NBC 5 Chicago

Michelle Relerford just posted on facebook that she is the new morning anchor Monday-Friday from 4-5am starting in August. She will then do top story updates from 5-7am. Feder also provided more information on the change and to the weekend teams. I'm very curious why they moved Alex to weekends to solo anchor and have Zoraida anchor solo weekday mornings. I know Michele will be there but it seems like shes just providing top story updates, not co-anchoring. Interesting moves at NBC 5.

I've seen some inconsistencies with their social distancing on the set. Last night both Rob and Allison at 10pm were together at the desk which contradicts this article. In the morning, Alex is in the weather center while Zoraida is at the desk. Seems to be a little all over the place throughout the day.

A week or so ago I saw them do sports either right before or right after weather (cannot remember exactly) during the 9pm to do a special segment before the 10pm started. So they've moved sports around before.

Isn't it typically at the end of the first block before the first commercial break?

I wonder where in Chicago he is headed?

Of course they would butcher this. The bug and L3's are nice. But they are still using the opens and transitions from the previous package. I wish they would use the full version of this new package.

A 7PM newscast would not work at WMAQ or KXAS because that is when network programming starts. Chicago and DFW already have 6PM newscasts which is the 7PM equivalent to the east coast stations.

Could Judy fill in then as well?

Rob Johnson and Marissa Bailey out at WBBM! https://www.robertfeder.com/2019/03/13/cbs-2-drops-anchors-rob-johnson-marissa-bailey/

Looks like they’ve added another member to the NBC 5 Storm Team. Kristen Kirchhaine debuted tonight. Patrick Fazzio announced it during the 10pm news tonight. Did this fly under the radar? I don’t remember seeing anything about her.

Looks like they've done some very minor studio upgrades. They've upgraded the TV in the stand-up area to a much bigger TV. Also, the weather center TV's look bigger to the left. The other day they had Brant in the weather center and they had two videos of conditions to the left. The standard weather center graphic with temperature underneath and to the right they had a big picture of the skylines. I don't remember the monitors to the left being flush with the background for such a big monitor array.

That's true. I do have to say I've quite enjoyed seeing more of Dick Johnson. I've always liked Dick and felt he got the short end of the stick when it came to anchor positions. Yes, he tumbles a little from time to time but his marathon anchoring has made me have quite a lot of respect for him.

I saw on their Facebook page, or maybe it was on Alex's Facebook page, that Marion confirmed that Patrick Fazio will join her at 4pm. But it won't be right away. Maybe in time for sweeps?

So interesting evening schedule. Marion Brooks and Lauren Petty anchored the 4pm news which made me think Dick Johnson finally got a week off. Allison Rosati joined Marion at 5pm, however, Dick filed a report from the control room at 5pm but joined Allison for the 6pm and 10pm as well. Maybe they're testing things with Lauren Petty or finally giving Dick lesser time at the desk.

If I'm not mistaken, this is week two for Andy being on vacation. Kalee subbed for him all last week too.

Looks like WNBC is getting their own radar... [MEDIA=vimeo]195291987[/MEDIA]

WMAQ played rotating anchors today. Alex Maragos anchored at 4pm with Marion Brooks. Dick Johnson then joined her at 5pm. At 6 it was Dick Johnson and Lauren Jiggetts. Then at 10 it was Allison and Dick. WMAQ is in desperate need of male anchors but seems to be in no hurry to find any.

My DirecTV guide starting August 22 has NBC 5 News @4pm with Access Hollywood at 1pm and Extra at 1:30pm. I checked the next day and it says the same thing.

NBC 5 unveiled their 4pm newscast extension today. Surprised it was during the Olympics. Looks like Rob Stafford and Dick Johnson will alternate the 4pm anchor position alongside Marion Brooks.

When Lauren said Andy Avalos was in I thought she miss spoke for a moment. Its interesting to see him at 10. But I don't think this storm was severe enough to warrant 2 meteorologists. But there was a lot of flooding and some concerts going on in town so... Andy was only seen during the beginning of the newscast. During the actual weather segment it was all Pete Sack. Maybe even they realized it might be overkill.

The normal morning music. They've only really changed the music on the promos and like Brant's weather photo's. Little things like that otherwise they've used the same music for everything else.

New graphics on the news at 11! Same generic open with no voice over. Same music. They have the bottom bar but no top bar. Top bar only during breaking news and weather. They had the 7 day during the weather segments but at the very end of the newscast they showed the 10 day.

I'm loving the time lapse video of the city!!! I hope they use video for the open! Everyone else's are so bland!

I find this incredibly interesting. I wonder who's leaving? I'm just surprised that they hire someone for weather while two anchor positions are vacant. I wonder what changes are a coming...

If you listen carefully it doesn't sound like a live drawing. It sounds like she recorded each number separately and they just put them together when they draw the numbers. That's why it sounds weird. The intro/outro could have been a little peppier though.