Weeters

3 hours ago, rkolsen said:

I didn’t originally did want to comment about the lack of generator seen in this post [(but since you brought it up):

 

 I’d assume a generator would normally go where power and gas normally enter building which looks like it’s right where those bollards are.  And doesn’t the building look like it’s an old converted garage? Just the side we’ve seen looks like there were four bays based on how they aren’t flush with the further most part of the wall.

 

He had to have known people especially Scott or others would look on Facebook. Shame Facebook got rid of the feature on how your profile appears to other users and anonymous guests.  Could have saved him some trouble - not even two days on the job and criticized by Scott.  That has to be a record.

 

 

The power service entry points are actually on the opposite side, which would be a perfect place for something like one of these. They could probably work out a deal with a local electrician to install it in exchange for advertising. The MI News 26 Storm Centered (literally) powered by Irv's Electrical Service.

1 hour ago, mre29 said:

So, their entire operation -- studio, production facility, offices, maintenance -- is in that building?

 

I'm pretty sure my parents' house is bigger than that, and they do not have a big house.

 

It's an, uh, interesting cramped setup, from what I have seen. The "studio" is just in a large office and production control and master control look like they could have been closets at some point. Almost everything in the "studio" is touching some other part of the set.

The lighting is just a bunch of clamp-on construction lights jammed into the drop ceiling grid

Again, I feel that the Newsnet money could have probably been better invested in building up WMNN before trying to be Ted Turner 2.0. Turner grew WTCG/WTBS for 10 years before launching CNN, and he got there while basically giving the FCC a middle finger over how much "news" he had to air on the station. WMNN has been on for six years and hasn't changed much. Everything about this seems rushed.

The graphics are fine. It's the content and delivery that screams low budget (and has since the start.)

Newsnet (along with WMNN) is exactly what I would expect from "news nerds" starting their own channel. There seems to be more attention (and money) spent on presentation (graphics, music, image campaigns, live trucks, etc.) than anything else. The number of stories I've seen on WMNN that are lengthy VOs over maps or a single still image is too high to count. WMNN has switched news music packages so frequently in the few years it's existed that I imagine Eric has his Stephen Arnold rep on speed dial. Weather is still being done with Apple Keynote, but at least they have 3 ENG trucks.

A few months ago, WMNN published a Facebook Live stream for severe weather coverage where midway through they lose power and end up off-air. They have to run extension cords out to one of their several completely unnecessary live trucks to use its generator, when they could have probably bought a small, permanently installed natural gas/propane generator for less than one of those trucks.

All the money spent on Newsnet could have probably expanded WMNN into a more serious news operation, but instead now we just have a national version of it. I have checked in on this operation since the day they signed on, and all I can say is they have at least started focusing more on the little amount of news in their area. At least they have reigned in filling the wheel with "around our area" interviews with the local Goodwill store manager.

I really hope Newsnet isn't the point where they jumped the shark.

Not much on the live stream unless you like watching the same two promos repeatedly between spots for medical equipment (covered by Medicare, at no cost to you!) and tax debt resolution. The live stream also keeps cutting out for me every few minutes.

It apparently uses an in-band DTMF tone based control system (judging by the four tones that aired over an ID just now) presumably to trigger things at affiliates, which I didn't know was still a thing in the year 2018. 

1 hour ago, PTVNews said:

Wow....I've never seen such a thing. Really cool. I wonder if more stations will get something like this. What is the cost? Do you think stations would actually use DSLRs as studio cameras?

DSLRs really cannot be used in live production. Due to tax regulations they actually cannot run for more than 30 minutes continuously. Video cameras and still photo cameras have different regulations on them that kick in when they can record more than 30 minutes continuously.

That kind of robot is more often found in film than in television, though I know these are more common in TV overseas.

Scripps is probably looking into them because they're really good with virtual sets.

If affiliates wanted to program an extra hour in the morning that badly, the 4th hour of Today wouldn't exist or it would be optional. I'm not sure why people on here think the affiliates want an extra hour of time to fill in the mornings.

They don't. 

That hour has always belonged to the network. Before the 4th hour of Today, it was the Soap Opera "Passions". Believe me, the network wouldn't have decided on this without input from the Affiliates. Input that went "No, please fill that for us, we don't want to fill it ourselves."

1 hour ago, abc7 Man said:

Any reason not to have this channel as an over the air sub channel?

Probably because the target audience doesn't watch traditional TV.

On 11/29/2018 at 11:29 AM, Big Country News said:

That may soon change. KGUN's weather has the Scripps package.

 

They've had it for weather graphics for a long time (At least May 2017!). It happened during the rollout of WSI weather graphics systems to the Journal stations. KGUN got theirs after the merger, and WSI apparently decided to give them the Scripps package instead of the Journal package, and nobody bothered to get that fixed.

1 hour ago, 24994J said:

 

Or on mobile, click on the little newspaper icon at the top of each page, on the blue header. Once on that page, each thread's most recent post can simply be accessed by clicking on the green dot/star that bullet points each thread name.

On mobile, the "Unread Content" link is in the hamburger menu (the three horizontal lines) under "activity".

1 hour ago, MetroCity said:

Is there any way to get rid of the floating Facebook and Twitter link buttons on the right side (iPad)? They’re very annoying, and all they do is open the same page in a new tab.

Thank you.

Meant to remove those and completely forgot. They have been removed!

10 hours ago, TriangleTriadMediaNews said:

@Weeters Could I get a link to the Discord please?  I tried to DM you but it said I'm limited to "0 messages a day"

So far I'm happy with what y'all have done here, looking forward to what's next!!! 

The PM issue should be fixed!

9 minutes ago, TriangleTriadMediaNews said:

@Weeters Could I get a link to the Discord please?  I tried to DM you but it said I'm limited to "0 messages a day"

So far I'm happy with what y'all have done here, looking forward to what's next!!! 

The Discord server link is here.

I'll see what's going on with the PM thing.

It's been a rough road getting here, but we're excited to reveal the new site. Let's get to it!

Outside of visual changes, there aren't a whole lot of functional changes. Notable changes include:

• Mobile support is improved, especially when composing a message.
• Emoticons are OUT and the full suite of emojis are IN.
• BBCode has been removed completely in favor of a more robust WYSIWYG editor.
• The logo has been refreshed.
• Coming soon: We will be restoring the ability to register and sign in with popular web services like Google, Twitter, and Facebook.

And there is much more to come in the days and weeks ahead! Stay tuned for more updates.

Regrettably, the old Shoutbox was not able to be carried over to the new site. We are looking into our options when it comes to real-time discussion, including integration with services like Discord, which many of you already use. This will also be addressed within the coming days.

Please reach out if you encounter any issues, either by PM or by emailing [email protected].

I still have the same question, and I couldn't find an answer on their site: where is all the content coming from? News video doesn't appear out of thin air.

Judging by the shakycam cell phone video in that promo, my guess is they're hooking up with one of those stringer apps where "anybody can be a video journalist!" and you make $10 for sending in low quality video of police cars.

Doesn't matter. WEWS still should have broken into coverage when the initial reports first came on.

Why? To unnecessarily scare viewers? To throw more fuel on the "Fake News" fire?

WEWS did the right thing by waiting to see how the story played out. The other stations that didn't bother to wait and went wall-to-wall for a hoax are one reason people are turning away from TV news.

Does it run any better than ignite? There must be some advantage to it...

Ignite was the automation system they were using and has nothing to do with Xpression. I believe they're standardizing the group onto Xpression for graphics and OverDrive for automation (so yes, there will probably be subtle changes at the other O&Os too.) I couldn't say what the draw is for ABC to get Xpression, but I can say I often hear that users of Xpression elsewhere like it.

As I understand it, they actually switched over a month ago, when that new backdrop debut...

WABC recently switched their CG playout over to Ross Xpression (They actually transitioned to a brand new control room as I understand it) I believe other O&O's are going to make the transition to Xpression as well. Yes, the graphics have to be rebuilt in it.

Unfortunately, NXT is the name of the developmental league for WWE (i.e., a place for up-and-coming wrestlers and those just starting out to hone their craft in terms of promos, in-ring ability, and the like), so Tegna cannot use NXT in promos.....

 

But they’ll find something more creative (this is Tegna we’re talking about, after all).....

That's not really how that works. First off, NXT is not the brand, it's a graphic that's a stylized shortening of the word "next". Second, whatever trademark WWE has for "NXT" would be limited to wrestling. In fact, since I found it, the registrations WWE has for "NXT" are essentially limited to merchandise related to the league and wrestling broadcasts on TV and online.

A quick search of the US Trademark database lists 200+ trademarks using "NXT" (including at least six that are exclusively the letters "NXT") as trademarks for things like

• Artificial turf
   
  
• Sports drinks enhanced with minerals; Sports drinks, namely, performance drinks; Sports drinks, namely, recovery drinks
   
  
• Retail store services featuring manufactured homes
   
  
• management of multi-tenant living facilities
   
  
• Vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner parts
   
  
• Semiconductor lithographic machines, namely, lithographic machines used to manufacture semiconductors, and structural parts therefor
   
  
• Water treatment equipment, namely, water filtration units.
   
  
• Electric battery fast chargers
  

TL;DR There's nothing stopping them from using a graphic that says "NXT" in promos.

The

Ok your arguement has value and merit, but remember young people don't watch news, or television. Young people are getting news from social media, or watching from their phones, tablet. If they're watching news. They will not sit for an hour or 30 minute newscast. They may watch a minute clip. Now, you can't dismiss the 35-49 demographic viewer that more educated, and more consumer savvy, and income more stable. Also the consumer who grew up watching that same station with their parents/ grandparents. That brand has stand out for generations.

 

Again, you said some dated logo & slogan from 70s serving as their brand, but let look at WSB/Atlanta- Coverage You Can Count On slogan since 1991. #1 station in the market.

 

WCVB/Boston, WATE/Pittsburgh, WISN/Milwaukee the Hearst station have had the same logo since the 70s, but they've just kept their news fresh and kept up with the times.

WXYZ/Detroit another Scripps station and the circle 7 been there for along time when it was owned by ABC. Yes, it been modifed but circle 7 is very synonymous with WXYZ and their brand.

 

McDonalds brand is the golden arches it been modifed over the years. Since 1971, Nike had the swoosh, and different versions. A girl with freckles and pigtails is the Wendy's brand. There are some logos that have been with brands for decades now. They've just modifed/refresh with new color, but the brand has kept up with the times.

 

WEWS/Circle 5 and First in Ohio....The first tv station in the state and the market. It maybe old, but it has defined their brand for decades. For Cleveland market the states biggest market. No, it not in the top ten. Des Monies, IA had the same logo on their Channel 5. Whoever said yes to WEWS logo thought it was the cat's meow, but it doesn't define WEWS' brand and looks cheap IMO.

I doubt the logo was changed with the express purpose of attracting the 21-54 demographic, but I'm sure that played a part. "Young people don't watch local television" is exactly the kind of thing they would be trying to change with a "hip" new logo/brand.

This isn't the first time this debate has come up about a TV station logo. I'm kind of getting tired of it. I don't think a lot of people on here understand the "usual" process that happens with this kind of change, especially when it comes to large markets and large broadcast companies like Scripps (who LOVES to research and focus group everything they can.) A logo change could stem from dozens of carefully researched problems a station is facing. If ratings are down, maybe it's time to conduct market research. Maybe the market research shows that the ol' reliable "classic" logo from 1973 isn't memorable after all amongst any age group. Maybe only senior citizens can remember what the "circle 5" logo means. Maybe they're even shown the old logo and a new logo next to each other, and asked: "which of these TV channels would you rather watch?"

I've seen (older) market research before, and it can even include showing people photos of talent and asking them who they are and what station they're on. It may shock you, but quite often people can't match a name to the face or a name/face to a station.

And then comes the focus groups. They might be shown the same news clips with different logos/bugs and, days later, asked which logo they remember seeing. People tend to remember more simple things, which is why most brand logos are pretty simple.

Market research is a science. There are big research companies that do this every day. Just because an old logo works on one station, doesn't mean that it's a universal fact that all viewers love classic logos. Changing the logo back to the Circle 5 is not going to make ratings skyrocket, and I doubt anyone tuned out because the logo changed. This is going to sound weird, especially after all I just said, but the vast majority of people don't care about a TV station's logo. The real goal is to make them remember the logo and remember the station and make the gears in their head turn when they're at work the next day, talking about something they saw on TV.

I will also argue that WISN has updated their logo several times over the years, changing the fonts and colors (and for a while, the angle) to keep up with the times.

My biggest issue is that logo, because logo identify your brand, and it what stand out. The branding name NEWS 5 too generic. I would rather them go back to Eyewitness News, and those damn Scripps graphics are nauseating.

I like how a lot of people on here think this rebrand was a knee-jerk reaction that they just decided to do one afternoon.

Believe me, they focus grouped this stuff, and did their research, and it took months to settle on this brand and logo combo. YOU may not like it, but apparently the research and focus groups did.

I think this incident is a wake up call for the ND new set is due urgently and upgrade in the infrastructure!!! So that the internet doesn’t go out again!

Pretty sure the last thing they're worried about right now is the news set.

This literally has nothing to do with the set. No matter what set was there, this would have happened.

Who wants to bet by "Computers imploded" they mean "We decided that we didn't need a control surface for the switcher when we automated so there's no way to punch a show manually"?

Any reason why tho?

$$$$$$$

My guess is, not enough people wanted to buy ad time during the news. Simple as that.

The ad rates on these subchannels are ridiculously low most of the time. Even more so if it's a less mainstream network like Bounce. Eventually, it just isn't worth even trying to sell all the ad time local news gives you, if nobody's buying it.

KRCR in Redding, CA was briefly evacuated last evening due to the wildfire they were in the middle of covering.

[MEDIA=twitter]1022866131898511361[/MEDIA]

That is so true with Brian Williams.

I think Lester is doing NBC a favor cause if he were to step down or go to another network, then we will definitely see a down trend. Also evening news is to predictable and we are living in a disruptive age where news can happen while you are watching your evening newscast. I think sooner or later then evening news will have to evolve.

There is a downward trend, regardless of who's at the helm, across the entire industry. News is going to "evolve" into being short bytes on social media. The target demo has neither the time or attention span to sit through a 30-minute structured news program listening to things they really don't care about for the two things they do.

So, WGAL aired their Childrens Miracle Network telethon finale this evening. WGAL has been a great station for CMN. WGAL’s morning anchor Jere Gish was recently named best local TV personality for CMN.

 

WGAL didn’t use Studio A this year. Nope. They didn’t use WITF’s studio as they did years before, yes, they went there for it.

 

This year, sorry WGAL deserves a HOP. This year, not sure if it was a WGAL decision or Penn State Health’s decision but this year ... it was held in the Cafeteria ... by the tray return. Seriously?

 

 

Wow.

 

— Matt

I'm not sure what the problem is? Are you upset that they simply didn't have it in a TV studio? They bothered to rent truss and light the set well, and those cameras are probably rented (and that isn't cheap). That is far beyond what I've seen many stations do for telethons.

They are a lot brighter than rear projection. These are LED screens where each panel is probably 27 inches diagonal. But unlike LCD or LED backlit LCD screens these allow for seamless appearance. Before they were cost prohibitive and you could make out individual pixels and resolution sucked. Now if you shoot to close to them you can make out pixels.

 

It’s basically the same technology stadium screens use.

Yes. They're seamless interlocking panels covered in hundreds of small LED diodes. In the past couple years, the technology has advanced dramatically on these screens, allowing the pixels to be closer together (pixel pitch) and smaller, all while the costs have come down like crazy. They are arguably more reliable than LCD monitor walls and provide better contrast and a brighter, more color accurate, and even picture.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1354512-REG

This is a Samsung branded panel with 1.5mm pixel pitch, meaning there is 1.5mm between pixels. Not sure what brand they're using (NBC has jumped all over in regards to who they're buying their LED walls from) but the technology is at least similar.