Leaderboard

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.

With NHL preseason getting underway, let’s get this thread underway. Victory+ is broadcasting its first-ever Dallas Stars game tonight.

Ryan was off most of last week, but was back on Friday night, Dionne was reporting from Milwaukee on Thu/Fri, and Mark must not have been available on Thursday, so that's where Marshall slotted in. Dionne was then off for the weekend, so Mark was sent to Milwaukee for the Illini's 2nd round game, and Marshall was in-studio again. They'll all co-exist, at least for now, with baseball starting, Bulls & Hawks winding down, pre-NFL draft coverage, and the usual Spring break time off.

how do the news heavy indies do in prime time?

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.

I haven't been on here in some time! Latest clips

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

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.

Yeah, this feels like a stopgap measure. A bandage, even.

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.

Too bad they clip sports out of their on demand recordings. Is third fiddle at WLS a step up from Sports Director at WBBM?

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.

Along those lines, I wonder if ABC did pursue WSFL for an affiliation given the relationship between the Alphabet and Scripps. That said, good for WSVN if they can handle it, but we'll wonder long they'll keep ABC and Fox on their signal.

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.

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'll have to wait until I see it in hi-res, but from this initial look, I don't like it.

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?

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.

When Comcast sells off it's cable networks, including USA & cnbc, will they just move whatever sports programming that currently airs on those networks over to peacock?

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

Or HDNet's obscure NHL package from the early 2000s

You know Sinclair is right wing bordering far right? If they at least cared about the Spanish community, they would have some Spanish stations left in their portfolio.

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

The Portland Trail Blazers now have a new broadcast partner: KATU and Sinclair https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/portland-trail-blazers-announce-future-of-trail-blazers-broadcasting A multi-year deal that includes distribution on Sinclair stations throughout Oregon and Washington, mainly on subchannels including in Portland on KATU 2.2 (Charge!) until January 1, 2025, when Blazers telecasts move to KUNP Channel 16 (currently Univision); in Seattle, the games will air on KUNS 51.2 (TBD Network). Also as part of the agreement, the Blazers are creating a paid direct-to-consumer streaming service (BlazerVision) that will have live and classic games, pre and postgame content, and other team-oriented programming.

No changes preseason graphics-wise for the Bills, Bears, Bucs, Chiefs, Chargers, 49ers, Jaguars, Seahawks, & Titans. Raiders using MLBN/NHLN type graphics, while the Vikings & Saints use the current FOX scorebar, & the Cardinals, having moved from KPNX (NBC) to KPHO (CBS) went with a new custom scorebar.

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.

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.

Houston Texans making a slight tweak with the color of the scorebar from last season, Pittsburgh Steelers no change, Atlanta Falcons follows suit with the Lions & Giants with the current NFL on FOX bug, while the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, & Baltimore Ravens remain unchanged from last season.

That won't happen though. In the CNBC article that I shared, it said, In that case, Sony would have kept Paramount and the studios, while Apollo would have taken CBS - and likely would have started to sell it for parts like they have done with Cox stations, maybe even reorganizing Cox stations around CBS.

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.

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.)

Jeff Glor is staying with the eyeball network and headed to SATMO. https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-news/shows/cbs-this-morning-saturday/releases/view?id=52806

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

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

He said on Twitter he will be on that show for a few more weeks.

Anthony Mason still anchoring CTM: Saturday.

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