Leaderboard

Nice bowing down to the Convict-in-chief, ABC. This just put the rest of the news division and the O&Os on notice about criticizing this petulant man-child and the cult members in his administration.

Repeat :

For anyone who remembers or is still interested in the work of TVbD (Television by Design), I can probably answer most questions. I was one of the original members that started the company after leaving WTBS. I've only just noticed your incoming links to the TVbD Vimeo page, so apologies for the late response. I'm recently retired and have been exploring the idea of producing a feature length documentary about the work of TVbD in particular, and/or the history of motion graphic design in general. I'd be curious to know what this community thinks of the idea, and if there might be potential collaborators here. Thanks for the mentions and the memories.

I’m not mad at Terry for keeping it real.

Looks like ABC is taking notes from 20th's former cousin in the news space. Please don't attack me. I had to say it.

I think, unlike George, Lester actually wants to reduce his workload. As for contributing, NBC has a precedent with that- Brokaw sat in on election night for many years after Nightly. Often times, we see an anchor emerita so a special interview- Diane Sawyer still does a limited number for ABC on occasion. No matter what, expect Lester's role to be reduced, and get smaller over time as he get s closer to full retirement.

It's not a bad thing on a normal day-to-day basis, no. It only becomes a problem when the station group still expects stations to churn out sponsored sports shows and specials during football season, or for whatever soccer tournament is on Fox air these days.

That is what it feels like to me, they are keeping the seat warm for now just in case CBS decides the current Evening News format isn't working. Shall we start a betting pool for when Maurice will be back at CBS 2?

That still looks like the old animation to me so I'm still confused.

Agreed, and it was announced in August 2024 that Maurice was moving to the Evening News. Meaning they’ve had 10 months or more to make a decision. Very odd.

Doesn't look like it.

Definitely weird for them not to have picked a replacement as it's been about five months. Such a long gap makes it seem like they're hiring from outside, otherwise it should be easy to promote someone from within. I wonder if all the uncertainty around CBS/Paramount and the new CBS Evening News has them keeping a seat warm for Maurice just in case.

Closest sister stations to there would be in Austin or San Antonio. Unless they have a studio or bureau in San Angelo?

Local morning news is back in Mankato on KEYC. KTTC's morning news will remain on KMNF. https://www.keyc.com/2025/06/09/morning-news-weather-are-back-with-kato-mornings/?fbclid=IwY2xjawK0BNlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHlsKA4yB_bdKgRKXZBPcIStYAORFbjVfP_AtTjNwJTe6enjc9U0s8uNmFVak_aem_5FiTVCpVT86As_ASkdqSYA

This is precisely what the problem is. They took the lazy route and copied WNT's format, especially with the excessive use of breaking news for stories that are sometimes days old. Feeling the need to make changes is fine and necessary, but directly copying your competition is the easy way out, especially if you aren't taking their ideas and trying to improve upon them.

I think Tom gets the job done. He strikes me as the NBC version of David Muir. Young(ish) guy in a suit and tie at the desk, Roving anchorman in a black t shirt out in the field. If not Tom then who is the alternative with those all encompassing traits? Peter Alexander perhaps? IMO the issue is more so NBC Nightly News than Tom. I like Lester Holt but the program's quality declined after took over. It's been rapid fire pacing, high story count, head spinning graphics in packages, and breaking news for the entire A block. All of this I'm sure was a response to World News Tonight getting #1 (so I understand why they felt the need to change). Of the modern era anchors, Brian Williams' broadcast was superior. It fast paced as well but not to the ADHD level it is today. He also possessed a grand narrative style that was evident during his anchor intros that I appreciated. Regarding the speaking I've noticed and been irritated by it too. NBC and ABC anchors seem to shout and as you say talk in half sentences. "Bullets flying; police coming to the scene, investigators finding victims". It's a mechanism to keep the story's "TRT" or runtime down to about 90 seconds long.

Honestly, with ABC’s full capitulation including terminating reporters still dedicated to facts and truth due to criticism of this president smells of authoritarianism. How can ABC News maintain any trust? And worse, Shari Redstone seems intent on settling his bogus claim and destroying CBS News in the process.

Debuted today at 11. Apparently also a new weather logo on a modified open (the same one that woio wanf and kfvs use) debuted Screen_Recording_20250610_151347_Samsung Internet.mp4

The Weather Channel asleep at the wheel very surprised they didn't have live updates for that outbreak on Sunday in TX, OK, AR, LA or was that only on streaming app. I know unless there were moderate risk days out on the weekend, they just will not have coverage on the weekends, I think when there is nasty weather most just watch the local TV stations as they stay on it when there is a tornado or damaging wind guest of 70 to 80MPH+. I checked many times to see if TWC would have coverage of the nasty storms on Sun but didn't was just there regular lineup on Sun. I hope that Byron Allen sells TWC and the new company will at least care when an outbreak happens.

I doubt Kelly will be leaving the show. Not saying she won't, I just highly doubt it. At the end of February, she had to suddenly leave between tapings one day and missed the next day. Came back for a day, then the show was dark for a week. She then missed the following 10 episodes when they came back. From what I've heard, there was a sudden health issue that came up in her semi-immediate circle that she had to take some time to help deal with. Since she nor any of the higher ups at the show have said anything publicly about the absence, the NY Post and Daily Mail have ran with this weird narrative that she's leaving that keeps snowballing. Then you have all the leach websites that keep regurgitating the stories as fact. She's missed time in previous seasons and there wasn't a big deal made about it then, not sure what's different this time?

Interesting shot -- I kinda liked KSWB's previous set... I'm hoping to God they get new graphics with the new set -- kinda hoping for the Nexstar Fox package that WXIN and WDAF received

i wish i was able to edit messages but wtap switched from their previous animation to a grayone animation

Can you explain? I don't understand what you're trying to point out.

This is not a bad thing. Also, I'm guessing stations finally realized that a lot of viewers likely tune out after the weather forecast.

It needs to end and that's from someone who has LOVED and ADORED NECN. It hasn't been the same since their Hearst days when the channel was much more managed and ACTUALLY focused on New England stories compared to just Boston. Today, NECN only airs news on weekdays. Weekends is mainly focused on lifestyle programs, outside of weekend mornings and even then, hours were crap. The last regional newscasts are 7-10, 11-11:30am, 12-2 and 3-4pm. WBTS' news are airing from 5-7am, 2-3, 4-6:30, and 7-7:30pm. So much for New England news... New England is a VERY UNIQUE region and it did deserve its own regional cable news channel. It sucks that NBC ruined it and I hope that NBC doesn't get into the 24-hour local news game ever again (and I'm not talking about streaming).

As I know most of the motion graphics agencies that did news graphics for stations (as well as station graphics) such as Novocom (WXYZ (before they hired Giant Octopus), WTVJ, WESH, KFMB, WRC, WPXI, WEWS, etc...), Giant Octopus (WLBT, WCNC, WBBH, WBNS, KPRC, WFLA, WWMT (?)), TVbD (WHAS, KRON, BayTV, KARE, WIVT (and the Ackerley stations WIXT, WUTR), WSBT, WTHR, KUSA, KSNW, KTUL, WBAY, WHP, WXIX, KPTM, CFMT, KSAT, ONN, WMAR, WSAZ etc..), Art Effects LLC (WSB, WAGA) and Quantel Hal (WPTV, WBIR etc...). I'm not sure motion graphics design agency did the WXIA news graphics in the late 90s? (pre-1999), the graphics were also being used for sister station WTLV Jacksonville (before they went under the "First Coast News" banner in 2000) as it was also owned by Gannett, since I couldn't point it out.

Also worth noting, Newsnation was simulcasting KTLA overnight again.

It's a FOX thing. Other O&Os have taken a hatchet to their sports departments too. The preference is to have a single dedicated "sports reporter" who turns stories in the field about whatever the biggest sports story of the day is. The days of four male sports anchors in crisp suits above the waist taking turns reading highlights from the anchor desk and a bunch of sports producers are over.

Even though they are missing the biggest piece of the state (the Twin Cities)...

Is this what is considered a fireable offense nowadays. No explicit pictures, no swear words, just a post critiquing Stephen Miller? ABC was the first to settle with Trump and now they're the first to fire employees for anti-Trump sentiments. I wouldn't be shocked if others followed suit.

“We did not eliminate the sports department — we eliminated the sports anchor position,” Keane said. “We’re still going to cover sports extensively both with a reporter in the mornings and we’re going to gather and distribute sports content across all sports whenever there’s breaking news." Typical corporate jargon speak. They did eliminate the sports department. If you let go of people whose job it was to do a very specific task, you eliminated the department and shifted the workload elsewhere. Also, specifically covering sports with a reporter in the morning? When nothing sportswise happens? Those reporters aren't going to have the same connections and relationships that the sports department will.

i'm not sure if someone's already posted this but here's what i found on wtap's 24-7 weather thingy

Apparently June 2nd was the day. The full Weather Unfiltered team has been together today and yesterday.

Totally accepted the decision, no protest from me. It’s simply an interesting observation.

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.

I also don’t understand the staggered departure from 11pm and then 5pm. Would’ve been more grand to just have it done at once for his and Mike’s sake.

Canada never really cared when CHCA and CKX shut down. The increase in station shutdowns in Canada this past decade is really demoralizing for the broadcasting industry in Canada as a whole and I don't know if their industry can fully recover.

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.

Glad he’s not retiring I’ll give him to 2035. But I’m glad he’s staying.

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.

We have a CW55 logo!

Having been to that area, like you said, police shoe people away from that view of the window (W 49th Street) and everyone is told to stand behind the barricades on the side of studio (Rockefeller Plaza), so it's comparatively empty today. Having gone to the Plaza myself, the audience experience is pretty lackluster. The anchors barely come out onto the plaza except for the 8 AM introduction and an occasional weather hit from Al. I think an outdoor audience presence is still cool if utilized properly which Today doesn't really do anymore.

If his social media is any indication, former WABC anchor Ken Rosato is gearing up for a return to TV. We’ll know soon where he’s headed.

Heard he was on WOR radio the other day.

He deserves a National job I think he’s be great for NewsMax as breaking news anchor, Greg Kelly has been successful there.

Ken seems like a standard serious anchor, much like Lori Stokes. I don't know if he would fit as a GDNY cohosts but we'll see, Lori did it.

Saw he posted new headshots with little teases that he'd have more to share soon. Wasn't clear to me he'd be returning to TV, though. If not, wouldn't be surprised to see him on radio, where he started his career.

So this might explain that EGAD did graphics for WCAU Philadelphia (the 1997 open) as well as other NBC stations like WSTM Syracuse. Not sure if they did WWBT Richmond's news graphics as well?

Well KCAL-TV in Los Angeles had a similar talent bump to that of WGN's, but with a different graphics output.

TVBD - Tv By Design did the motion graphics for WXIA at that time to my knowledge.