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17 hours ago, Myron Falwell said:

I’m trying to understand the logic of debating the importance of channel numbers when they’ve been falling into irrelevance since the DTV switchover… and will further become irrelevant as ATSC 3.0 is rolled out.

 

This isn’t 1994.

For some stations, a chunk of the large legacy audience is older and still familiar with the channel numbers as the 'brand.'

Probably less so or close to none with  some of these 4th place CBS stations, or a new one like CBS DETROIT. And certainly a lot less so than 20+ years ago, and as you note fading further.

Think WPVI or KTRK for example. 

1 hour ago, Bsean said:

I agree. I use YouTube TV and regardless of the channel number, the first channels that appear are CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox. I'm in San Diego, so the order isn't even in number order... 8, 10, 7, 5... 

 

I'll also add, that's the default, but you can customize the order of the channel listings by putting your most watched at the top. So in the end, that channel number really doesn't matter 

 

FWIW my Hulu screen shows channel logos but it's alphabetical (including cable nets) - and for the local stations uses the network name as the first letter for(so ABC 10 before CBS  sorting 

Nice breakthrough set look and great use of a masthead banner for an iconic and authoritative 2 shot. Has a KTSP vibe from decades back but smaller scale.

Would rather they had warmer elements - the black/white/grey/concrete is harsh on the eyes and even makes you feel cold. Fixable quickly with paint and flooring or picking up some of the wood cues from the desk. I get CBS is a black logo but sometimes this gets too literal. 

Agree the talent selection is uniquely Detroit and not in a forced hipster way. 

While I wouldn't want to work for someone with his style, the investigation sounds like the result of "morale" excuses on the part of those resistant to change. CBS News rank and file are deeply set in their ways and tend to be on the more hostile side to management. 

Here's another rarely used NS2000 promo cut for an open

Really nice thoughtful depth to it and some warmth vs a sea of digital walls. Makes the space appear much larger than a typical set of this size. 

The 2 shot could use a change - the “regular” TV floating there is odd and there’s probably another way to integrate that. 

Overall well done trying something different than the 2013-present trends. 

KRON NewsCenter 4 UPDATE preshow and open early 1986

2 hours ago, iron_lion said:

Uniformity isnt all bad. It's cool seeing an identical format with different faces when going to another city.  But I dont mind a middle ground, uniformity with traces of uniquness. For example, KDKA has the standard CBS get up, only their little twist is the black and gold graphics. Staions could have a standardized set perhaps with individual takes on colors or set per market. Maybe even a different version of the theme. ABC's O&Os have achieved this and they're largely winning. CBS hasn't achieved a winning formula to warrant a standard format acoss stations. 

Yes, the non Group W CBS O&Os have been a basket case since the mid 80s or longer.

Since then, the only time they came close to being competitive was when Dennis Swanson showed up in the early 2000s. He applied the moves he used for turnarounds at KABC, WLS, and WNBC.

Emphasis on high recognition talent, poaching when needed

Straightforward, timeless sets and graphics with decisive and authoritative music vs the consultant fad / fashion of the day

Community event celebration, get the syndication lead-ins right. 

44 minutes ago, Tyler said:

CBS is moving away from Enforcer for exactly that reason. It’s dated and doesn’t fit the direction of the network/O&Os. It’s been around long enough. It’s time for something refreshing and new. 
 

The graphics are modern and clean. They look good on mobile and streaming, which is the future. They’re far better than the current iteration of the O&O graphics. 
 

Overall, it appears this is a solid upgrade for the CBS O&Os. Despite some stations keeping calls or channel numbers (for now), I think this is a step in the right direction. I for one am happy to see some of the nostalgia go to the wayside. 

What % of streaming news viewing time is on small devices vs a normal TV screen? I get the sense people equate streaming with mobile device. But at least in my habits, most of my 'streaming' is on a full sized TV as we don't use traditional cable, but one of the streaming packages like Hulu Live or YouTube TV, or Pluto.

And these graphics designed for mobile come off flat and sterile on TV screens. 

Was relieved to read they are going market by market with local-specific research, rather than a completely top down approach. 

We'll see if the ABC O&Os extend their leads sticking with a more traditional format, but am surprised CBS was able to get Wendy from the ABC stations. Odd she'd take this job as a co-head at CBS when she was the single head for the ABC group - which is bigger at least in leadership of the markets they play. 

Very "LA" response to KTLA - reminds me of an Entertainment Tonight set

4 hours ago, KentBrockman said:

Surprised this wasn’t already mentioned elsewhere, but the change occurred Sunday. Graphics are largely the same except uses more navy blue instead of purple. The logo bug is very clunky.

Must be a soft launch because the website and app have not flipped over yet from Newsy.

 

Feels more 'legit' - until I checked out of curiosity thought it was some random startup 

KNBC Channel 4 News Nightside January 1986

Cued it up at the outro to the Tonight Show with the jazzy music and motion shots of the set. Looks so expansive yet warm and not overwhelming...a lot of that is thoughtful shot placement and framing built into the lines of the set , rather than just the studio size. Every shot of the set has an element that continues up or to the side uninterrupted, giving the illusion of height and depth.

Speaking of the 96 theme…Gardner was quoted in this detailed article looking back on the incident 

https://billypenn.com/2015/08/12/phillys-action-news-theme-song-has-survived-10-presidential-elections-and-20-olympic-games-and-isnt-going-anywhere/

WLS clips from Alan Krashesky's retirement. Nice they have good archive footage not just Youtube clips, and the editor thought to play a quick cut of the '82 era On Your Side bumper to start the retrospective.

https://abc7chicago.com/video/embed/?pid=12481179

On 12/17/2022 at 7:19 AM, jerseyfla said:

New clip from WXFL (WFLA) circa April 3, 1983 less than 3 months after the call letter change with either a different theme or different cuts of Gari’s The Spirit of Tampa Bay. I don’t think these cuts lasted very long and the station changed graphics 4 or 5 times over the course of over 3 years between The Look….Alive and Power News to stay ahead of WTSP for #2. 

 

News update at 21:12 and tease at 35:35. Again no open. 

 

 

Good find those sound like Spirit of Tampa Bay cuts

Yeah that makes sense about KFMB

For KUSI the odd thing is they were short anchors. They just put a new hire in to replace Hunter on the weekends....Jenny could have had that slot in theory. And when Elizabeth left there was a morning slot, though guess Kacee got that.

Jenny's weeknight anchoring was quite sudden - literally right after she won the 2 emmys, as if the station was trying to send a message to the other anchors. Ginger still hasn't popped up on another station with her move to Scottsdale / Phoenix. 

Last night was a college broadcasting night, with the new weekend anchor stumbling through doing weather on the green screen. Also managed to walk behind the other anchor during a close up of the anchor as she walked to the weather board. 

And they delivered on the promise - she replaced Ginger in the M-F 4-6pm anchor chair as of June. My wife was put off by her style on the anchor desk - she felt she inserted too many references to her own experiences, 'always making it about her.' Didn't rub me the wrong way, though felt Ginger was the better fit for the evenings. 

I think she's great morning show anchor talent, which is the money maker these days. At KUSI though Lauren and Paul are the prom king and queen, and Kacee Mckinnon has been doing morning anchoring. Though Kacee was a fan of Jenny's on social.

Boy did Kacee have an awkward exchange with Mathis when he brought up her parents' 'big house' where they watch a football game on 'two tvs' - she told him how powerful his cologne was that morning.

Last week Hunter made a snide remark to Logan about 'finally getting to correct him for stumbling on words for once'  

My guess is Paul, Lauren, Mark are the only anchors who are openly 'ok' with the political slant. Hunter, Logan, Jenny, Matt, etc grin and bear it. This Rafer guy seems red meat on board with it. 

Yeah maybe was a 1 year contract, oddly in her talent reel one of her clips has her joking they're short staffed so her job is safe after making a snarky remark about how dated the set was

Nick James was congratulating Hunter on-air a couple weeks ago for being the new 'miss weeknight' so that role is confirmed - she also posted a contract signing on social over the summer 

A recent hire reporter, forget her name, she's from Honolulu, is now doing weekends with Matt Prichard

And in another twist...

Rafer Weigel, who was hired last month as a 'reporter/anchor' had been reporting on the weeknight news, occasionally doing standups in studio. Last night he filled in on the anchor desk for Logan. And another recent hire reporter, Diane Tuazon, filled in for Francella on weather. 

Figured Rafer was the backup for whenever Dan Plante decides to retire from reporting, hoping he's not being positioned to ease out Logan on the anchor desk.

Same for Francella, hoping she's in good shape on weather, though won't read much into it since Mark Mathis had to fill in for her earlier in the week. 

Nice setup for sports final - the set has that distinctive Socal feel of the ‘85 KNBC set that lasted so long 

Also says something someone as skeptical as David Lazarus is excited about a set 

Agree with C the 2 shot could use editing. The depth and framing that shines in the rest of the set is missing 

Nice masthead above the main desk and use of the '5' branding on the video column, great 'LA neighborhood' shot. Warm woods.

It's distinctive, instant classic kind of feel - nice job for a big market Nexstar

Wow two of the most distinctive station brands being retired - KULR 8 and Q 6 - feels like a clumsy consultant recommendation

18 hours ago, Big Rollo Smokes said:

KUSI is adding Rafer Weigel to its news team. It's actually a return to SD for Weigel, who worked at KUSI earlier in his career.

 

Rafer, son of the late Chicago sportscaster Tim Weigel, worked with Jenny Milkowski at WFLD in Chicago. On a public FB post announcing his move came this comment:

 

Later in the same thread...

 

Take that for what it's worth.

And the plot thickens. 

They trotted him out as an interview subject sometime in the past year forget for what. Got the sense of some slant in what they had him speaking to but forget. I see he’s a Cohen prior hire.

Wonder where he’s assigned. Logan seems to be doing well weeknights and Matt Prichard is good attitude talent on the weekend evening. 

Maybe Paul Rudy is getting a break from the morning grind? 

Also a interesting how Jenny gets all these reader voted best of awards and cleans up at the Emmys. She’s a bright talent but the sheer volume of vote driven accolades is unusual  for such a new to the market talent. 

SD folks...I know it's a revolving door there...we like watching because we find the anchors / reporters more personable than the other stations, and they cover more community events / local races. Yes I know there's a sometimes over the top slant to things, we filter through it. Had frankly stopped being local news watchers before moving here and coming across the KUSI 'product' - unvarnished as it is. 

Over the summer Ginger got moved from doing the 4-6 and 10-11 with the always professional Logan, to just the 10-11 plus reporting. Then left the station last month to head to AZ -  we were disappointed with both, she has a great voice, great at pointed live interviews. Any idea what she's up to in AZ? 

Jenny M. came over from KFMB last winter and then filled Ginger's 4-6 role starting in June. 

Now with Ginger's departure Hunter S. has been handling most of the evening weekday newscasts, and Jenny as of this week appears in the field reporting. Jenny's Linkedin says 'open to work' so wondering if she got told her contract isn't being renewed?

Our favorite pair has been Matt Prichard and Hunter Sowards on the weekends so while we're happy for Hunter if she's getting a 'promotion' we hate to see that pair broken up. 

Nice to see a seamless backdrop and the warm tones. Odd to have the grid screen on the smaller stand up area, you'd think they could go seamless there too. 

Tone down the eye on the anchor backdrop and it's a nice shot. 

Station video here

https://abc30.com/abc30-action-news-brand-new-broadcast-studio-state-of-the-art-set/12386568/

The logo on the beam above the desk is a nice touch - you don't see that kind of masthead branding much on these ultra mod sets anymore, and it's a lost opportunity. Having a logo or masthead of the newscast name on the top of the shot, above the anchors, elevates the brand. 

15 hours ago, 24994J said:

 

That was surely based on where GE was headed, with the abandoned block logo NBC [CITY], and a downplayed local brand. At one point, the anchors and reports would've simply signed off as "NBC News." Comcast had a different plan, and here we are today, with the channel number intact.

 

Was it as late at 2010/11, though? I feel like the standalone peacock appeared when the 2 sets were redone for HD, so late 2007/early '08.

CBS O&Os might want to do a post mortem on what went wrong with that NBC [CITY] experiment.