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NASCAR races are launching on the CW ahead of the planned schedule, the last 8 races of the 2024 Xfinity season (final regular season race and all 7 of the playoff races) are moving from NBC/USA to The CW. Will still be produced by NBC Sports with their announcers (seems like they are still contractably obligated to do that part). The original plan was not to start until the 2025 season and that NASCAR itself would produce the races, that will still take effect after this weird arrangement. Really curious what made NBC bail out early, Nexstar cut them some too good to pass up deal? Or did they want to free up space to air something else?

Diane is obviously the internal candidate, but as is standard procedure, there is still an open job listing online. Meanwhile, the first half of the week has been a celebration of the morning newscast's 35 years, and there have been some special guests along the way. Earlier, media manager and apparent news nerd David Fell joined the show to talk about a lot of station history. Wednesday (today) was the official anniversary, so some familiar faces made their return between 6 & 8am. The Gray Beards, as I called them to a friend, reminisced about the old days, and Judy Hsu pre-taped a retrospective segment.

This, their newscast has a corporate feel with no real personality. You can take WCBS and drop it in any other CBS O&O market without missing a beat.

It looks pretty cool I will definitely have to tune in and watch it at some point, it’s definitely something different even from the channel 5 format. As for the “no tie” I’m a little surprised that Maurice would go more casual where this morning Chris is still in a tie, I could see the morning show being a bit more casual or even if Maurice anchors the new 6 show (Sam Champion, Mike Woods and of course Mornings at 10) but I’m surprised for the 5pm show

I mean... WGN hired a then-newcomer morning meteorologist from Rockford almost eight years ago. She jumped from market #137 to market #3 and I think people criticized that because she wasn't market-ready to go from small market Rockford to big market Chicago. Today, Morgan Kolkmeyer is one of the best home run decisions WGN made to hire for their morning news program within the past decade. I wouldn't have known her otherwise had she not gone to WGN.

Love the dim, warm lighting and the blue/purple gradient of the set. Hope they use it for the 11:00 news. I liked the sit down debreifs with Elle McLogan and Tim. I also like that they're trying the borough *reporter concept such as Elle covering Queens. Not bad changes. They *add a little variety to the standard format. I thought the point of removing Dick and Dana was to have their full A-team on at at six, not just Kristine solo. I still don't see why Dick and Dana couldn't do this? Perhaps to give off a more informal vibe? If they're tweaking wardrobe to affect viewer perception, Nate Burleson does it well! Overall CBS 2 News is a clean cut solid news product. I definitely watch them more than I do Fox 5 or PIX 11. But again their presentation feels stiff minus a few personalities like Lonnie, Marcia and John Elliott.

Explain….

I didn't get to watch the new broadcast, but I found a screengrab from a website video. I must say that backdrop is beautiful.

Good for them and this little pet project. This should net them…like, seven new viewers.

Sounds quite a bit like the format that KPIX has been doing for the last 18 months or so.

It is replacing ThisTV which replaced LAFF. Looked at my program guide, repeats of Chips, CSI and L&O:Criminal Intent just doesn't seem an attractive proposition. All can be found elsewhere.

Danita Harris joining WKYC: https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/wkyc-morning-show/danita-harris-joins-wkyc-3news-go-morning-show/95-127f50ab-f61e-4baa-be95-c446f67d102f Also, it seems Matt Wintz is officially replacing Hollie Strano in the AM.

John was always one of my favorite SC anchors and I wish him the best of luck in retirement. So many longtime ESPN personalities over the past few years it seems.

And finally, Margret Orr signed off from WDSU last night: https://www.wdsu.com/article/margaret-orrs-final-farewell-wdsu-new-orleans/60346573 Among the tributes was one from NOLA native John Goodman:

I think this would put former FOX O&Os in play. KDVR and KTVI, especially. KWGN and KPLR can be run through LMA by Fox, since they rely on the same news department and would satisfy a non-beard spin off.

No its sexism and in some way racism also keep in mind this happened to Sue over at 4. It sexism cause an older women can’t be on air as long as a man it gives off those mysoynist vibes, and I’m injecting race into it because I haven’t seen this happen to a Caucasian women. All the white females I’ve seen retire have been given fantastic send-offs. You literally mentioned how the took part of the NYSBA video so they didn’t even do an organic goodbye, that shows there in it for money and could care less. I thought it was disingenuous that one of the bosses at WCBS who should remain unnamed was on that NYSBA video saying how great she was and was one of the bosses that probably green lighted her being taken off the desk.

I hate to say this, but the poster does have a point. Yes, there's alot of ageism goes on in many work industries. Television news is no exception either. Chuck, still might be spry, but Sue Simmons got the boot and he didn't is very telling. Sue a year older than Chuck, and he still get to anchor one newscast where her contract wasn't renewed. Chuck and Sue were an institution together on WNBC and a pillar in NYC area, but he should of been ushered out along with Sue. The question is why? Was it because he was a man? Again, their age only separates them a year apart.

Speaking of Jennifer McLogan, she recently also celebrated 35 years at WCBS, and I'd say they gave her a pretty nice tribute here (alongside her daughter who is also now a reporter there): Also note at the end all of her colleagues and production crew (Dana front and center) came out and clapped at the end. It's possible Dana really didn't want that (Dick mentioned she didn't want a big send off), but it's still surprising (as noted above) more of her longtime colleagues were not involved.

KPIX had that color scheme on its Noon and 3pm newscast for a few days when it first got the graphics. It was to my assumption that was a transition from mornings (orange) to evenings (blue)

Totally agree. Multi-generational newsrooms should be the goal. Veteran anchors with contacts and connections to history. You also want to develop young people to keep the station hip and carry the torch (and the ratings) once the veterans leave.

John Sterling is 85 and Bob Uecker is 90. Both are still calling games for the Yankees and Brewers, respectively. Age doesn't matter as long as you're capable of doing the job.

I know you probably don’t mean it this way, but this comes off a bit ageist to me. Chuck is willing to work, NBC is willing to have him work, the viewers love him, and he’s still good at what he does, so I don’t see any reason for him to stop just because he’s old. It’s not as though he’s impeding younger journalists from greater opportunities. Besides, David Ushery and Natalie Pasquarella are the primary anchors there now, and if anything, having someone like Chuck in your newsroom to mentor younger journalists is an asset, not a liability. As far as Dana’s concerned, I’ve never met her, so I can’t speak to what others have said about her. Some people talk about her being supposedly difficult to work with, others have nothing but great things to say about her. That said, she was a good anchor who did her job well for decades, and I think she deserved acknowledgment for that. Ideally, one could argue she should’ve been given a bigger sendoff, but considering the nature of the TV news business, I’m glad she was given any sort of sendoff at all.

I’ve been trying to figure out the words to describe what I think and how I feel with regards to Dana and WCBS at this moment. The nearest comparison I’ve settled on is that this has been like seeing a friend be grievously and irreparably wronged and there is nothing you can do. Dana was pushed out the door, whether it be because of budget cuts or age or whatever else. I understand why she decided to fully exit the station at this time, but the abruptness of her complete departure was a shock. Reflecting on it, WCBS has rarely ever ‘sent someone off.’ The constant turnover and abrupt dismissals of icons and legends meant that personalities never had an on air goodbye— even if they deserved one. The bare minimum that was done for Dana— a hastily recut video tribute from her NYSBA Hall of Fame induction— is the most I can remember ever seeing on their air. (Although I vaguely remember a few minutes on air acknowledging Stephen Clark’s last day.) Dana was a survivor— somehow making it through the darkest years of WCBS. Think about all of the times that Dana had to put up a strong appearance while the station was in chaos (the massacre, dismissing Stephen, dismissing Jim Rosenfield, dismissing Jim Jensen, tossing Warner aside, the times when Angela, Roz, and Kristine replaced her at 11, and so many more). Dana continued to be the familiar face to us, after all of the ups and many, many downs she went through at WCBS. We all consume local news differently now. Local newscasts are no longer packed with stories impacting the local communities and viewing area, with more and more time being used for filler national stories (or worse, appalling in newscast product ad segments). Many no longer turn on the 5/6 news while making dinner, or the 11 before drifting off. Most people now read a jumble of stories from a variety of sources on our phones throughout the day. What that means, as everyone here knows, is that the local anchor is less important than ever. Those left watching local news (and television as a whole) are an older and older audience— audiences that are comfortable with the faces they recognize. We are witnessing the last generation of legendary news anchors. Losing Dana isn’t going to push most people to change the channel; Maurice and Kristine are also familiar and trusted faces who are good anchors. But Dana was the heart and soul of the WCBS product. She always exuded warmth and the constant through all of the years of change. After the recent passings of Pablo Guzman, Max Gomez, and Frank Field, I didn’t tune in to see what Kristine or Dick or Chris would say— I wanted to hear how Dana would remember them. Because more than any other anchor, honestly in the whole New York market, Dana came across as the one who cared about people. We focus a lot on the on air product, but if were to glance today at the posts of current and former colleagues of Dana online, you would see a lot of gratitude for what she did off camera too. So many credit her with making them better, investing in their success, sending notes of praise or offering a helping hand or open ear. All of it summed up by saying: Dana truly cared. It is understandable why she decided to leave now, after being told there was no longer a regular space for her at a station that produces nine hours of daily news. Throwing up the most recent prepared montage of her— a rushed, re-cut version of her 2022 NYSBA Hall of Fame tribute— didn’t really capture the fact that they were saying goodbye to someone so important to that news organization. What she deserved is similar to what Chuck is receiving now: a celebration leading up to her departure. She deserved to have some of her favorite stories reaired, to have tributes from current and past colleagues (the likes of Jim Rosenfield, Ernie Anastos, Ira Joe Fisher, Warner Wolf, Don Dahler, and Stephen Clark— who she was part of a tribute video for a few years ago when he retired from his station in Detroit), and even tributes from her competitors (who she graciously took time to thank in her final words). We should have seen her sit down with Cindy for an extended conversation at 9am about her career and the stories she has covered. All of that (and more) is what Dana deserved. She deserved better. And we deserved better.

Dana admittedly hasn't been the best solo anchor in recent years, she's better with a partner. As for ratings..eehh. But again, I don't think Dana is CBS 2's problem, their presentation is. Anchoring is not a physically taxing job, it's about personality and commanding an audience. If an octogenarian is mentally alert, looks good on camera, and still draws an audience, there's no reason for them to retire. Veterans often have contacts and resources that the younger talent do not. A problem arises if that veteran anchor has no effect on ratings and if their massive pay is taking up resources (but let's also extend that scrutiny to company executive salaries). There's a common mindset that your career stops at 65. Assuming you live to be 90 and (physically fit)...what will you be doing with yourself for 20+ years? Every old person isn't close with their family, and their friends may not be physically agile. Purpose and activity keeps people going.

Marcia Kramer, Cindy Hsu, and Jennifer McLogan are the only links remaining from the Jim Jensen era or the 90s itself at WCBS-TV following the departure of Dana Tyler. Kramer joined the station in 1990 and Hsu and McLogan came on board in 1993. If I'm not mistaken, the next longest tenured member of the news department after that is Mary Calvi.

None of those places have weekday openings. WABC has not replaced Sandra on weekends, and I’m not convinced they’re going to. I’m probably in the minority here, but what has she done in all those years to move the needle at WCBS? She hasn’t always seemed like the easiest to work with. I’m fairly confident her anchoring days are done. Regardless of my thoughts on her, she’s had a long career with the same employer and many accomplishments, she should enjoy retirement. No matter how great of a career, there’s no need for people to be anchoring into their 80s (I’m looking at you Chuck).

almost poetic that this comes the same week as Chuck's 50th anniversary over on 4. Two legends being treated very differently by their stations. Wishing Dana all the best.

Just watched the video- she noted her goodbye at the end was pre-taped which is understandable because she seemed quite emotional and this is clearly not what she wants- but it is the super harsh reality of the business. I do think Channel 2 could have done a better job saluting her and not a rushed piece for 8 minutes at the end of one newscast. She deserves better, but I think the reason she didn't get a longer send off is because she's being forced out and likely made this decision more last minute than expected. It also seems like she is not staying with the station in any capacity (unlike previous reports) which I really respect. She will go out with dignity and on a high note. I'm still in shock about all of this, though (as I'm sure Dana is too); and it is all quite unfortunate. I really wish Dana happiness in whatever she choses to do next.

This was a very nicely done tribute, but I am in shock that this was Dana's last day. We knew Dana (and Dick Brennan) were leaving the 6pm newscast, but she was supposed to remain with the station as a fill-in anchor and contributor. However, per an article in Newsday.com (paywalled), which cited a memo from GM Johnny Green, Dana thought about it and decided that today would be her last day. The Newsday.com article goes on to mention that several in the news industry believe this move is directly related to budget cuts at Paramount Global. Regardless of the reason, this feels like a pretty abrupt ending for someone who devoted nearly 34 years of her life and career to this station. The entire process, starting with a leaked internal memo announcing that Dana and DIck would be "transitioning" off the 6pm newscast, seems like it was completely mishandled.

As long as they dont have a "George Newman" or "Stanley Spadowski" on staff... ...us TV folks know what that means

Wonder why other networks aren't interested? Like the USA network? They want more sports programming.

2 Pac After Dark

They went the ABC O&O route with their 10-day

The link you posted was broken, at least for me. if anyone has the same problem, I found the article after a bit of digging. Next tv probably updated the article (1.8M to 1.2M) https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-orders-mission-to-sell-wpix-fines-nexstar-dollar12-million

You know it's Atlanta, but you said Detroit.

I think they will do with KING5 does it doesn’t give their second station its own online. They do list KUNS schedule in their live section

It's still just one YouTube playlist on KOMO's YouTube channel three months later, and they still have no website. I wouldn't be shocked if KUNS gets a traditional "CW 51 Seattle" branding come fall and ARC WM quietly goes away after the next Xfinity negotiation cycle, and ARC stands for 'Almost Ready to Close' here. It's also telling that it hasn't been launched outside those markets because other Arc organizations have pre-emptively stopped them from doing so after these two launches.

The overhead camera shot is still used. The other area to the left of the desk is still used for New York Live.

Funny you should mention Spectrum. Gregg Palermo is a KTVI/KPLR alum; They also appear to have an executive producer, a digital producer, a meteorologist, and a reporter, too. A small team, for sure, but more than KDNL, and it's comical The National Desk.

Maybe they should also add a disclosure notice to all of their newscasts.

Utah outlawed non-competes. Thus, it's easier than ever to jump to another station. Plus, KUTV is a Sinclair station, and I'm sure the salaries and wages there are even worse than what the penny-pinchers at Nexstar pay.

Well that underscores Jennifer Pierce, doesn't it?