PhillyWatch

So the pivot is from harping on about Live PD to doubling down on NewsNation's small viewership which, again, I don't think anybody can dispute. But comparing NewsNation to Fox? To Newsmax?! Hannity and News Nation Prime are two VERY different shows with completely different objectives and target demos. Which brings me to my next point- maybe the target demos for NN just aren't there. Why are people tuning into Fox and Newsmax? To hear what they want to hear; they love that feedback loop. They're not looking for objective news. And anybody who is has had the last 15 years to find it elsewhere, outside the cable box. Unfortunately, blowing up WGN America may ultimately prove foolish as it's viewership efforts prove fruitless. Nexstar could have gone the Newsy route- get NN onto diginets on their vast broadcast station footprint, and then work their way toward cable distribution. They could dismiss comparisons to the cable nets by zeroing in on their "local" footprint and relationship with their local stations, or whatever smooth lines they want to use. Instead they have the Detective John Internet chiseling their tombstone and comparing them to Newsmax because... they all have "news" in their name? I don't get it. But here we are!

It definitely seems like a covid case within the active members of the studio- could be anyone from on-screen talent to a camera operator to a producer, but it's about the only reason they'd be separating everyone again

It's quite a stretch to compare impressions of Newsnation and Real America's Voice (which is cringeworthy just to type). Newsnation is a facts-based news effort making an appeal to ALL potential viewers from an unbiased position (that we now know has shifted center-right). RAV is explicitly targeting hard-right viewers with explicitly biased programming, essentially giving viewers what they want to hear. Yes, them having more impressions is indisputable. But one is offering apples and casting a wide net, the other is offering oranges and shooting fish in a barrel. "Why doesn't anybody like my artisan cookie while Miller Lite is selling so well?" Also, Live PD is not "the only thing possible that could ever save NewsNation". We get that the show is missed, and yes, it's viewership numbers were indisputable. But unless they make it the Live PD channel, one or two hot hours out of a week's worth of programming does not make a smash hit network. Also- production costs? Which carries more liability- Dan Abrams behind a desk in a dark room or a full camera crew riding around with on duty cops? Does anyone think Nexstar wants to spend that money or bear that responsibility?

I tuned into the Tubi stream for a replay and started around :30 past and by the time we got to around :50 past my partner said "wait, didn't they just do these stories?". So it looks like repetition is high. I'm guessing WPHL must be clobbering them in the ratings for them to totally upend the newscast.

Glad Hulkie was able to get the full deets on this. I saw Jason Martinez tweet out a short video of the studio with "10 at 10" on a monitor, then saw Kathy Orr reply to a tweeter who asked if this was regarding new graphics by saying "fun, fast format".

I noticed today that FWX has finally appeared within the Tubi app, at least on my Android TV device

Reviving the live version of “COPS” will do nothing to build NewsNation’s credibility as a news network. That’s like saying because the stadium sells the best hotdogs the team will be the best in the league. Yes, viewership may increase. We can’t discount the numbers Live PD was pulling. But that’s comparing apples to oranges when it comes to building the credibility and respectability of the NewsNation product. Let’s not conflate the two.

Amy Freeze posted in a FWX Instagram story that in addition to weekdays, she can be seen Saturdays & Sundays from 6am-noon. Now I doubt that's going to be weekday best-of's, so that's quite the workweek.

Ukee popping up periodically was part of the original 4pm format. I can definitely see the new anchor pairing taking over the 4, and hopefully either the 5 or 10 (I have a feeling it'll just be the 10). Nothing against Ukee and Jessica, but as was stated before- there should at least be another pairing to give them a break/break up the monotony.

Incoming Anchor Alert- per the Chicago board, Siafa Lewis is coming in from the NBC affiliate in Chi-town. While at WMAQ he was their main sports anchor and weekend AM anchor, this article explicitly states he's coming in as a weekday anchor. So...where does he fit in? My guess is 4pm and/or 5pm. It was unfortunate that they had to blow up the original 3@4 format because of the pandemic. Perhaps he'll be slotted there with Natasha Brown as they revert that to something more unique in the 4-6:30 block.

Here’s a few more I grabbed of Night Light. I wonder if a rebranded version of this will be used to fill weekend hours.

Seeing how FOX’s Live Now streaming channel is available via YouTube TV, I wonder if FWX will appear there sooner or later. I’m guessing YTTV penetration is easier than traditional cable (which I’m guessing will come through O&O distribution) as YouTube TV also carries NBC News Now and ABC News Live.

I get that they’re really looking for app downloads but I was curious if there was any smart TV or streaming stick app to watch FWX, and Amy Freeze mentioned at the top of the 1pm hour that it’s available via the FOX NOW app

The website is now live, as is the video stream. It's currently running a countdown clock to tomorrow morning at 6 eastern

Here's a direct link - Fox Weather TWL - international rotation | earthTV® - YouTube And an interesting concept. Perhaps once they get an idea of how many clicks the stream and app are generating, and can compare that to FS2 ratings, we might see a shakeup. But as of now they have no idea how well this new endeavor is going to perform. Another thing to consider is what kind of sports rights are tied into FS2 and whether FOX is willing to lose it as a sports overflow option.

Two aspects of that Variety article are very interesting and have me optimistic. First, they mention potential potential digital cable carriage of FWX through Fox Television Station agreements. Could that be through digital subchannel carriage rules? How fantastic would it be to have both Newsy and Fox Weather launch OTA in the same year? Secondly, they mention possibly the biggest factor in keeping FWX "on the rails" editorially- advertiser dollars. FOX has to be thrilled at the prospect of brand new advertiser dollars from companies who otherwise wouldn't touch FNC with a ten foot pole.

The app is now available for "pre-order", meaning you can download it but it won't show up on your phone until Monday. The twitter replies are an interesting mix of "there should be a Hannity app!!" and "I'll NEVER watch this Fox news crap!". I'm really hoping there's an editorial divide between FWX AND FNC the way there is between FNC and Fox Television Stations. Also, along the lines of the old joke that FNC was ultra-conservative while the FOX network was bawdy and trashy, I've been daydreaming... What if FWX goes ALL IN on climate change, completely ignoring any FNC blowhards and attempting and one-up The Weather Channel right out of the gate? Really I'm just hoping this doesn't become a disappointment like NewsNation. We'll see come Monday!

KVCW in Vegas is running Full Measure instead of the 10pm news. I wonder how this will affect The National Desk tomorrow morning.

Watching Good Day on Friday & this morning, they're anchoring from in front of the monitor setup with a video feed of the corner windows behind them. This makes me think they have to be making some desk or set adjustments. Otherwise, why anchor from next to the window... with a feed of the window... instead of just their regular spot in front of the window?

In that reel, did I hear a three-note version of the four-note jingle from the 2000's? Has that been used on-air?

I'm all for unconventional newscasts. I don't even know if you'd call this a newscast, but it still a locally produced half hour, and they're trying something out-of-the-box. Were they even competitive in that timeslot until now? If not, then why not try this out? Something irreverent and humor-based also seems like a better SNL lead-in. I was a huge fan of WPIX's 10pm circa 2011. They ditched the set, used their newsroom and a greenscreen, and allowed for more long-form commentary pieces. While this isn't quite the same situation, the principle is the same- offering viewers something (anything!) different than all the other newscasts on at the same time, which are essentially cookie cut from the same news-weather-sports mold.

It looks like Rob Nelson has found a new home pretty quickly, and for the second time in about a year he'll be one of the launch faces of a new news endeavor- he'll be anchoring weekdays on the new OTA version of Scripps' Newsy network. Here's a TVNewsCheck article, and one from TVNewser. Good for him. I wanted NewsNation to work so badly, but it feels like they've done so little to harness the power of their vast local station presence. Instead they devote an entire hour... to Leland Vittert? Here's hoping Scripps takes note of how how badly Nexstar bungled this. I'm looking forward to the new Newsy.

Likely just a Labor Day fill-in

Who's even left in the wx department? Kate, Lauren, and Tammie Souza filling in per diem. Is that it? EDIT: Forgot Llarisa in the mornings

It appears Dave Kinchen has returned after a two year stint working with the city. From his twitter feed it looks like he came back around the beginning of August