Jase

8 hours ago, Spring Rubber said:

It's an uphill battle being the last in the market to introduce a 4pm newscast, but here's wishing them the best of luck.

I wouldn’t count them out. This is a pretty solid group (excluding Marshall), so I could see them being competitive (at some point). 

14 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

It's going to an obscure subchannel called VPOD TV (53.3).

 

Really hoping CFA strikes a deal next year to bring the parade back to WLS or WCIU.

Had WGN made this decision in January (or at the very least this past Summer), the CFA, ideally, would have had time to line up a TV sponsor. This is very unfortunate news because this would be the first time in 20+ years the parade isn't on a 'traditional' local television station.

12 hours ago, kshow said:

I doubt he will go to CBS it just sounds like it will flop and it's setting the network up for failure. He may just do the digital root. 

CNN+ could offer an opportunity he's looking for.  CBS isn't going to spend the money. They're looking to cut cost/spend more wisely and not take on new cost/risks that don't result in a solid return on investment.

On 10/28/2021 at 9:23 AM, tvtime07 said:

I'm still confused in the aspect of their move to Time Square, aren't they in the old TRL space, why isn't part of the set designed with actual views of their new neighborhood? Visually, you really don't know that they are in Time Square, it sort of defeats the purpose of the move if there are no windows to look at.

 

I think some may be putting too much emphasis on the move to TS, the views, etc... Let's be honest, having views wasn't going to change anything for them. The move to TS made sense to fully utilize under-utilized space (the new Daily Show studio/office is there too). It would be a different story if the studio was at street level.

5 hours ago, brianpr3 said:

Someone said in the comments of the feder article that they should sign giangreco

Not happening. They’re too cheap and don’t make big, bold decisions. 

2 hours ago, Spring Rubber said:

America's Weather Now began as-listed at 5PM ET. Craig Herrera and Amy Freeze were done with their shift at the end of America's Weather Center and were replaced by Nick Kosir and Danielle Gersh for this show, but oddly enough, Kendall Smith, who was the "third wheel" on the previous 5-hour edition of America's Weather Center, continues to appear on this hour of America's Weather Now. I'm wondering if she will finish out this hour and then be replaced by a different third wheel on the next hour. Seems like every show has two main anchors and then a third meteorologist who doesn't sit at the anchor desk.

 

Also, seems like they're a lot more willing to break the fourth wall with some of the camera shots being used during this program...

 

 

 

EDIT: I just wanted to add one more thought... From adding up the number of meteorologists listed on their personalities page, there are only enough of them to fill the weekday programming schedule if they continue having three meteorologists on every shift. The only way they could possibly be live on weekends is if they stop doing this "third meteorologist" thing after launch day and instead use these extra meteorologists in solo shifts on the weekends instead. I'm starting to wonder if they actually don't intend to be live on the weekends at all...

Weekends would be an excellent opportunity to showcase the Fox O&Os meteorologists (at least temporarily) until a more permanent plan is in place. We shall see what they do on weekends soon enough…
 

1 hour ago, nothing said:

From watching the Weather Across America segments it makes me wonder when the o&os will adopt the graphics. 

I hope they do (adapt these graphics). Some O&Os could benefit from an upgraded graphics package.

4 minutes ago, Spring Rubber said:

Oh shoot, didn't realize they were going live this early in the morning. I just tuned in.

 

Have they announced what their live stream hours will be? Are they planning on being live 24/7, or are there going to be certain dayparts where they recycle repeat programming?

Unsure. Guessing two or three 6 hour blocks (Sunrise, Midday & Evenings) initially and maybe a Late Night ‘weathercast’ 10P to Midnight and live updates at top/bottom of the hour overnight. I do like what I see so far.

8 hours ago, 24994J said:

Albert's bio is now up on CBS 2's website, and it says that he'll be on at 6 & 10pm, presumably leaving MK with the (4 &) 5 o'clock shows.

 

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/personality/albert-ramon/

Surprised they didn’t go with giving Albert 5P & 10P. 

6 hours ago, followingnews said:

Do we know where Dan is doing his show from? I know they have their big studios in Chicago, but I assume Dan is in New York City? So I assume he's using space at maybe their local station? I know Banfield was/is doing her show from Connecticut. 

1 hour ago, mrschimpf said:

Is it the same space used for Law & Crime? No station airs his shows around here (and I avoid Mediate and their sister sites because their ads are obnoxious), so I have no reference.

Abrams show is filmed in the same building (Daily News Building) as WPIX. Where exactly is unclear.

Here’s a couple of pics of ‘Morning in America.’  Like when NewsNation started last September they, ad nauseam, say they’re committed to unbiased reporting, no opinion, etc.. however; Adrienne has no problem offering up her opinions on anything and everything. 

She can get a little annoying, so hopefully she’ll settle herself a bit and take a breath. 

4 minutes ago, iron_lion said:

Is any part of Times Square visible from the set? If not, what was the point of moving to Times Square if they weren’t going to utilize it as a backdrop?

 

Obviously ABC doesn’t Times Square but it feels a bit duplicative to center another morning show nearly across the street from GMA, and have Nate (who I like) taking on a similar role to Michael Strahan.  

 

On the flip side Fox & Friends is also at Rockefeller Center (just not that adjacent) so touché.

Given that the TS studio(s)/offices were not being fully utilized, as of late; moving the morning show there makes sense. They probably would have moved CBSEN there if it was still based in NYC.

1 hour ago, 24994J said:

Elizabeth Matthews has been anchoring weekend mornings since Sally Schulze got promoted, but has never been officially named to the position, to my knowledge. That said, the station has never been particularly stable, so it could be for any daypart. Who knows?

 

As for the weather situation, this is one helluva kick in the pants to all 3 other meteorologists on staff, plus Tim McGill.

 

Lansing? Are you kidding?

The new anchor/reporter could land anywhere really (GDC Weekends, GDC Weekdays, Fri./Sat. nights w/ Natalie, etc..). Anthony is ok,  but WFLD really needs someone stronger as Cory’s backup.

I’m guessing they went with someone cheap as chief met in order to keep Tim around. Why else would he leave ‘BBM if whatever ‘FLD was offering wasn’t better/long term?
 

Plus, I’ll take anybody Sun.-Thurs. evenings over Cody any day. I’m almost certain Tim will cover for her when she goes on maternity leave.

Mike is too valuable to GDC to move and Mark likely would require a huge pay rise given he’s been there over 16+ years. 

Didn’t know they were looking for a chief meteorologist. They must have posted the job in the past week. Reportedly, they’re looking to add a anchor/reporter too.  Not sure if this position is an addition or this person is replacing someone currently on staff. 

I have to see all the changes in action before I can judge if this is going to work. I will say that the name change was completely unnecessary and ‘CBS Mornings’ sounds horrible. 
 

Fundamentally, it makes sense to have all their morning programs under one uniformed ‘umbrella’ both in look and format. So I disagree with the idea that this will hurt the CBS Sunday Morning brand. 
 

Having everyone/everything separate (whether it’s 60 Mins., CBSEN, etc…) doing their own thing and never ‘really’ working together as one news organization has never made sense. 

9 hours ago, cfs89 said:

Sneak peek at the set for the new 10am "Daytime Chicago" daily show with Tonya Francisco and Amy Rutledge that launches next month.

Looks like it's in the historic Studio 1 where Bozo's Circus was taped from 1961-2001. https://twitter.com/thederekhaas/status/1428105448180301828

 

 

Nice setup. Figured NewsNation was going to take over this studio for their new morning show.

On 8/10/2021 at 11:49 PM, newsman123 said:

So is the Brad Edwards anchor experiment not working? 

I like Brad.. but his delivery is so dour and depressing. I like different. But in this case.. I think they need a strong handsome male lead.. who can just.. anchor. 
 

He’s a great reporter/storyteller, but he should NEVER anchor again. If I was Lyons, I would move him off the anchor desk ASAP and put Jim in his place. While such a move could hurt morale, people should be in positions which showcase their strengths. Sargent has a law degree. I’m surprised they never utilized that in some way. 

6 hours ago, NBC 5 Chicago said:

That's exciting. Jennifer has done great things at WGN and tried with NewsNation. Could we see an upwards climb of CBS 2 under her leadership? Time will tell, but I'm excited to see where it will go. WBBM has been really lagging behind all of the stations in Chicago for so many years. 

Yeah… I’m cautiously optimistic things will turn around at WBBM. Given what happened to her at NewsNation, I hope she is given the freedom (and resources) to do whatever it takes to improve things without any interfering from corporate. We shall see…

40 minutes ago, Spring Rubber said:

Congrats to Andy on his retirement! Going to miss him!

 

I saw people in Feder's comments speculating on who would replace him. Isn't it already a foregone conclusion that Alicia Roman would be replacing him? Hasn't she been part of the morning news team for quite a while now, getting ready for this position?

It would make sense for Alicia to succeed Andy, but you never really know with WMAQ.

1 hour ago, Georgie56 said:

Andy Avalos is retiring.

No surprise. Figured it was just a matter of time. 

On 8/8/2021 at 10:29 PM, 24994J said:

 

Soooooo many of the newer reporters have gotten anchor fill-ins, that a weekend opening could go to anybody. IF they don't play cheap, Marie would seen like a shoo-in, and I'd love to see Jim get his due...again.

Out of the bunch...Charlie and Mugo are clear standouts. Weekday afternoons/nights are in dire need of a shakeup and moving Jim and Marie to front the 4P (and maybe the 6P), would be a huge step in the right direction for WBBM. But alas, big changes like that may be left up to the new GM to make.  

1 hour ago, newsman123 said:

Is Albert Ramon also out? His face was removed from the Prime banner 

 

No. His bio is still listed. I think it makes sense to align NewsNation Prime with the other programs (The Donlon Report, Banfield, etc..) and just have a single person as 'the face' of said program. That said, I still think they will move him to the new morning show.

17 hours ago, TVNewsLover said:

I assume it’s Judge Judy’s replacement.

Yes. Not sure why they couldn’t just pair Jim and Marie together for the new 4P newscast and have Mugo do Saturday nights and Charlie on Sunday night.

2 hours ago, Drew said:

Dan Abrams show is a weekly show and launches Sept 27th a Monday. I am thinking its just going to be a Monday night show at 8pm. On Balance will be Tues-Fri

 

Some sites are stating Dan Abrams will be a weekly show and others weeknights. 

Variety says it’s nightly, so I trust they’re correct. Otherwise, what’s the point of having Abrams on one day a week? On Balance could easily move to weekends. 

On 7/8/2021 at 6:21 PM, jrogo said:

Anyone else wondering if Prime's days are numbered? and if so what would they do with Rob and Marni? 

I wouldn’t be surprised if they move Rob, Marni (and Albert) to the upcoming morning show. It’s clear having an evening newscast isn’t working for them.

9 minutes ago, Newsboy22234 said:

Tim McGill filling in

Interesting.... Mark was on yesterday, so maybe something is up with Cody. I believe she's pregnant (she looks like it anyway). Maybe she's taking some time off for some reason. Or worse case scenario; her contract is up and they didn't renew.