Mrtraveler01

WACH in Columbia, SC seems to be incorporating an odd mix of Sinclair's new package as well as their old one. Couldn't Sinclair just give them the new package since they own WACH now?

Hmm...I wonder if we'll see this spread to other Gannett stations. I think this is the first in the group to have something like that.

I just noticed this but KSDK has a new voiceover. I can't figure out who it is though but I've heard him on other stations. Edit: It's John Beach.

Watch stations like WWL and WXIA promote this website quite a bit especially with football season about to kick off.

Oh c'mon how bad could it be. *clicks link* ...It's like Post-Newsweek/Graham isn't even trying anymore. The funny thing is that WJXT just changed their logo to look more like the (now old) WDIV logo.

You hit the nail on the head. Which is why I had to laugh when Mark Hyman was commenting on how this is on stations across the country. You're right, KDNL could've preempted Modern Family reruns for this. But as I mentioned, this whole thing seems forced just with the promotions and the questions, the people they had on their panel, etc. Either way, you can catch the stream of it on the Newschannel 8 DC website since they use Livestream: http://www.wjla.com/news/newschannel-8/ (Rewind to 18:58:40) I'm sure it'll show up on the Fox Baltimore website shortly as well.

I agree. It just seems forced when he's the moderator. And he always gives me a sleezy used car salesman vibe when I see him. They should've had Jeff Barnd moderating.

They did it from WBFF's studios in Baltimore. Newly-acquired Newschannel 8 aired it in the DC area, not sure if any other station is airing it. (EDIT: I see that WSYX and WKRC aired it as well.) As far as St. Louis is concerned, KMOV aired a very similar Town Hall debate a few days after the actual shooting and riots happened. KDNL hasn't done squat. I live in St. Louis so I'm used to KDNL being a joke when it comes to being a part of the community. And why oh why must Mark Hyman be the moderator for these? "I'm Mark Hyman from Behind the Headlines..." First, how many people would actually know him from that segment? Secondly, why not have the local anchors do it so it looks more like a local debate instead of some corporate mandated program?

Speaking of Town Halls, I saw something on WJLA where they'll have a Town Hall on race relations on Newschannel 8 this coming Tuesday. They're really quick to get these Sinclair segments to WJLA/NC8 aren't they?

I know some of them cut the stream early because they don't have the rights to stream sports highlights. I think that's why the Gannett stations do that.

Found the ABC affiliation agreement for all the Sinclair ABC station when it was renewed back in 2010 including KDNL: (unfornately they did a bad job scanning it because it hurt my eyes trying to read it): https://stations.fcc.gov/collect/files/56524/Ownership%20Reports/Contracts%20and%20Agreements/Affiliation%20Agreements/ABC%20Affiliation%20Agreement%20(14062346339380).pdf It gave them the same news requirements it gave WJLA but did grant KDNL and WXLV an exception to meet that requirement by a certain date which both station eventually did do (KDNL did with KSDK and WXLV with its partnership with News 14 Carolina).

I think ABC did that with Sinclair too because shortly after they renewed the affiliation contract, KDNL formed a news partnership with KSDK. Similar thing happened when WXLV formed a news partnership with TWC News. Sinclair is probably trying to find a way to do the bare minimum at the lowest cost just so they can keep the affiliation.

I did see a WGN satellite truck in the background on one of the newscasts I watched.

Oddly enough. KMOV did a Town Hall special last week on race relations in St. Louis. But it would certainly give Sinclair more content to provide to their affiliates instead of the standard CNN and network feeds. Gannett has shared a lot of the content from KSDK with their other affiliates as well as Meredith with KMOV. Last nights newscast on KCTV in Kansas City was basically a simulcast of KMOV. As far as KDNL is concerned, there were rumors that they were restarting their news operations but I haven't heard anything since then and there aren't any job openings for KDNL on their website anymore.

Exactly, it's morning TV which isn't supposed to be taken too seriously anyways.

I agree with you 100%. This is without any doubt going to make ABC put more pressure on Sinclair to establish some news presence on KDNL and get them to finally stop dragging their feet. This has got to be embarrassing for both ABC and Sinclair. But at least ABC has a national reporter stationed in Ferguson for this story. BTW: Not a fan of Sharon Reed huh?

Looks like the segments mandated by Sinclair are making their way into WJLA's newscasts. I saw a Waste Watch story on WJLA.com. http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/08/waste-watch-u-s-defense-spending-106109.html

It makes no sense to me either. Especially since stations like WCHS/WVAH are getting them even though they were one of the last ones to get the last package.

Still pretty petty, but then again look who we're talking about here.

Wow. I wonder why the change of heart from Sinclair regarding this station? This is the same one that didn't have HD newscasts until last year.

I didn't even pick up on that. That's kind of clever actually. It's located in an office park hence the "Corporate Place" address. But I agree, it's pretty stupid. WSYX doesn't say "live from 1261 Dublin Road..." or WBFF with "live from 2000 W 41st Street"

WKEF/WRGT VO during the intro: "Live from 2245 Corporate Place...this is ABC 22 News at 11" They really couldn't think of something better than that?

You're right. The link you sent links to a story from KMPH in Fresno which happens to file a report made by WBFF in Baltimore. So this is definitely being spread throughout the station group. Reading stories like that makes my blood boil because their whole excuse for why they keep jacking up the retrans fees every time a contract is up for renewal is so absurd and full of BS ("reinvest into the local community"? Really? More like reinvesting into the station if even that!). They're just as bad as the cable companies when it comes to this debate. But I'll save that for another thread.

Looks like WKEF/WRGT got these back on July 14th. Wish they would've changed those crappy logos for WKEF and WRGT. The square logos look weird inside the bug. Any guesses on the next station to get these? Speaking of WKEF/WRGT, I stumbled on this interesting story regarding the government intervening between cable cos and station groups like Sinclair: http://www.abc22now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wkef_vid_21408.shtml Was their feud with Buckeye about to go into federal arbitration or something? I just find the timing of this story a tad odd.

And WBFF still hasn't gotten them yet. I'm honestly shocked that it's taking this long for their flagship to get these new graphics, wonder why that is.