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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.

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.

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

Just announced last week. They're moving to the Evening News set later this year.

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...

So, what happened to Mark Schanowski? Did he leave? I thought he was per.diem/#3 at ABC7 for sports?

Can't speak for the other affiliates, but I've noticed that KMSP and KVRR have begun treating the Friday night news like the weekend- with weeknight anchors/mets working Sunday-Thurs and the Weekend crew on Friday/Saturday. Is it reactionary to the network? Fox does have a decently strong Sunday with the Animation Domination block as lead-ins compared to the Friday/Pre-emption situations.

Oh great. The Scrippscast method that Sinclair adopted has since spread to KTXS/KTXE.

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.

A full edition of Channel 5 Singapore's News 5 Tonight from October 6, 1994, demonstrating both their Novocom-produced graphics and Frank Gari's Where It All Happens package:

isn't sports the only thing keeping linear TV in general afloat? In STL, would ABC be happier on a subchannel of KSDK, KTVI, KPLR, or KMOV instead of a station with no news dept? But maybe Sinclair has more leverage than Scripps

Part of the reason I question if WSVN will eventually go for a full ABC affiliation, is the thought that a big three affiliation is greater/more prominent than a Fox. Does that still hold true (especially for CBS after the 1994 realignments)?

Bingo. Correct. I believe WSVN started their morning news in 1983 as Today in Florida at 6:30 a.m., six years before they would later lose NBC.

That shouldn't matter. WSVN still uses Today in Florida which (correct me if I'm wrong) was a title it got during its NBC affiliation days. WTVJ calls their AM newscast NBC 6 News Today to differentiate. It's ironic that WSVN is often called the model Fox affiliate despite distancing itself from the Fox brand. Yes the business is changing... but as people have said before, I don't see ABC being content on a sub channel long-term in a top 20 market. If this were a smaller market, the CW or My Network TV, perhaps. We may be looking at another shake up in the next few years.

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.

Exactly. I really don't understand what the point was. It must be really annoying to work at CBS News with all the cost cutting and then see them spend money on stuff like moving "CBS Mornings" (what a dumb name) to Time Square with a set that looks like it could be a green screen. Honestly, all the networks have gotten really lazy with set design. The new trend seems to be make a fake digital set and then display it on a huge screen as a background.

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.

They could go back to Studio 57. CBS News 24/7 has been embracing VR/AR studios anyway..

Not surprising. A rapidly changing reality at the macro and micro levels sometimes necessitates substantial changes. By no means unique to any company or industry, just the way life goes.

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.

Trying to push viewers to switch their sports rage opinion source of questions nobody asks from ESPN to FS1 by using the Super Bowl's momentum; all of these networks have lost the point of how to push viewers to other networks, including the Puppy Bowl now getting a Discovery and TNT simulcast while cannibalizing Animal Planet's own audience. Even last night the NFL Honors was simulcast on Fox and NFL Network, and for no real reason, it aired at 9pm ET to take out the 10pm news rather than the usual 8pm (ETA - Didn't know it was the season finale for Hell's Kitchen so it makes sense). I'm sure the viewer feedback and tip lines at Fox affiliates have a few unhappy viewers this afternoon, along with Harvey Levin, who gets TMZ Live pre-empted.

I'm sure this is one of the million questions and decisions NBC and SpinCo will be addressing over the next year. It could be as you say, or 100% streaming or license some games to USA. There are other sports that NBC has the rights to that air on USA including Premier League Soccer, A10 basketball, and others.

My early guess is that the peacock logo goes so viewers still don't associate it with NBC.

MSNBC to keep its name post-spinoff

Sandra Smith is co-hosting Weather Command with Stephen Morgan today covering the CA Wildfires

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..

Or... getting out before the holidays.

Panthers unsurprisingly have the Scripps graphics from Golden Knights games, which are serviceable Meanwhile, the Utah HC games are still using the NHL/MLB Network graphics but with SEG Media branding, implicating that these are remaining team productions rather than Scripps Sports productions from the top down (as the Utah Jazz games also have that branding and a league-provided graphics package -- which is used primarily by some WNBA games)

I heard they were like fox, but further right. Imagine if they started their own national news network and put it on their own and operated stations.

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

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

A little bit far off, but it's been confirmed it'll be CBS Sports producing the Christmas games for Netflix. Likely we'll get both games locally in-market on the CBS-owned stations (including WJZ and KDKA). CBS talent is yet to be confirmed to be used. And no changes to the Packers package this year; still in house with the same look and CBS production.

Since I haven't seen anyone start it up yet, I will, here's the 2024 LocalNewsTalk preseason NFL graphics roundup starting with Carolina & New England (no changes it appears) & Detroit & N.Y. Giants both using the current 2023 FOX graphics set, the Lions going from Bally Sports Detroit while the Giants have switched broadcast rights from WNBC to WNYW. Have a feeling we'll see this change implemented on the Atlanta Falcons & Minnesota Vikings broadcasts with both being on FOX O&O's (WAGA & KMSP) & using their NFL grahpics in the past.

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.

Always keep in mind this is premiere week ratings. Let’s give it a month.

In two to three years I predict the show will be a husband and wife hosted show with Tony and Katy.