Geoffrey

I disagree somewhat. These are public people. They have regular schedules and when they're missing, the public notices. As far as I can tell, the stories aren't reporting on any rumors or making things up, just sharing publicly seen details with some requests for comment. If Strahan wants to keep what's happening private, hopefully he can do that. So far, these stories are not invading his privacy. And I hope things turn out OK.

I don't have any insider info to share, but I have found some parts of the package to be inspired and clean, while others are just bland and clunky. Curious if the complaints mentioned here refer to the graphics or the silly branding decisions (whether they went all-in on losing the numbers or decided to go with two identities in a single logo). The music is OK, and I like unifying it with the network's "This is CBS" signature, but WCBS barely even uses it -- most opens and many bumpers use the awful "somber church bell" production music.

Pretty much the same, and we already had a preview of how they'd fit them in with the hurricanes, but here's the first look at CNN's updated election graphics since they rounded some of the edges. I still don't like the way some things don't line up when the full lower-third banner isn't there.

As mentioned above, CNN's new Saturday morning premiered today. First of All - Victor Blackwell says he wants to add more context to stories and showcase voices and places people are not familiar with. Interestingly, the desk says CNN Center on it, even though I don't think the new location is called that. (I think this set is mostly used for CNN International, right?) After the longtime Smerconish, it's The Chris Wallace Show. The setup reminded me of The McLaughlin Group (Wallace actually said something like: I hate to play John McLaughlin here but you're right, you're wrong!). I'm just not sure the mix of a pretaped show with Chris Wallace, who seems pretty old and has a strong accent, is formula for success but we'll see. And then there was The Amanpour Hour, also not live, and of course with an international focus. The music seems to keep the signature from her "Amanpour" show and the open has some elements of the design as well. One of the more interesting parts to me was "The Amanpour Archive," when they played a few minutes from a documentary Christiane Amanpour did for CNN in 2007 (which was relevant to today's Israel-Hamas war), followed by a clip from an interview she did in 1996. But otherwise, putting a two-hour block of taped programming every Saturday morning in this age of war of never-ending political news seems like an odd choice to me.

And the host has been announced: https://twitter.com/StephenAtHome/status/1719891910884544993?s=20

What a strange way to mark Halloween. I wonder if they were inspired by WMAQ's 75th anniversary celebration and wanted to get in on the reminiscing.

I thought the same thing with the flag when I first noticed it last week. Definitely reminds me of how everyone quickly incorporated flags into their graphics. (Not just Fox News: CNN had it in their lower-thirds, and MSNBC eventually rebranded as "America's News Channel" with the peacock as a flag instead of the usual colors.)

Will most viewers even notice a change?

Scary stuff, and interesting story, but I cannot believe they led with it and called it "breaking news" when they already had time to put together a package. It affects none of the viewers. Maybe it was an otherwise slow news day locally?

I'm pretty sure CNN used the new show titles in TV listings and on the gray box below the CNN bug/on the ticker last week, but last night was apparently the official debut of the new 10pm and 11pm primetime shows. CNN NewsNight with Abby Philip (logo gives me serious NewsNight with Aaron Brown vibes) https://www.instagram.com/p/CyfK5T2ONwF/?img_index=1 Laura Coates Live

Looks like MSNBC handled this as most of us expected: Alicia was back tonight and addressed the issue at the top saying that she would not be covering the story:

I believe it's more dependent on when the station group provides the finished graphics. There is some implementation on the station level, but the graphics hubs have to finish putting with all of the localization.

Here's the schedule of what aired today from what I saw: 8am: CNN Newsroom with Fredricka Whitfield 10am: CNN Newsroom with Rahel Solomon 11am: State of the Race with Kasie Hunt (CNN International) Noon: One World with Zain Asher and Bianna Golodryga (CNN International) 1pm: Amanpour (CNN International) 2pm: Newsroom with Jim Sciutto 3pm: Quest Means Business (CNN International) And then at 4pm, it became a simulcast of CNN/U.S. with The Lead, The Situation Room, etc. (all of which also airs on CNN International). So, not a ton of original content, but nice for American viewers to see more CNN International. I guess I'm curious what the logic is for a few hours of CNN Max-exclusive newscasts and not just putting the entire U.S. or International feed on there. Or maybe the simulcasts are a placeholder until they launch more original shows. They are calling it a beta product for now. As for the "no commercials" promise mentioned yesterday, the Max-exclusive shows took a few short promo breaks. I'm just realizing that the background behind Fredricka is CNN's D.C. studio used for Inside Politics, The Lead, etc, just with an Atlanta skyline. Rahel had the same backdrop but with NY in there. Jim Sciutto was in front of an actual window overlooking the Capitol. (I thought it was the usual flashcam-monitor setup but it's not. Just now remembering that they used to have a small set featuring part of that window there. Now it looks like just a window.)

CNN Max has launched. "CNN Newsroom" is currently on, using the CNN International look. Nice seeing Fredricka Whitfield, who very rarely shows up on CNN outside of weekends.

Jim Sciutto signed off from CNN News Central today. Tomorrow comes the beta launch of CNN Max, which will be part of Max (formerly HBO Max). They said on TV that CNN Max won't have commercial breaks, so I'm curious how they're going to incorporate the shows that already exist. (Will they air live but have slideshow-like content covering up the ads? Will they air later with the breaks cut out and be shorter?) Also curious how similar or different it will be from CNN+, which had shows that lasted maybe 20-40 minutes and then replayed to fill out the hour until the next show began. I had a feeling Chris Licht's three-anchor broadcasts might not be long for TV. CNN This Morning is of course down to two, and it sounds like the afternoon DC edition of News Central may be joining that. Haven't heard of any changes coming to the morning NY edition yet (but could easily have missed something). In other post-Chris Licht news, I've noticed that the "BREAKING NEWS" tab is again being used rather liberally. Below is one example from today. This was a very good interview and I recommend everyone watch it, but book interviews generally aren't breaking. (Also, did the font on the ticker become less bold or is it just me?)

I don't think it's necessary for MSNBC's anchors and reporters to mention the fact that one of their colleagues is related to a figure in the news for corruption. But I think it would be necessary for her to mention that at the top of her show as a reason why she is not covering one of the week's big stories. I think it's unfair to punish or sideline Alicia for her father's troubles, but perhaps it would be good to have her skip this weekend.

Another News 12 Long Island veteran has left the station. Virginia Huie was there for 17 years. https://www.facebook.com/huie12/posts/pfbid028d65nJxCn12uWns2ETrUx5o1jjZzc4mfaRVD11597Zz1adXZ3Hqnss2jNcWv5E8Hl?__cft__[0]=AZXdj605ou5nJYxGcrw_FNL5TbVTQsIV4JD-h1lxcfUbyqh78A_0o2lz9I8CQ_ek-elSWxc9lRjPjD0Gc20_hgpw3EL4y_0as4Ph34VPdkTkWzRNQYWftvrVB2qeIGhPJ4YYzoltRaNAzYHAgTWVyIP-aavWV0xe6d9EC1WMBvdYh8NC_UhPN7PhQ5jEUB_k_Hs&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

This is the first time I've noticed family/personal photos being used for a newscast's talent open. (Not trying to turn this thread into a list...)

I agree with your overall point, but just wanted to clarify that an hour of television is not just one hour of work for producers, writers and anyone else involved in it.

CNN This Morning moved back into the old New Day studio this morning (the one with the brick loft look), with an updated background skyline montage that still incorporates America coast to coast but is bluer and brighter. When the show launched in November, they were said to be in a temporary studio (originally for CNN+) and that a brand new studio was in the works. Guess not? Yesterday Today Looks like the family photos didn't make the move with the show.

CBS 2 updated their 9/11 ceremony graphics this year to match their new look. (Once again, they are VERY large.) Interestingly, they used the CBS 2 black square logo and not the CBS News New York one.

Strange but WNBC briefly cut away from the National Anthem at Ground Zero to take NBC's special report about the ceremonies this morning. Lasted probably about 30-45 seconds. Wonder if it was automated (didn't seem so as the beginning of the open was cut off) or if a master control operator saw a special report coming down and instinctively pushed the button.

Looks better today with the ticker included (even if it looks off by about a pixel).

I think the only time you see a curve on the bug (top left) is when it sits alone -- no lower-third, no live.