ttvn2000

Some behind-the-scenes images... I bet it was difficult to put that logo on the cookies

4 minutes ago, TennTV1983 said:

WJHL has started using the KOIN package as of Tuesday.

 

 

And they couldn't ditch that gawd-awful "11" ?!?!

Everything about this launch is very 'piece meal' - which is odd, considering they really could've put the newscasts in the "Live on Lakeside" studio while they made these changes at once. 

Side note: Can an admin or moderator move the WKYC logo-related conversation from "Out and About" to this thread? 

Cementing their dominance, WJW picks up Carl Monday, Tom Meyer and Tom Merriman in "contributor" roles:

https://fox8.com/2019/09/17/back-at-fox-8-tom-merriman-tom-meyer-and-carl-monday-return-to-the-fox-8-i-team/

So basically, Monday and Meyer left WOIO and WKYC respectively, because they had to.  (And we see how that's going for them.)  I have to wonder how/if this type of thing will continue at Fox 8 if Nexstar retains ownership.   

13 minutes ago, news89 said:

Meanwhile at 13th and Lakeside Elevator3 News says hello.

Why why why do they continue to just put band-aids over that set?!  It’s the same desk, just refreshed.  Over and over again. That newsroom studio looked it’s best from its inception to 2008... once they added those banners, it went to pot. Argh.

This “WKYC Studios” BS has been in all the annoying press releases each time a new member of talent is announced.  Who are they trying to be?  I just don’t get it.

I have said it before, but I am genuinely curious.  We’re the ratings so poor to justify these changes? It makes no sense, especially as Fox 8 doubles down on their “Cleveland’s Own” branding (which is nearly 35 years old, at least) and executed it beautifully.

Russ Mitchell deserves better.  Jim Donavan and Betsy Kling deserve better.  I’m just bewildered by this decline.  Look at anything from WKYC from 1999-2009 and mourn this loss:

This just pushes the Cleveland market down the gutter even more...

Argh.

3 minutes ago, news89 said:

Just look right above Danielle's shoulder you can see what I call the Elevator3 logo.

I can't even.  And we thought the 11Alive logo or WFAArrow logo was bad.

THIS CANNOT BE.  

(Maybe this conversation should move to a Graphics or TEGNA Corporate Thread?)

I want to like this - as it is definitely “on trend” in terms of a flat design.  But - the open is sloppy and clearly inspired by TEGNA. (Diagonal stripe pattern is an obvious similarity.). I do like the transitions and wipe/masking effects.

The set is a nice variation of what we’ve seen in recent Nexstar sets - similar to WISH but with an overall “darker” palette and varying textures.  Plus, unique features like the bridge cables and street patterns really bring a “local” flavor.

In this age of consolidation, I appreciate Nexstar’s approach to individual station branding and identity. (Which is obviously a remnant from Media General and Lin.)  I wish TEGNA, Scripps and Sinclair would take a similar approach,  It’s standardization without being too cookie cutter - offering options for individuality amid a slate of consistent design elements.

Ok @CLETVFan - each newscast title update is getting more and more ludicrous!

Why are they throwing their brand equity down the toilet?!  Are the ratings bad enough to justify the changes?  Argh, how I miss 2006 WKYC.

11 hours ago, jbnews said:

Their new director of news content, Adam Miller, ran the 4th hour of the Today Show before he came to WKYC.

He's busy posting selfies with Al Roker and Kathie Lee - and memories of selfies with Kathie Lee - so if you're looking for "infotainment" you may be OK.

See what he's done to that horrible morning newscast? 

On 8/29/2019 at 12:19 PM, Lamont said:

Sarah Bloomquist totally deserves the 5 pm slot and I would be shocked if she was not the replacement. 

Yes!  I've always considered her a very solid journalist - even in her days at WTVG.  ABC did a very good job utilizing WTVG as a place to groom top-tier talent.  (Bloomquist, Rob Powers, Jason Knowles, Jeff Blanzy, etc.)

1 minute ago, Breaking News said:

Ugh stop with the snatch & grabs Kendrick in his early 50s.  He probably looking at a few more years before he goes into retirement.  I hope and wish they could lure Jeff Hogan back from North Carolina, because Pete eh always been a bore and so is Scott Light.   Hogan & Harris would be great.!

Hogan would be ideal.  (I should've put a next to my comment about the snatch-and-grabs that WBNS continues to make...)

It can't be Scott Light.

21 minutes ago, Breaking News said:

One of the last few in the era left.  Nov 27, will be his final air date.  {getting out while TEGNA moving in]  It only a matter of time when others will follow.

https://www.dispatch.com/entertainmentlife/20190822/wbns-tv-anchorman-jerry-revish-to-retire

Not surprising, though it should've been in the works for longer than it has.  Jeff Hogan should've been waiting in the wings, but I think he was over waiting for the slot.  Scott Light is just so very bland.  Pete Scalia is not PM anchor material.

Maybe they can lure Bob Kendrick away from WSYX, since that's what WBNS does best.  (Though it won't be for top-dollar like it was for Yolanda Harris...)

20 minutes ago, DirtyHarry said:

 

Rob Braun is okay, but he's no Nick Clooney. If he were that level of talent, he might have been able to get a gig in one of the cities where The Bob Braun Show used to air. That would create some buzz. He could have been Columbus's next Doug Adair. But like I said, he's no Nick Clooney (or Doug Adair).

 

Does he end up at one of the other stations in town or is he too old for another gig?

I think both he and Dierking are like Cincinnati chili or goetta....people outside the area might not see the appeal.  I find both of them very dry and wooden, and such a stark contrast from their morning news team.  Bob Herzog is almost TOO animated and it sometimes appears very jarring when they shift from adlibbing to "real news."  But that could also be the station putting a square peg in a round hole altering the format of Good Morning Cincinnati to a more "hard news" format over the past few years.

I see this is an opportunity to completely overhaul the entire operation.  They really should consider tweaking their morning format to be something akin to the WGN Morning News, building that show around Herzog and a team.   And for the evenings, move someone into those positions with just a little bit of personality? Sheila Gray almost seems too wooden for the mornings, but has just enough personality for the PM.  Brad Johansen never really "left" Cincinnati during his stint at WRAL (his wife and daughter stayed in Ohio).  To me, this seems like a no-brainer.  John Lomax should also have the chance to do whatever he wants...if he wants an afternoon/early evening slot.  Switch Lomax and Kyle Inskeep.  Build mornings around Herzog.  Considering hiring back Tiffany Wilson to the AM show.  Put Gray and Johansen together as the main team...and let Liz Bonis/Paula Toti keep their current roles for consistency's sake.  (As dry at Toti is...)

All of this should be proactive to WLWT - who really shines with married duo Sheree Paolello and Mike Dardis at the helm.

Cammy Dierking is apparently following Rob Braun out the door at WKRC in Cincinnati:

https://www.wvxu.org/post/cammy-dierking-leaving-wkrc-dec-leaving-station-without-2-main-anchors#stream/0

This opens the door for the station to overhaul all its newscasts - which frankly, is needed.  WKRC is incredibly stale compared to WLWT, which is informative, yet has high production value. 

1 hour ago, CLETVFan said:

Cleveland comedian Mike Polk, Jr. joins WKYC and will appear on different newscasts.  He's also been featured on WJW and WUAB in the past.

And according to Cleveland.com, he might be anchoring the 11pm news on Fridays??!  Dear lord.

So - they've ditched Chris Tye and Tom Meyer for Jay Crawford and Mike Polk?!   I wouldn't be surprised to see Monica Robins out the door soon as well, as the writing seems to be on the wall for veteran talent at WKYC.  This is prime time for WEWS and WOIO to get competitive with a news-intensive strategy.

12 minutes ago, CLETVFan said:

WOIO and WUAB is adding a new local weekday talk show this fall hosted by former Cleveland Browns player Josh Cribbs and his wife Maria.  It will be called "Cribbs in the CLE: Josh and Maria Live."  It will air on WOIO at 9 until 9:30am, and will repeat from 7 until 7:30pm on WUAB.

After watching the video, I'm pleasantly surprised to see how polished his wife is.  This has the potential to be good - but I fear the production value may hold it back...

9 minutes ago, DirtyHarry said:

I like her well enough. For the most part, the best Columbus anchors have always been rejects from bigger markets.

True that.

I’m still sad Andrea Cambern “retired” - and it’s been 7 years.

Just now, Breaking News said:

kept wondering why Karina Nova, didn't want the job. She had been traffic anchor and definitely a rising star, and thought she would be good in that role.  I hope she does sticks around. TEGNA likes young people.

Not to speculate, but I could see her basically replacing Tracy Townsend (and presumably her hefty paycheck).

1 minute ago, Breaking News said:

I knew Maureen was going to the State but didn't know Shelby got a State job too.  WOW!  Another thing is WBNS doesn't have a main weekend evening anchor.

They've been having Jerry, Shelby, Scott and a series of rotation anchors do weekend evenings.

I’m assuming because she’s been retweeting from the Ohio Dept of Agriculture...much like Kocot and the Department of Natural Resources.

And...I didn’t know about the vacant weekend position.  I’m assuming Karina Nova doesn’t want that gig?  (I think she’s the rising star in the WBNS Tegna era, if she sticks around.)

8 minutes ago, Breaking News said:

Now another one has left that was very quiet.  Was Shelby Kroft who came from WISN.

Within days of Kocot.  But it looks like they both landed gigs with the State of Ohio.  (See Twitter...)

Former WBNS anchor Andrea Cambern posted publicly about it... 

Betting the mood is somber today on Twin Rivers Dr...

WTOL has let go of its news director.  

“Not related to the new ownership...”

https://www.toledoblade.com/local/city/2019/06/05/anthony-knopps-out-as-wtol-news-director/stories/20190605117

I am surprised by this, particularly since he came from WTVG.

WLWT news anchors Sheree Paolello and Mike Dardis are married...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cincinnati.com/amp/1305327001

I started watching the WLWT live stream when their engagement went “viral” - and I must admit, their chemistry is apparent on air.

7 minutes ago, CLETVFan said:

Could WKYC bring in Denise Dufala for a role with the new midday and 5pm newscasts to join Jay and possibly Betsy?

It would be nice, but I don't see it happening.  With them going 'cheap' with Sara Shookman after Kris Pickel left, they could've had their chance to hire someone with more experience to co-anchor at 6 & 11 pm.  I do think this is the opportunity to rethink their entire newscast team lineup.  (Including mornings...)

Deep speculation - but could this open the door for Russ Mitchell to go back to New York?  I see the Jay Crawford hire as more of a potential Russ Mitchell replacement (a la Rob Powers on WEWS) than a Jim Donavan replacement. I think they're grooming Camino for that role.

29 minutes ago, CLETVFan said:

WKYC is planning to launch the new 5pm newscast in January, according to The Plain Dealer.  No word on who will co-anchor with Jay on that new show, but I think with Channel 3 at 5, it will likely leave both WEWS and WOIO in the dust.

Finally a 5pm for WKYC!

Hate to enter speculation territory (but I will...)  - my money is on Betsy Kling having some sort of regular anchor role. They're using her to anchor regularly now, in addition to doing the weather and cleaning out the office refrigerators.  Even with such a deep bench of anchor talent (Jim Donavan, ex-19'ers Lynna Lai and the underrated Danielle Serino, plus folks like Monica Robins, Leon Bibb and Robin Swoboda on standby), they use Kling a lot.  But surprisingly, she's really good at anchoring.  (Better than Sara Shookman, IMO.)

On another note - it's kinda sad they'd drop Chris Tye for Jay Crawford, since Crawford has to be commanding more of a $$ than Tye.