ctmajka

I tried my hand at This logo thing. I don't like the spacing of the letters in the WGN logo (I feel the letters are too close), but I like the font.

I figured the perfect "9" to go with the pseudo-retro font would be a revitalization of their retro "Square 9" logo, and a typeface that would match that with the slogan.

Much like their WGN Radio logo, this logo reflects the WGN of yesterday, but because it keeps the same layout as the current logo, it doesn't take away the familiarity of the station.

Behold:

I'm 18, working as an Anchor/Reporter at the #3 station in market #118.

 

If young people can do the job, more power to them.

Yes, that's more understandable, It's more common to see younger folks on-air in smaller markets. However, it normally takes a number of years on-air to make your way into the top 20 markets. It's very unique to see anyone in their 20's working on-air in Chicago, or anywhere larger than Sacramento, I would say.

Any guesses as to when the new talent opens will debut?

I was talking with my grandma (an avid ABC 7 viewer), and that's exactly what she said.

Pretty sure that's the case as well.

22 years old, and already working at the #1 rated news outlet in the 3rd largest American city...

I'm not quite sure what to make of that. I thought Rob Elgas and Cheryl Scott were young blood, but at least they're seasoned in their respective positions. Am I the only one that finds this a bit unnerving?

Get a room!

Your jealousy is showing.

Tuck it in.

No station like WGN.

I wonder what they're waiting for...

EDIT: As of 10pm, it's fixed.

I'm wondering what it's made of that lets it peel like that?

I would have thought it was a painted PVC or vinyl logo, but I guess they used construction paper & glue sticks...

Speaking of awkward ABC logos in various places of their studio...

What's up with that, yo?

WOI-TV re-vamped their image in 2006, taking away the Eyewitness News moniker, and replacing it with ABC 5 news.

I suppose to make themselves feel more like an O&O, they also went with graphics that were VERY heavily inspired by graphics that Hothaus did for an ABC O&O station in the next state over...

From what I've read in regards to the talent shake-ups pending at the ol' 7, I'd have to say I'm curiously excited. From a day-to-day basis, you don't realize just how stagnant the station REALLY has become. Then you look back at all the shake-ups that are due, and you think "Holy shit! THIS will be kinda cool!"

Whatever they (permanently) decide, I have complete confidence that 7's decisions will make sense, and do nothing but move the station forward.

 

Let's face it. A lot of news music is getting severely dated. Synths were all fine and dandy in the 90's, but put pretty much any package that wasn't made recently next to, I don't know, Strive, and listen to the difference. I know which one I'd put on a station I was in charge of. Outside of this board, literally nobody cares what music is being used (*1) and you'd be hard pressed to find many people at a television station that even knows what their music package is called, let alone who composed it. There might be a nutty CSD or GM somewhere that insists on keeping those cuts of MCTYW alive out of tradition, but there will come a time when even those are retired (probably after said people do the same).

 

The old version of the music was getting dated. It was worn out. It didn't match the fresh new look of the new graphics. This version of Stimulus is very likely middle ground between someone at the station who wanted something exciting and new and someone who was insisting the old theme stay around because of some buzzwords like Brand Association or something equally as absurd. (*2) It could have gone away entirely. You could be watching ABC7 Eyewitness News with Indie Band News playing over the open.

 

Everyone could still be using Teletype sounds as the bed to their news open, but they don't because better things came along.

 

(*1): Everyone in my family, extended family, and friends families watch 7. So far, everyone I've talked to has said that the new music is more bland than the older cuts. Clearly if they can notice that on their own, there's something about the older music that they prefer. People notice these things, and over-all, we give them less credit than they deserve.

(*2): There is a science behind music choices whether it be for a newscast, radio station, product, store (Menard's), etc. I'd hardly call making a music choice as a CSD absurd. There's a lot to think about, not just "How well does that go with our graphics?" Sure, that's important, but if there's a long-standing tradition in the music department, like there is at WLS (30 years with the 2000/2000+ signature), you're going to stick with that tradition. Why? People are comfortable with things that are familiar. With WLS, the people are familiar, the Circle 7 is familiar, and (until recently) the most punchy, melodic, grand theme song of any Chicago TV station has been familiar. Because of the signature, and because of the presentation.

Now, honestly, the music is bland. Most specifically the close. The open is fine, they're using Eyewitness News as a bumper, okay, and the close is horrid. I would actually not mind if Gari made a version of the WABC S4 closing cut with the 2000+ signatures in there. THAT would be something.

In my opinion, since he's planning on bringing Eyewitness News back BECAUSE of the familiarity Chicagoan's have with the name, I'm comfortable speculating he's kept that in mind with the music-portion of the branding. The News Series logo has been used going on 31 years now, so honestly there would be no reason to bring back an historic name for nostalgia's sake, while getting rid of a music theme that everyone has grown accustomed to just as (if not, more so) equally.

I've noticed on the Facebook promo that the "7" is actually a little bit thicker than it's ever been. Is it just me, or is that Circle 7 a tad "WXYZ"?

I feel like I'm about to be gang-banged by the NewsChannel 5 Investigators.

KSAT 12s early 90s open:

NO MUSIC BESIDES Random Orchestral Hits

Charlie Van Dyke:

"You're Watching San Antonio's News Station. KSAT 12. SALTER!. GHALLAGER! (sp?) This, is 12News Tonight."

AWFUL!!