Leaderboard

You read that right. KWQC commissioned it (thanks to Cyle Dickens' help nonetheless) and will debut on June 10th.

The current music pkg isnt even music. Its weak boring.. nothing. A few lame sounds to put you to sleep. This is at least a music pkg with some style. God.. why have the Scripps stations become so boring and vanilla. They are unwatchable. No energy. WXYZ is the worst offender. Is that on purpose?

Today happens to be Meterologist Maria Quiban’s 25th year at FOX 11 and it just shows how fast the time flies.

This is the 7 day forecast graphic. It looks pretty decent me thinks.

I was told by the assistant news director at KJRH back in April that Scripps was working on a new graphics package and looks like Tampa Bay is the first to get it.

I saw this on X. If this is any indication, we could be on a verge of a HUGE major rebrand for RTVE Spain, the first major change to happen since 2008. Stay tuned...

In celebration of their upcoming move, Telemundo 47 had a farewell party for the old space. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKTJEI6OD75/?igsh=MXU1dHluMWI4NDhxdg== T47 will debut from the new studio tomorrow, May 31st https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKSItSbqLwA/?igsh=NGkweWZjZXF0NXZl

It’s probably to counter the stupid, over the top, full of yourself presentation of WDIV. And besides. It’s the best thing they’ve put out product wise since all the old folks retired. That and they can put out a cleaner product than WDIV, which it is, and try to capitalize on that sinking ship over there. Do I wish they had some of the old O&O style energy? Sure. It’s it the most mistake free in the market? Probably. This new music package with the goofy string sound just sort of repeats variations of that and it sounds kinda weird after a while. WFTS played about two minutes if it today and it really never even gets off the ground. It might make a great BREAKING NEWS bed but it’s kinda lousy theme music.

Great retrospective of Lester’s NN tenure, it’s hard to believe 10 years has flown by since he was elevated from weekends. He’s always been one of my favorites.

For those lived in East Coast, the final edition of NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is aired NOW. The video will soon be appeared at the end of the broadcast.

I hope WEWS gets on this wagon.

I’ll offer my piece: CBS is probably in even worse shape than even the Tisch years. It seems like whatever plagued Viacom in the 2010s has finally claimed CBS (and to an extent, Showtime). As someone said, other than the NFL and college football and basketball, what sports does CBS have to hang its hat on? The Big Ten deal is a massive downgrade compared to those SEC years. They have golf, but post-Tiger Woods, it’s not really popular. Outside of that, it’s mostly stuff that would’ve been on CBS Sports Network a decade ago. Say what you will about the other networks, but they have a robust slate of sports like NBC with the NFL, the NBA, and likely the MLB. Or ABC with the NHL, NFL, college football, etc, all via ESPN. And then there’s the news division. Dear God, the news division. Between wondering who is anchoring CBS Evening News this week, the scandals with 60 minutes, and the curse of Captain Kangaroo that permeates the 7-9am timeslot, CBS News has been a joke post-Cronkite, but especially since Scott Pelley left Evening News and CBS had to revamp its morning show for the 5000th time. Oh, and primetime! Jumping Jesus, primetime! What is primetime on CBS like in 2025? Ten different versions of NCIS, FBI, and Blue Bloods, few if any comedies, and an excuse to give away Chevy Traxs and Hyundai Accents before the 11pm news. Yes, I’ve long accepted that broadcast TV is on life support. However, watching CBS is the equivalent of watching your elderly family member on life support and in pain. It’s that unbearable.

Couldn’t help but notice the stand up area with the faux windows near the desk has been removed. So they’re now down to just home base and the interview area. Curious to see what the end result of this set remodel will be. Also, a Chicago city grid has been added as a third background option (along with a tv monitor and the Fox 32 logo) in Studio 32.

I wanted to update this, as Kristine welcomed Lonnie back to the 11pm this week, so it appears the change was only to ease him back into work (and I think Vanessa was still doing the 6pm/8pm). So now with Scott added, they have Lonnie, John, Vanessa, Tony, and Scott. And not to mention Craig Allen and Rob Marciano.

Wouldn't surprise me if Scott becomes the chief at CBS New York & let Lonnie focus on CBS Evening News.

This looks like something they would do. I mean, some of the elements here look pretty familiar.

Good 'ol WPLG from 1999. This was back when WPLG was in Miami-Dade, when Eyewitness News was still its name, and when The One and Only (music package) was only five years old. https://youtu.be/98yqxcDQ-kk?si=m5kay_cuqjvOnuik

Reminders of final day today for local news anchors: • WRGB's Liz Bishop after an amazing 52-year run. The special half-hour at 6pm will be her last. • NBC's Lester Holt (already mentioned in another thread). • KCTV's Carolyn Long after 28 years. • WDBJ's Jean Jadhon after 33 years. EDIT: Adding a meteorologist: • WTLV/WJXX's Tim Deegan after 43 years. I can't think of more but get those recorders ready for historical preservation on YouTube.

JUST FOR REMINDER: After taking the role as a anchor and managing director a decade ago in June 2015, tonight will be the last day of Lester Holt anchoring NBC Nightly News.

4pm- Samantha Cortese and John Fenoglio 5pm/6pm- Cher Calvin and Micah Ohlman 6:30pm- Micah Ohlman 7pm- Cher Calvin and Micah Ohlman....same team for 10pm/11pm.

I look forward to resounding at length... it's been a long day for now. Bachatcha soon .. thanks!

The openings looks good. More generic white box L3s graphics (yawn) but definitely an upgrade from their current flat blue rectangle L3. It looks like a better version of WPIX's mid 2010s package. I think the lower third would look better if the "Right now at 5:00 subject line" were placed above the white box, not within it. I like the depth on some of these graphics such as here. The curves remind me of the ABC O&O graphics. Can't wait to see these on WPTV.

Bring back Linda Church from retirement

WFLA Newschannel 8 1994 WPVI Action News 1990 WJZ Eyewitness News 1993 (clip starts at 14:11) WRC News 4 1993 KNBC Channel 4 News 1995 WHBF 4 News closing at the beginning of the clip. 1985 WTSP 10 News 1994

WTWO announced today it has hired former WTHI anchor Patrece Dayton as a part time reporter. Dayton was part of the massive layoffs at WTHI/Allen Media earlier in the year.

Anthony and Kaitlin are a ‘interesting’ choice to pair together. Nevertheless, I don’t think WGN (or anyone else) has to worry about ‘Chicago Now’. They should have brought back their ‘Good Day After the Show’ Facebook Live program. It was a lot more entertaining.

Looks on par with the updates across the O&O's as they still work on phasing out the searchlights in the logos (KMSP recently redid their opens as well). Overall the stills with the FOX outline behind the logo give me "2010's WBBM 15 years later" vibes.

For the first time in its entirety on YouTube:

I wonder who composed that awesome 80s news theme package. Before and after the switch from KBTV to KUSA in 1984, Channel 9 started using it in 1983. What made the KUSA news opens with that theme ever better...Mr. ABC himself Ernie Anderson opening for Mike Landess/Ed Sardella and the rest of the 9NEWS team. When Gannett bought sister station KARE (the WTCN) Channel 11 in 1983, it brought KUSA's Joe Franzgrote to the Twin Cities. Along with him came that theme music package and some of his KUSA news team. I'm dying to know who composed that 1983-88 news theme music package

In the past few months I've been doing some little bit of digging into figuring it out who or what company was responsible for creating the theme song that was used for KLBK in 1996 The same theme that was used for KNOE-TV in Monroe La, WHP-TV in Central Pennsylvania, and KNAZ in Northern Arizona. At first I thought it was done in the sound studios of Stephen Arnold Music during the middle of the '90s. However I've gotten in touch in the past few months with Whitney Arnold, the active president of Stephen Arnold Music. While they were not the creators of that theme it did provide me a clue. KNOE TV (the station I grew up in) licensed "Signature" in 2003 making it the very first time they ever to use the Stephen Arnold news music library. Predating that, in their own records they stated that KNOE and WHP use the same theme song that was around the mid '90s that was actually licensed by Non-Stop music, which later on was absorbed into 615 music which was later than absorbed into Warner Chappell. I did indeed try to get in contact with the people of WC but so far I have yet to hear back from them. I've messaged them three times but so far no luck. She says that it may be from a legacy news package under the Non-Stop music umbrella. If anyone has any further leads or even a small clue on what the name of that theme song is for KNOE TV and WHP TV under the Non-Stop music license feel free to reply.

Was in a cab recently and heard an updated remix of the 80s WNBC NJJ Music theme bed being used for the taxi news updates. Has that cut ever made it on the regular newscasts?

THIS I GOTTA HEAR! The remix version of that WNBC 80s theme, that is

They most of them had different voiceovers, though some had the same. Until 2013 my station WUVC had no voiceover until it got the same guy who vo’s KMEX. They all remain unidentified.

What is the name of the theme that KIRO 7 in Seattle used from around 2013-2015?

https://youtu.be/UQ2NX6PL9N4?si=Kw8Pl1LyA0tWpI2y

Then provide an example, please. That way, someone with a good ear can maybe identify it.

Key words: Well-Educated. Too many people click the first Google result and fail to fact-check themselves.

It appears WWBT has done away with the NBC logo as well. https://youtu.be/BaKNE-vKjuU?si=rxsDSX2t58JPNjtJ

My only issue with the "stripping" of affiliate logos from these stations is that these affiliations lend a form of credibility to them. Bad actors have been lifting and creating fake logos for use on illegitimate "news" sites for the sole purpose of spreading disinformation. Even with FOX affiliates, despite any link to their affiliates and "news" channel. The link between them is minimal and any well-educated person should know that. Being a heritage station and Raycom's idea to use their highly visible longtime neon sign as their main brand is a brilliant branding move. Same with WAVE in Louisville resurrecting their "WAVE" logo from years past.

WNDU's 16 News Now logo has been changed to the new version that doesn't include the NBC Peacock on wndu.com.

Hummingbird, and out of Nashville, no less! Nice find! Their only other known news theme is that WEAR 1994 custom package. Should have known that a local company would have done the WSMV stuff. Well, they also apparently did some WJLA promos from the mid 80s: And a 1992 KCRA promo: And the mid-90s "Here's 2 St. Louis" campaign KTVI used when they went Fox: On the subject of WSMV, they commissioned JAM's Yours Truly—they're the credited commissioner on the JAM site, the image songs were originally written with Nashville references, and Nashville native John Young (instead of Charlie Van Dyke) voices the demo.

I know I've stated this many times on this board. But let me reiterated what I said about the sentiment. One can argue, the change of music isn't the reason why folks are watching the news. But for a station that's been using the same theme song, and not using any specific updates from the theme (except for the 2001 morning theme update), it's in the viewer's consciousness who continues to watch the station's newscasts on a daily and consistent basis. What I think Idler & Miles are doing is trying to meddle with that element and try to sneak some element that's been used by the other O&Os. Yes, WLS have been using the ABC O&O Theme in several instances for the last decade, but it has never used on any openings, bumpers or closes in the newscasts. But I just can't see any those themes being used that fit their current content of WLS's newscasts. But recently, there have been several small tweaks to the content, especially those "pop-up" graphics used on a constant basis, i.e. "New at 4", "New at 5", "New at 6", "Breaking News" (even when it's not all that breaking", "Developing Story", "ABC 7 Exclusive", etc. etc. It's almost like they want to tinker with the content so it could possibly well fit with some new elements or possibly fit a possible newer graphics package. Some of y'all say the future is "bright". What kind of bright are you talking about when you strip the historical overtones and try to strip away the already iconic identity, individuality, locality and creativity & style of the station? Anyone can say, "Ah they need a refresh their look, it's getting stale". I'm not debating any graphic or set changes. It'll probably be a hard process of getting a new set, without doing a temp set, probably upstairs at the 3rd floor, where they did their news prior to going downstairs. Anywho, I'm not debating those. But I don't like those new graphics that are highly animated like the new KABC & WTVD graphics. I don't like those. But the only element i'd care mostly about through all of this is their current use of its music, that I think it's just as iconic and just as big as MCTYW on WPVI and Chroma Cues on WJZ. What would've happen if Idler come and possibly get rid of MCTYW for the same theme the other station on the other side of the Turnpike is using, you wouldn't think the "PVI-effect" would make a repeat, like 17 years ago? My point you look at WLS and WPVI & WJZ, WTOC. But then I've seen what happen to WCSH & KARE 11 & KTVU and the others that had a longtime theme song being dropped after over a longtime of usage. Not just the familiarity of a theme song, also the longevity of the theme song is powerful. Many stations are use to seeing theme song changes left and right for a short period of time. They change just for the sake of it. But I come to embrace the stations that used their theme songs for a decade and longer because it means a whole lot not only to the station, but the viewers that watches the station everyday. News Series 2000 Plus, and I said News Series 2000 Plus, not that "S"-word name that Gari is now calling it for the WLS rejected theme. He'll we don't know what plans Miles & Idler is going to do for the EWN rebrand. But like I said, while I should be jubilating about the return of EWN, I'm feeling more worried, and I had that feeling six years ago, when talk of an updated NS2000+ came about, that this would be a time that News Series 2000 Plus would end its run on WLS. If you ask me if I like the return of Eyewitness News, I wished the Eyewitness News name never left in November of 1996, but like I stated, it was the stations way to not divide the news brand with the overall brand. I still wished they kept the name because the format shows that Eyewitness News never left WLS. But in Dumbo Idler's sence, he probably have different reasons why he want to name to come. I have a feeling he's want to do so, so that he would finally end the stallmate of having that differentiation from all the other O&Os and try to finally be like the others. I just hope they don't follow an ultimatum and drop the longtime News Series 2000 Plus. Mrtraveler01 made this valid point earlier: To reiterate what he said is, while you want to get new viewers (predominently younger viewers), you're at a risk of alienating your longtime loyal viewers. Do they even care at this point? You can let it past Dumbo Idler or his sidekick Curtis Miles. Ever since Idler step foot 190 North State Street 16 months ago, it's been all hell from the jump. He get rid of weekly show 190 North, you get rid of longtime CSD Tom Hebel, He fired Sylvia, and he tries to slowly incorporate his own elements or bring some elements that would alter or eliminate the local feel and historical overtones of the station. This was probably his plan from the get-go. And because all of that I'm extremely pissed. And I said this earlier in this thread, since all he's done these last 16 months, anything that he executes would not be good in my eyes. So I don't hope for the best of him. Until I see anything that would benefit the station, and honoring the historical elements and the traditions and legacies of the stations, I call a spade a spade to Mr. John Idler. And I still call him the NEW Joe Ahern of this market. If he does the ultimatum and pull the plug on News Series 2000 Plus, this would be his worst move since being there. Talk about a catastrophic move, should that ever occurs, and I hope a "PVI-effect" happens as well. But my biggest point I want to make is that, while many are entitled to their own opinions, I'm highly offended by some who are making hypothesis in speculating the end of News Series 2000 Plus on Channel 7. While many of you think because new people are at the station and y'all think its a foregone conclusion, I continue to have hope. And hope is all I have at this point and that's how I feel. While many of y'all probably want to see something new on WLS and probably want to see WLS use things the O&Os use, I despise it. In fact about it, I cringe when I hear people say, why not are they're using that theme used by the other O&Os. Just because this station is not using that other ABC theme, doesn't mean you have too. Everyone loves a theme tune that they are familiar with. When people come to Chicago, they know they here that familiar tune. None of them are familiar with those themes that are or have been used in NY & LA or the countless other ABC affiliates. Like I said, just because WLS is not using them, doesn't mean they have to. So In closing, I'm thrilled that the Eyewitness News name will return. That's a historic overtone of its own. But if the inevitability happens, those dumbos who are running the station to the ground better hope their status of being the top station doesn't go with it.

Meanwhile, I have the ABC O&O whose official stance on using the right ABC logo is "f*** it". Seriously, WPVI uses their own version of the glossy ABC logo in their opens and live-generated 3D logos. It's been that way since 2010. Pretty much everything else utilizes the 2007 iteration of the logo. With two exceptions. The first is the print ads for ABC shows, which I'm sure are done by ABC itself, not 6. (Before they switched to the circle-6, those ads used a version of the 1997 6ABC logo with the entire thing - including the 6 - given the black glossy treatment. It looked really damn cool.) The other exception is the debate WPVI produced itself co-produced with WABC, which is the first and only time I've seen the new ABC logo used on air with the 6. It looks weird. As a result of that I find the worrying about WLS' logo consistency, well, consistently hilarious. Seriously. If 6ABC is okay with using at least three different versions of the ABC logo, then I am too. Besides. We all know that the damn ABC logo should be red in the first place. Or transparent like in the 1993-96 ABC idents, also known as the best f***ing idents to ever air on US television ever.

Wait...what?

Out of curiosity, I was wondering if they still use any of these slogans: Chicago's #1 News Chicago's News Leader People Make the Difference Your News Starts Here Your News, Your Way.

Those had to be done in-house. They've done that a few months ago, before they replace that 20-year old 10pm tease cue for that WABC promo cue.

Are those ABC 7 logo transitions an in-house job or a sign of a future graphics package?

They updated the newsroom reporting station. It doesn't look bad, it's just too tight and dark. By the way, the new live video stream (where the image on the right came from) on the ABC-owned sites is really nice. You can make out the liver spots on Ron's forehead.

Wow! (That's an oh boy, put on your rubber boots because this could be a shit storm, "wow") What I find most interesting about this is the reaction comments on Facebook. The people are soo straight forward and down right will say if they hate it or love it, and they have. Like anything this will take some time to get used to. Some of the people surely noticed a huge change. Comments include: "Wake up every morning to you guys....but the promo is kinda weird...like everyone is freaking out on a coffee rush....it's way over the top, just tone it down a bit." "Love it. Different from the usual tone of your promos, but cool nonetheless. Love ABC news." "Cheesy" " I just threw up a bit in my mouth. Can I get that minute back that I just wasted?" "Bring on the excitement, wonderful, great job Team ABC 7!!!!!!" "You paid for that?" "U could have come up with a better song." "wow - very modern style promo; excellent!" "Ha...we'll give you a couple minutes of REAL news and then the rest of the time we'll fill in with reports of make-overs, summer fashion, cats stuck in trees, and weather, weather, weather, oh...did I mention weather?" "Reminds me of intro to windy city live." "My Lord its like a LAXATIVE commercial." "If you're up@ 4:30am you don't want all that noise..liked the old softer, more dignified version better. The new version is obnoxious and annoying" "I like everything except the music!!!!" Wow! Hold on Boys and Girls!