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WFOR has been a better station than you're giving it credit.

This is from 1994 when CBS originally accounced that they purchased WVEU with the intent of making it the CBS affaliate in Atlanta. This clip was from WAGA, which was in the process of leaving CBS for FOX.

The thing is, CBS doesn't need to run WUPA well as a CBS O&O for it to be a financial success to stockholders, which is all that matters. It just needs a better balance sheet than WUPA as an independent. This paragraph is speculation, but the retransmission deal CBS has with pay TV providers likely is structured that so CBS gets more per subscriber for a station running CBS programming than an independent station. Plus, they get to keep all of it as opposed to negotiating a reverse compensation affiliation deal with WANF where Gray was paying CBS some percentage of the retransmission fees Gray collected. Syndicated programming costs will go down in the long-run since CBS network programming covers 11 hours per weekday in the time between CBS Mornings and Colbert. (Plus however many hours of CBS News roundup and CBS News Mornings they air overnight) There will be CBS programming where they can charge more for ads than they could with existing syndicated programming. They don't need to go big or expensive building a news department. That cost can be managed along with the expectations for it, and there is far more space to sell in a local newscast than in syndicated programming. Even if they attract lower quality advertisers, that revenue, ideally, gets made up in added availability to sell.

Local stations "bid" on the OTA rights of games that are otherwise streaming-only (Prime, Netflix, etc.) or on cable, no matter their affiliations. That said, the Falcons only have 2 such games, this season, so that obviously wouldn't be enough to prop up a station.

The NFL still requires it...for now. That may very well change in 2029 if the NFL feels such a change is in its best interests.

Gray doesn't really have a choice. To be fair, neither do any other broadcasting companies. They can't cut the cord and abandon traditional broadcast TV because that's where they've tied up their money, by investing in infrastructure and technology, and by relying on retransmission fees and --- to a lesser extent for some companies -- advertising revenue. Broadcasters missed the boat when it came to adopting a digital news and programming strategy that could also be effectively monetized. I also think what Gray is doing at WANF is a sign of what's eventually to come for broadcasters. Networks really don't need affiliates anymore. Certainly not as great a need as what existed in decades past. The time will come when the networks get rid of affiliates and rely solely on their streaming platforms. Affiliates will then either sink or swim. Those that do swim will rely on a heavy mix of local news and local programming. But the long-term sustainability of such a plan is in doubt. In 2029, the NFL can opt out of most of its TV contracts, and if it does so, then so goes what is perhaps the biggest reason why people still watch broadcast TV.

I composed two themes that are used daily; the entire QCL package, and the tease and talent themes, Plus, several handfulls of suplimental cuts, which will still be used.

A reminder for folks when it comes to cbs buying stations. 1. their finances aren’t exactly in the best shape right now. Buying a non appreciating asset like a broadcast station would not be a smart move financially 2. The current administration has a vendetta against Paramount. Even if cbs wanted to it’s likely to be held up by regulators for petty reasons

What incentive would CBS have to purchase WANF? Gray poured a lot of money and resources into WANF and would likely not sell unless it was for a LOT of money. CBS is also not in the mood or the shape to go on a buying spree right now.

There may have been some personal issues behind it, or a negotiation with ABC. Neither of which need to become public. Whatever, I'd just accept the decision.

Most likely be a VR set, quicker setup

If he’s 75 now the odds of him simply disappearing one day aren’t near zero anymore. Sometimes you just gotta know when to hang it up.

Yeah. IIRC, KSBW is their smallest station right now in terms of market size, and its DMA was ranked around 100. (Also, I included KWWL as it'd give KCCI an in-state sister station.)

The only games Gray could get in Atlanta are if they bought a pre-season package of 3 meaningless games, and any local rights to a Thursday night Amazon Prime game if the Falcons are in the game. The regular season football package is exclusive to CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN/ABC and to their O&Os/affiliates.

After it (WCIX ch.6/WFOR-TV ch.4) had a callsign change and a channel swap...

Yeah, it’s the end of an era indeed. This is exactly how it played out for Bill Beutel in the late 90s until he left the station in 2003. And most of the veteran anchors stayed on the 6 p.m. show till their final days. Bill Ritter, now his replacement from 2003, is now 75, so it’s understandable that he's slowly beginning his departure from the career. Hopefully, he stays till 2030! What a solid anchor and face he has been for WABC.

...and has been a CBS affiliate thrice previously: 1953—1958, 1960–1962 (both as KTNT-TV) and 1995–1997. So CBS leaving KIRO-TV and going back to Channel 11 in Tacoma won't be much of a stunning development as what's about to happen in Atlanta.

KSTW is technically already a CBS O&O.

I wish I could say I was shocked but as I've said for years, without the SEC and with CBS becoming what Moonves feared would happen under Viacom's rule, Gray wasn't going to keep paying them for a third-place product at major-market prices. They get a clean slate and now it's all CBS's problem. Like I was saying on the After Midnight thread, replacing it with Byron Allen repeats won't cause affiliates to dump the network, but underinvestment across the board and settling 'that lawsuit' and intefering with news judgement certainly doesn't help. These groups are not willing to pay for content like formless reality shows and Hollywood Squares that only a decade ago were full-on MTV2 and VH1 product. This was where WSVN was on January 1, 1989 and I feel like this is a similar situation, where the network felt no loyalty and was happy to let them go their own way, and it really didn't work out well for CBS, which is de facto irrelevant in Miami. It's never felt like they cared any way or the other for WANF. And yes, we're in an unknown, but TV has adjusted before. Gray has the Braves and the Hawks will eventually come to their own crossroads with FanDuel, and who knows what happens with United and Apple TV; they could offer more games from them, and I feel like in a few years if they keep on this track, they could be at parity with WSB news-wise. Meanwhile, WUPA is just...nothing. It has call letters from a network that died twenty years ago, a lousy lineup and all of its news product has been worse than if they did nothing at all. I don't think they're going to invest a lot in Atlanta; maybe ramping up their sports coverage as the Falcons official station (speaking of cursed entities), but they'll probably do enough to look relevant and not much more than that.

It's a little too late for Byron Allen to recoup what he spent for those stations. Even if the FCC totally deregulates TV broadcasting, Allen's stations are about as appealing to purchase as a rusted-out Ford Pinto. Plus, Allen Media gutted its stations to absolute bare minimums, and in some cases, the company doesn't even own the physical property. Anyone who's crazy enough to buy an Allen Media station will have to effectively un-Allen the stations by undoing the damages caused by hubbing master control, weather, etc. Kind of like what Gray had to do when it bought the Meredith stations and had to undo Meredith's dumb decisions.

End of an era. Interesting that he said he’ll remain at EWN at 6 for years to come. Mike Marza is going to do great alongside Sade.

Jesus. Blurred or not why would they even air those images? The content could have just been described. News in the 70s and 80s was RAW! History repeats itself. With news of CBS Atlanta leaving Channel 46 and going to Channel 69, here are some news reports of when the CBS affiliation almost went to Ch 69.

Gray has really put a lot of work into WANF to make it into a valuable station. Why CBS did not acquire WANF I do not know. Then again, I don't even know the logic behind taking the CBS affiliation and putting it on WUPA in the first place. I get that they own the station but they have to put money into WUPA to bring it to at least the bare minimum for a CBS affiliate like say... news department and such.

I'd probably feel it'd be more likely if it weren't for having WJZ in nearby Baltimore.

But won't CBS just air the games on their new local station? How would Gray get the rights

Yeah, it was WCIX that was irrelevant because of a poor signal and limited resources for their news department. Once Steve Maudlin came in as GM by 1998, they became competitive.

WMAQ 10PM News (8/7/1987) during the second month of the ongoing strike between NBC technicians and the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians

I have a rolling list of stations that have yet to switch to GrayONE. 52 news departments have yet to switch. KOSA/KCWO has somewhat soft-launched with their logo but still using old graphics.

Knew it was coming and I understand his reasoning, but I'll miss Bill and Sade working together. As of tonight, they've also updated the 11pm thumbnail with Mike:

An unexpected lowpoint from what used to be a respectable network. What is the purpose of this video anyways?

It’s something the ABC stations have done since they broadcasted online. I assume they’re fearful about rights but other chains have no issue.

Actually 31 years LOL

I can only see Hearst buying WKOW and the Wisconsin stations to bolster WISN plus WAAY to bolster WVTM. The rest would be difficult for Hearst to imagine buying. I don't see them going back to Hawaii (for KITV).

Will they hire, build and launch a newsroom and product in just 10 weeks? If it is outsourced again to WCBS, WFOR, KTVT, WBZ or other O&O, I just can't see how they will have an actual local presence and build viewership. Because there is a large Gray affiliation agreement part of all this, I wonder who pushed whom? It puts a little different light on this.

Wow. Didn’t see that coming. The new station launches newscast it definitely gonna struggle in the ratings. Like some have said this is purely money related I don’t think CBS knows how hard it is yeah they have newscasts but it’s produced somewhere else. You’re talking about moving production in-house and starting an entire news department from scratch, in a market with 3 established stations and one station that losing it affiliation struggling to keep up now you add another newsroom in the picture. I think CBS is gonna have a very weak prescene in Atlanta. This was money based not ratings based and it will hurt CBS.

That's exactly what I just said on a private message with two of these people on this site!!!! Get outta my head, dude.

We have a CW55 logo!

The way CBS is going now (especially with their "bombshell" in Atlanta)....Nexstar and others could be a victim of CBS pulling up stakes for whoever pays them the most.

KCRA Channel 3 Reports 1980 KCRA Channel 3 Reports 1975

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME. The sooner it is off Allen's hands, the better. This means all of Allen's dumb moves will be reversed immediately. Stations like WJRT, KVOA, and WTHI must be rejoicing at this news.

The least surprised person has to be @Weeters, he suggested to me privately that WUPA easily could become CBS-owned after WWJ-TV finally got a news service. Or that they'd be used as a bargaining tool with the other groups. Now it's a matter of when WTOG and KSTW become CBS-owned, not if. As KIRO is already for sale; things could get spicy...

KBTX has debuted grayone with new music Screen_Recording_20250602_130114_Samsung Internet.mp4

On the other hand, unlikely since they own the FOX affiliate there, but it'd be kinda cool if the Big 3 network stations in Tucson are owned by the same owner of the Big 3 stations upstate in Phoenix with Gray/CBS, Scripps/ABC, & TEGNA/NBC.

Steve Wilkos wasn't aired for 2 & half years after FOX17 didn't renew it in fall of 2021 returned in Jan 2024 when CW7 changed things around after losing The CW which they didn't need make changes other than primetime in my opinion. Karamo wasn't added until March of 2023 on WXSP and now CW6.

I genuinely don't understand the angst regarding Nightly broadcasting from Studio 1A. Is it just sentimental longing for a dedicated space? From a business perspective, it doesn't make a lot of sense to build a standalone studio for a show with a 22-minute runtime where the studio itself is on camera for a few minutes. The economic realities make Nightly's use of 1A completely reasonable. Heck, Nightly started switching the show from the 1A control back room during Brian Williams' tenure. I don't see the practical need for a big production space for a solo-anchored newscast like this. ABC World News Tonight uses a shared studio space, but outside of a bump shot, the show is mostly a static shot of David seated in front of an LED wall. And this is the top-rated evening newscast, and on occasion, has been the most watched show on television. So while the set in Studio 1A might be a little long in the tooth, it seems perfectly serviceable. Lester's ratings didn't drop when they moved to 1A. And I doubt Tom's would spike if they had their own space. When budgets are being slashed, the priority should be to keep investing in newsgathering resources. Building a new set to say you have a dedicated space doesn't seem like a good use of shrinking resources. But I might be missing something here.

Too bad the WCLE call letters aren't available.

Just checked KBJR- post “Northern News Now” inception, the “N” rotated with the peacock or cbs eye, depending which channel was airing the show. Network logos have been replaced with an impressive, yet unnecessary, animated Gray TV logo, the “N”/Tree logo remains with festive Christmas lights added for the season, and a QR code I’d assume gets you to download their app. They’re still using their Quincy graphics. As for the gray logo… does any regular viewer (read: none of us) know or care what Gray is?

Much, much better WAFF. -- Matt

So... Old enough to know better, young enough to still get carded at the bar.

I believe they run really close to each other. WISC I believe wins by a hair. WISC finally did get a new set 2 or so years ago and it was very much needed. Their graphics package I think was a small step back , but back to WMTV...I'll have to watch to see how they do their opens since NBC15 is embedded in their website, intros etc.