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SG didn't close in 2022 - they could have chosen to not make concessions like promising to not cut any journalism jobs for two years or pursue their lobbying efforts if they were scared by the financing environment. Instead they keep pressing. Whether they're being prudent is a whole other matter. https://www.fiercevideo.com/video/standard-general-asserts-tegna-deal-nears-finish-line The CBS O&O exercise is a grand experiment from a position of weakness and not much more.

TEGNA is the topic of the original mention. Their ownership will find something more than that kind of deal for their CBS affiliates.

CBS is making a hail mary effort with local news on fringe strength stations. They’re a long way from wanting to deepen their broadcast license exposure. Maybe they picked Texas precisely because they have no licensed station presence outside DFW with no plans to add one and want to see how many more of the Pluto streamers they catch via the name when scrolling the program guide. Pluto is company owned and a “network” audience of its own. Then maybe build some non broadcast license ops if there’s traction. Ironically Pluto is one of the most if not the most broadcast like of the streamers…cable channel program guide like interface by default. Made it easier for linear TV viewers to adapt.

WLS Eyewitness News Brief 1989 Rare cut of NS2000 here. It's somewhere between the sound of the original 1984 cuts and the early 90s synth update for WABC. Not clear if it's just a track mixdown of the original cuts, or a new arrangement altogether.

Nice evolution of the package - plays well on big 4K TVs, not dumbed down flat to only work on a 10 inch phone. Intricate detail and depth for 4K, but bold and easy to read the key points from a distance. Keeping the italics gives it that feel of speed on the field. Nice use of light and metallic for the player pop ups (even if it's still the cartoon drawing portraits). 3D metallic just looks impressive on big screens. Typeface stayed distinctive and avoided the herd mentality of some Gotham like generic rounded sans serif that's polluted airwaves for years. Well done Fox.

Good eye I like the dimension and light effects of that matchup graphic from last week They were smart to ditch the overly flat and somber late 2010s graphics in 2020 - audiences are growing tired of graphics made for a Microsoft Surface on their 4K TVs

For Fox or CNN they never had the memory of on air channel number branding visual or audio. There’s also no local vs national programming distinction. For a WPVI they’ve heard and seen “Channel 6” or “ABC 6” with that iconic “6” for decades. What would an older person using voice command remote say by instinct? “ABC Philadelphia” or “Channel 6”? Maybe “Action News” In Denver it’s “9” through and through. Then there is the Fox decision to de emphasize Fox and emphasize the KTVU 2 in the most digital forward market. TEGNA has emphasized iconic channel logos in recent years. Lots of puts and takes unique to each station and market not all of them related to digital program guides. Hard to make a blanket decision unless you have fewer legacy viewers at risk. It’s an easier one for the also rans or newer entrants to make. Like KUSI that ditched the attempt at 9 branding (they started as a hidden 51 emphasizing KUSI at the start)

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. 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

KRON NewsCenter 4 UPDATE preshow and open early 1986

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.

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.

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

Good find those sound like Spirit of Tampa Bay cuts

Ironically the CBS Evening News is going back to a more traditional and familiar broadcast presentation for older (core) viewers. These changes at the local level scream bland rerun local cable news like Spectrum or CLTV. Disconnected from the more familiar personality driven, urgency filled traditional affiliate news of yore. And “community journalism” sounds like marketing to what other journalists want as opposed to what viewers care about. If they want to shake things up and be different take a look at KUSI. Manages to bring out the personalities of the talent, leverages Zoom/Skype heavily to expand the guest / story profile, adds a healthy dose of positive local events, interviews lots of politicians on things neighbors are talking about, is willing to prosecute a local issue for weeks or months. Difference is it understands its viewers and what they see / live with day to day vs what a journalist thinks they should see. Sure the national political slant is off putting and some “experts” are borderline. But it’s a genuinely different approach to news vs the old days (despite the old set) that works on a shoestring and you don’t see it much elsewhere. I was at first turned off by it but the upbeat personalities and stories really drew us in. Maybe you need Steve Cohen himself to pull it off and the San Diego sun attracts personable talent but it’s a genuinely differentiated product.

There's a negative halo from network newscasts for some portion of the audience (this goes back decades...the whole 'network news doesn't represent my views' thing isn't new among some portion of the audience, just magnified these days). Beyond that the channel number / call letters are a bit of a firewall that also makes it feel more authentically local. Eliminating the local station number / call letters, and using the exact network news name (CBS News) makes it all feel even less local, trusted for that segment of viewers. See in Pittsburgh how KDKA lags WTAE at 6pm but has a massive lead at 11. Some of the core KDKA viewers don't care much for the national CBS News outlet, preferring World News Tonight. I doubt this change would have passed the common sense test of Les Moonves. The press release for KCNC isn't even consistent. It calls it 'CBS News Colorado' upfront, then all the newscast titles are 'CBS Colorado News at XXX.' The former is much more network newscast tied with 'CBS News' as the exact phrase, the latter maintains some more local identity (keeping the 'CBS News' phrase out of the mix).

That KSDK theme sounds like an affiliate news version of the '83-'84 'Be There' campaign

KTVU 10 O'Clock News 1978

RE: that 2016 open in there that is inspired by the spinning world 80s and statue of liberty mid 80s opens - happened to run into Lester and his wife on the street and told him kudos to whomever did that work - it was really classy, approachable, identifiable work. He was appreciative and liked it too. Wish the open lasted longer.

KPIX Nightcast promo 1983 - action packed cut of 'signature'

This youtube creator parody of an 80s ABC O&O newscast deserves to be in the classic video - such attention to detail right down to the tone and facial expression for the opening story