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Not a moment too soon, because I think they ran out of breaking news in the 8am hour this morning.

If you're of a certain age, you can remember the glut of first-run syndicated dramas, sitcoms, and musical/talent shows that were around during the 1980s and '90s...a lot of that had to do with more TV stations signing on the air during that aforementioned time (thus needing the programming, besides old off-network reruns and whatever live sports they could cobble up), and already-established stations having more control over their programming inventory. Over time, with the launch of Fox, and later The WB and UPN, plus the growth of cable TV (both in terms of subscribers and the number of networks), a lot of these same kind of shows that would be meant for first-run syndication eventually migrated to those outlets, and now 25-30 years later, much of that same type of content has migrated to streaming. The more I think about it, these local stations (including the likes of WPLG) may have to try "re-invent the wheel" in order for them to survive in the long-term...going wall-to-wall news (like a certain CW station in my home city) may not cut it everywhere.

I grew up during that era, so I watched a number of syndicated shows (mostly sci-fi and fantasy), though little of it regularly as there usually wasn't a TV available in the house when I wanted one. The thing that always annoyed about syndicated programming was that it'd end up in weird time slots such as late at night or weekend afternoons. Even the most of indie stations would do that, saving the 8-11pm hours for movies. I remember being down in Florida one summer and discovering that one station was showing either Hercules or Xena during primetime hours on a Tuesday night.

Good Morning America is planning to depart its iconic Times Square Studio this summer https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/good-morning-america-times-square-move/

Here's some more highlights to add to what @ekt8750 has: Video Tour via NBC 10 YouTube Page

GE ultimately sold NBC and WTVJ to Comcast plus lots of investment made WTVJ a player in the market again

CW and NASCAR are debuting a new set.

Since the old Hearst thread got locked. I decided to make a new one where you can talk about anything Hearst. Let's hope this new thread doesn't get out of hand!

Speaking of stations that are strong as independents, we'll see what will happen in Miami now because the bombshell just dropped; WPLG is done with ABC as of August 4th. Meanwhile right after that, we already also have an idea where the network is headed; it's getting subbed to WSVN's second sub; Mods, I think this needs to be broken out to its own thread.

I can't find a thread for general discussion about Cox Media Group, so let's start one with some actual news! WSB-TV anchor Justin Farmer is leaving the station after 16 years for an undisclosed finance job. Here's what's odd about this. WSB management announced the news to employees today (November 25) at the morning editorial meeting, and Farmer's last day is tomorrow (November 26th). A 24-hour turnaround from announcement to goodbye? This reeks of either a budget cut or a failed contract negotiation.

Friday and Saturday are the weakest TV nights of the week, so that does make sense to use the "B" team then as opposed to the standard M-F and weekend teams. Some ABC affiliates tended to do this in the past when they had strong shows back then...

Not surprised that The Flip Side got renewed since CBSM had another game show The Perfect Line for the fall which will be paired with The Flip side on CBS O&Os indie stations. I think that Billy Bush will remain host of Extra in my opinion unless he doesn't want to be host anymore. As I said that it be one & done for True Crime News once JHud got renewed for a season 4.

Reportedly, all sports programming will continue to air on the spun off cable networks. Production will be outsourced (mostly to NBC Sports), however SpinCo will still have to build a team to 'manage its league deals' and create their own streaming products.

Jaleel White-hosted The Flip Side rolls on for a second season. And The Perfect Line (hosted by Deborah Norville) will launch in the fall. https://deadline.com/2025/03/flip-side-game-show-renewed-the-perfect-line-fall-launch-1236347979/

George Clooney is making his Broadway debut on Good Night and Good Luck, an adaptation of the 2005 movie, and a further adaptation of Edward R. Murrow and CBS News. He does talk about Freedom of the Press among other things. EDIT: He gives a shoutout to his father Nick Clooney and to WKRC-TV Cincinnati, which ironically enough, does carry this program as part of its CBS affiliation.

Somewhere within the past ??? number of weeks, the weekend 6am--9am ET show was rebranded to Weather Command Weekend. Of course, this literally makes no sense given that the weekday edition of Weather Command remains an 8am-12pm ET show. Would have made a lot more sense to keep the weekend 6am-9am ET branded as Fox Weather First Weekend while rebranding the 9am-2pm ET show to Weather Command Weekend, but it doesn't seem like Fox Weather can make many sensible decisions lately.

'Cos its cheap and network tv is on borrowed time. It will exist in some fashion, but the tv landscape is so big now, their influence has waned. All the comedies and dramas are cookie cutter and samey. So they will probably just produce sports and news soon. Lol.

The Times Square location never made sense as they never took advantage of the location. The show could be broadcasting from a basement in Kansas for all we know. Might as well not waste money using expensive real estate if there's nothing to gain.

Given the current financial situation at the Lighthouse, I could see Disney steering clear for calmer waters. If Scripps goes down, it's pandora's box who will end up with what. At least with WSVN they know what they are getting into.

ABC being relegated to subchannel-only status in Miami of all places sounds like the biggest lateral move ever.

It's been finally announced the RSNs will be available on Peacock for an add on subscription (rate varies by market). https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/news/sports/stream-sixers-phillies-flyers-peacock/654941/

CBS has released their booths for this coming season. No big surprises:

I'll watch Grand Slam Track sounds interesting as I like Track & Field why isn't the main NBC going to air it thou and only on Peacock streaming only. NBC not have enough space to fill on the weekend like The CW does.

I'm not sure if I should ask this question here or in a different section or category, but NBC new deal with the NBA includes WNBA games being aired on USA network. Since USA will be part of spinco, will thus deal be changing so WNBA games will air on NBC or peacock instead?

No surprise there. Microsoft sold its share around twenty years ago, and few people think of that company when they watch or think of MSNBC or even see its name.

MSNBC to keep its name post-spinoff

The article clearly states there is much to still be determined in unwinding "SpinCo" from the current NBCUniversal, including NBCU's structure. It again reiterates it is a spin off, to shareholders, not a wholly owed new Comcast division. It will have its own stock, its own board (who we don't know the members yet) and make its own decisions. How it interacts with NBCU, especially on providing content is to be determined and complicated.

I think they should move all their cable sports programming to bravo network, as well as peacock. Comcast will spin off most of their cable networks to a new company,. Eventually, they will sell that new company if a buyer makes a good offer for the new company, is that correct?

Depends on what they decide. All we know is that the cable stations except Bravo will be spun off (not sold). Probably moving to Peacock is the end game but they can also license to the new entity for broadcast on USA etc for a specified period. Golf rights could also be split between NBC and the new company for airing on both the network and Golf Channel. They can take this approach with the Olympics too in 2026. For now it is all speculation as they have a lot to figure out and nothing has been publicly announced other than the planned spin off..

Good timing on the launch of the CMG thread... more news: they're shutting down the DC bureau.

Or... getting out before the holidays.

Chicago Sports Network launched today. Here’s their Blackhawks scorebug in action:

I don't feel the frontline people in SBG outside the ones who advertise they're there because of the c-suite's views are that at all. Like the big gas station chain in Wisconsin, they give a lot of GOP money but the actual people working in the gas stations may share views, but it's not why they got a job there at all. It's a stupid business decision to dump a network in another language that lets you only need to fill five hours of time a week for a lineup of declining English syndication surrounded by Blazers and (eventually I'm sure) other local sports. And I hope Univision gets an equal affiliate that isn't 260 miles away and requires LD stations to get to the city's main market. But it isn't racist. They ruined a relationship burnished by Fisher to make in-roads with a community that wasn't often seen, just because they wanted to air sports, The CW, and have an overflow station for their news coverage (which for KATU and KOMO I will argue trades on appalling self-hating of Washington, Oregon, and its citizens...all of them). They lose that loyal audience that won't come back outside Blazer telecasts, and that own audience ain't gonna be loyal viewers of ARC Portland, AMG court shows and probably 50 episodes of Family Feud a week or whatever surrounds it. It's not a racist move, but just a plain idiotic move when KPDX, KRCW, or even KGWZ (KGW's LD sister carrying ODOT/weather 24/7) would've been much better partners that don't require you to buy or find 156 more hours of programming a week and run a failure of an indie around the NBA. Honestly I wish the NBA would've made arrangements like the Padres, D-Backs and Rockies did for streaming and cable, but they have a different strategy, and they don't care whether nobody is watching KUNP the rest of the day, just during the game, and the team is definitely selling the online streaming much more in this arrangement.

And..... I was right. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/09/portlands-kunp-tv-will-drop-univision-affiliation-spanish-language-programming-in-2025.html%3foutputType=amp

New NBC Sports look for hockey And here's a highlight package from the NHL that shows off some elements from the package:

This probably means that Univision Portland's days are numbered.

Graphics feel like a mix of TNT with some CBS-esque stylings. Besides the size I'd say that's pretty nice. MSG also has new graphics

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/03/paramount-skydance-merger-deal-update.html https://player.cnbc.com/p/gZWlPC/cnbc_global?playertype=synd&byGuid=7000341982

Bengals package is fundamentally the same, but the production values have noticeably come up, probably not a coincidence in their first year on new local flagship WXIX. The graphics have some motion to them now with dissolves and wipes. Font is clearly their in-house typeface with something similar to the FOX 2017-20 package.

Fox issued a press release back in May highlighting their NFL coverage for this upcoming season (including Super Bowl LIX), and as many know that Tom Brady will make his NFL analyst debut with Kevin Burkhardt on September 8th (week 1), when the Cowboys face off versus the Browns in Cleveland. However, those in Tampa Bay, Washington DC, and their teams' respective secondary markets will see Commanders at Buccaneers instead. Greg Olsen, who served as Burkhardt's partner the previous two seasons will join Joe Davis as their #2 team, and there will be also some shuffling amongst the other broadcast teams. The only non-change will be the team of Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma. As per the USA Today, here's Fox's lineup of main broadcast teams (excluding the sideline reporters, although it's confirmed that Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will work with Burkhardt & Brady) Kevin Burkhardt & Tom Brady Joe Davis & Greg Olsen Adam Amin & Mark Sanchez Kenny Albert & Jonathan Vilma Kevin Kugler & Darryl Johnston Chris Myers and Mark Schlereth

Things that make you go hmmmmm......for all those who remember the '90s anyway

I wonder if Shari Redstone will say yes to the Skydance deal which will selloff CBS & Viacom cable networks as all that Skydance wanted was the Paramount studios only.

And it still hasn't been announced. Supposedly Shari Redstone is still thinking it over, after all, she has the final say. That she hasn't indicated anything yet is enough to make one curious.

David Faber is reporting it. You can take that to the bank.

Does this make CBS the Eye in the Sky looking at you? (It can read your mind.)

Since ESPN is running the technical production for these games, I think you'll be seeing the ESPN look for the foreseeable future.

Per the NY Post, CTM seems to be clicking with viewers https://nypost.com/2019/05/29/gayle-king-already-a-ratings-a-success-for-cbs-this-morning/?_ga=2.93574365.1157626706.1559208938-amp-MSambGDh_qw5Tt1wjXe6Fg

I see he's taking the Lester Holt approach until CBS finds a suitable replacemwnt.

I’ll add that a Tony and Katy show might not be terrible for ratings.

I know Hearst standardized their severe weather crawl where there is a graphic that displays the type of weather warning that is occurring, next to it the counties and until what time they are affected and below it more detailed information in a ticker stream. Here is what it currently looks like: Then today I started wondering what kind of digital on screen bug do other Hearst stations use during severe weather when the crawl is not in place. You can see one in the above picture on the lower right hand side. However it appears differently during the newscasts - the main thing is that it adds the peacock logo and the 11 is now yellow instead of translucent. Take a look: With all of these differences in graphics made me wonder what other Hearst stations do to alert viewers to severe weather. Do they use the same type of illustration (the storm clouds or snowflake) integrated with their logo to alert viewers or is it completely different? Please share. Secondly if any one has a guide or listing to all the different types of warning logos please share. I remember in the late 90s - early 2000's WBAL used to print out a pamphlet outlining all of their different logos for severe weather (I think there were about 9 different type of alerts) along with tips of what to do in such a situation. I believe the alert logos are the same today as they were in the late 90's.