wabceyewitness

On 3/28/2024 at 9:13 AM, TVNewsLover said:

None of those places have weekday openings. WABC has not replaced Sandra on weekends, and I’m not convinced they’re going to.

 

They are hiring a weekend anchor/reporter. 

On 3/10/2024 at 10:10 AM, nycnewsjunkie said:

I’d bet on Pedro Rivera; nothing against Michelle, but sometimes it seems as though she doesn’t proofread her scripts before going to air.

She’s been passed over so many times for a weekday gig.. she’s probably just phoning in most of the weekend work at this point. 

3 hours ago, MorningNews said:

Does anyone have a video link?

 

I actually like the talent stings for EWN@10am. They’re dynamic without the chaos.

agree - the 10am talents are great and not cluttered 

12 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Diffrent strokes for different folks. I will say, though their current set might be an improvement over the last, and the skyline update is a big help, it remains arguably  worst in market. The area where they do 3D weather graphics looks especially cheap.

 

7 was neck in neck with WNBC for worst set but News 4's recent updates gave them a little advantage. I'd say WCBS still has best the best looking studio.  

 

On a positive note, it feels surreal to say, but ABC 7 definitely has the best graphics in NYC now! Love the talent intros instead of the three second openers that have become industry norm.

 

The issue with the set is that WABC is not using it to its full potential. You can see just from the 10am show how versatile the set and the lighting elements are.. but it took them over 10 years to try anything different. Even the secondary area with the big screen for weather/traffic and interviews can look dramatically different with the flip of some switches. 
 

That said, I’m glad they made the switch to cleaner, brighter and better background images. It does give the set a minor but nice facelift to match the new graphics. 
 

As for @Vlad’s wish for the new HQ set to be a street side studio — sorry, there will be no street side studios at Disney/ABC’s Hudson Square campus. 
 

54 minutes ago, Geoffrey said:

Do we think the snowy photo in Lee's screen will change depending on the day?

yes. Look likes it’s linked to live conditions. 

Sade is back on air today, filling in for Liz right now on the 4pm news.  Lee gave her a quick welcome back at the top of the show as she tossed to him for a report on the upcoming storm. 

2 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Have they also updated the skyline backgrop? It seems like it occupies the entire frame now rather the borders of the monitor being visible. The skyline image also seems higher quality.

 

SB: Eveb though journalistic  quality is what matters most, when a newscast's presentation (including it's on air appearance) is just as good, it makes me want to tune in more. Good presentation aids substance. 

Yes, the skyline backdrops have been updated.

Finally! It’s great to see on air at WABC. The news brief opens are better than the main opens that were made for the group. 
 

Also looks like they updated the backdrops to crisper images. 

Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eeO_nJqoRg

On 12/27/2023 at 1:26 PM, MorningNews said:

I’m sure I’m annoying but I wish ABC would consider bringing GMA3 a live element. Most days the news “updates” they provide at the top of the show are hours old with new critical updates not included in the story. Today they’re rebroadcasting a show from November that included nearly two month old developments and updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict and wildfires out west. Not trying to be hyperbolic about it but it’s a sloppy product.

That is pretty bad for a news program. They should pretape these shows, have the on-duty anchor give a news update and fill the bulk with recycled and evergreen content. 
 

For the ones scheduled to work, it might be nice for them to have the ability to work from home in a separate room and then be with family in between shows and/or not have to worry about commuting to and from work. 

https://x.com/raeganmedgie/status/1736569971931541712?s=46&t=xFY1RyohB4JwE0gUNj8TeA
 

The whole concept of a live shot is deceptive 99% of the time. A reporter is “live” somewhere hours after the actual news event has occurred. Nothing newsworthy is shown to the viewer in a live shot. All the newsworthy content is shown in the prepackaged report with footage from hours ago. 
 

Whether they are live at the scene, on a generic street outside the studio, or at a place somewhat related to the location of the news story, the whole concept gives a deceptive sense of presence and urgency. 

They have had a few other days in recent months where the 4:30am half hour or hour was anchored solo. It’s not so much out of the ordinary these days. 

 

46 minutes ago, TheNewsTV said:

 

I don't know how they haven't thought of launching a newscast at 4pm yet.

They had a 4pm long ago — “From the heart of the tri-state area, street level on 5th Avenue, with Dana Tyler and Stephen Clark…” — that was replaced by Judge Judy. 
 

23 hours ago, TheNewsTV said:

I don't understand why they don't put David or Liz on at 11pm when Sade isn't there.

It’s just how the schedule worked out this time. David and Liz have filled in at 11pm before. 

6 hours ago, Amra said:

 

Or maybe two? Have they had Sade and Joe anchor recently? I don't think Bill will give up the 6PM chair just yet, as Bill and Liz recently celebrated 20 years as the 6PM team. Unless Bill gives up the 6PM, and only will focus on the 5 & 11PM news?

It is more likely that he gives up the 11pm. 
 

Liz is on at 11, too, along with Joe. 

3 hours ago, NYNewsCoverage said:

Wow, thats super odd. If anything you'd want 2 anchors at 5pm for the hour long broadcast.. I'd say they are definitely testing pairings to see what might (or might not) stick. Originally I thought they just needed to fill Mike's weekend morning position but I forgot about the noon issue. 

They have not just the weekend morning and noon issue, but the expectation that Bill will soon scale back and give up at least one newscast. 

On 10/19/2023 at 8:38 AM, nycnewsjunkie said:

I wouldn’t say that. Times Square is a destination in and of itself, and Lincoln Square is home to both the Juilliard School and Lincoln Center.
 

It sucks that those areas are both losing a longtime presence, but it also makes sense for Disney/ABC to have all their NY operations under one roof.

Agreed. A majority of people going to Times Square are NOT going to see the Good Morning America studio and a majority don’t even realize that’s where Good Morning America is. 
 

WABC is also not an attraction in Lincoln Square. Lincoln Center is the main attraction.  The street side WABC studio is kind of cool walk by for some, most others don’t even care or know that it exists there. I’m sure the local residents and business owners will miss seeing the staff from ABC and WABC each day, but that’s about it. 
 

I’m surprised that the GMA staffers are surprised! Yes, Disney originally said GMA would remain in Times Square but, with a brand new Disney/ABC building being built downtown, how long did they really think that would last? 

Radio could be it!   Bill Evans just posted a photo of him and Ken together. Perhaps Ken is jointing Bill’s radio station in Sag Harbor?

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.  

6 minutes ago, IceManNYR said:

Maria Bartiromo is no-longer co-host of WABC's Columbus Day Parade coverage.

They added Mike and Sandra as co-hosts.

Good. 

Cool to see Rhiannon on WABC at 10am. Guessing they are short staffed today for fill in anchors from local. 

Also to note — the 10am set was lit in breaking news red/blue for the A block before reverting to yellow/blue later in the show. Nice to see, 12 years later, how versatile they realized their studio is. 

9 hours ago, mountainave said:

Derick Waller is leaving WABC.  He attributes it to the difficulties of working the early shift.

 

 

too bad that he is leaving… I am assuming he approached station management and asked for different hours but they did not offer it or could not reach an agreement.