still running have since moved to either MTV or VH1 (particularly RuPaul's Drag Race). BET Her is more or less another all-rerun channel, with repurposed content from linear BET or BET+, along with the annual simulcasts of their award shows. BET's Jams, Hip-Hop, and Soul channels also play all-day music videos. I don't watch any of the Nickelodeon channels or TV Land, and haven't in years. Comedy Central, of course, still has some original content, but most of their broadcast days are all-day reruns of the same dozen or so shows, or the same couple dozen movies they currently have rights to. Honestly, with the success of Pluto TV, they've made the Paramount cable networks rather useless, but they're still sticking around just to get retransmission dollars from the various TV providers around. Eventually, and who knows when, several of these networks will shutter and what original content they'll still offer can move to either Pluto or Paramount+ (or whatever becomes of that platform).

An interesting tidbit Shell said courtesy of the Wrap: "I think if there’s going to be a change for CBS, we’re going to probably manage it a bit more aggressively for cash flow, meaning making some harder decisions on time periods and things like that going forward, which you have to when you have a declining business.” Curious to know what is behind his time periods comment. Content or will they do what NBC evaluated and then decided not to pursue regarding the 10pm hour? I'm sure we will see more cheap reality crap.

Overall it seems like a downgrade from their previous set which had a lot of areas for dynamic shots using the talent. I’m quite annoyed they aren’t using the far back wall at all, a total waste of valuable studio space that could be used for more versatile shots. Could be a great multipurpose area. The weather center seems like an afterthought shoved in the opposite corner. Photo is from Albert Ramon’s IG.

They added the 4 red stars from the Chicago Flag to the logo. Ehhh. CBS NEWS Chicago.... Most people will still call it Channel 2. No matter what the networks do to try and brand local stations. People continue to say Channel___. Dont think its going to change anytime soon. Some quick-takes: Looks good. One glaring issue with the new set. Is the awful background noise. ITS VERY ECHOEY!!!!! Goodness. And there is a noticeable static noise when it goes from the studio to b-roll or live outside. Overall the studio audio is garbage. The lighting on the set is blasted with light. It washes out the video walls. Weather looks like crap with the lighting issues from the green screen. Channel 7 screens faces the windows and dont seem to have all those reflections from passing cars and lighting issues on the weather wall. There are definitely some technical issues that seemingly were UN-anticipated or yet to be fixed. I like the theme music when it premiered.......Now i find it incredibility repetitive and boring. Im sure there are some other cuts. KCAL uses a variety. Kinda boring low-res image down the Chicago River. I guess its better than the ugly river-level blurry images they used previously. Overall the production is VERY bland. Kinda yawn, sleepy production. You can tell its all computerized run-down and super simplified and dry, a Jennifer Lyons trademark. The boring graphics package doesnt help. Nice set. But ehh.

Why did the Ford Motor Company not buy up horse-and-buggy dealerships of their choosing in 1924? The answer should be fairly obvious. Because MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Teen Nick are unsalable assets no one in their right mind would want to buy. Simple as that. To be very blunt, Larry Ellison's money can not save this dumpster fire of a company, no matter how much his trust fund kid wants to play pretend media mogul.