24994J

I heard fireworks out here in the suburbs. And the ratings? Probably pretty decent.

Due to the Blackhawks' series win, Hosea Sanders is anchoring with Karen on the late news. She was solo at 5.

I was freaking out?

Who said Lori's moving to evenings? Nobody. That's what I thought.

On NBC: "When I was there, the peacock only had two colors. That's how cheap they are." -Disgruntled Sports Guy

It is one of the new cuts. They're also using the midday/evening open for a weather promo. Maybe the new music will be plugged in, after all.

Elaborate. What are you talking about?

After realizing that the cable providers aren't letterboxing the feed, the score bug is back in the safe zone for today's matinee.

At least make it bigger.

The ticker was changed within the last few weeks. It seemed really small when I noticed it, but actually cheered when I realized the video wasn't compressed. Never thought I'd see the day.

Something's clicking, but we can only wait to see if the momentum can last...

The demo's not ABC 7's problem. In fact, they gained another tenth of a point after the initial results came out...

Yes and no...at least they shouldn't be, yet. I think if they were going to lose the demo by a much wider margin, they might not have tried such a move, not to admit defeat, per se, but because they knew it would be an insurmountable lead. This last-ditch effort strikes me as a quick, easy-to-throw-together attempt to make up the difference. If it worked, great, if it didn't, so be it. Again, I'm still trying to figure out why this is such a big deal. NBC 5 has pulled off a few sweeps demo victories in the last several years, and it hasn't gotten this kind of press. I still maintain that this isn't going to be very notable until WMAQ strings a few of these together. THEN ABC 7 can worry. Either way, renewed competition is a good thing.

ABC 7 went commercial-free through weather again tonight, while NBC 5 went to break after a slightly longer than normal 12 minutes. CBS 2 is unphased by any of this, despite their lead-out.

By the time 5 took their first break, 2 was on their second. 7 went solid through weather, again. Don't count on that again til November.

Yup. Sure.

Somebody at ABC 7 got wind of the early sweeps results, and in an effort to compete with dueling reality show finale lead-ins tonight, Eyewitness News at 10 went 20 minutes commercial-free. They only took their first break after weather. I can't remember a time that channel 7 has ever done this. I'm recording the 1am rebroadcast of NBC 5's late news to see if they went the same route.

I don't know. Ignoring the 10pm product on PHL17, moving from 4pm in Philly to 12pm in New York seems like a reasonable transition for me. The only difference is that she'll be going from the #2 female role to #4.

The main difference now is that they're going to need at least one new talent open (not necessarily new graphics), and the typical life cycle for a WABC package is winding down, based on previous generations.

Probably, but isn't that always going on? During the main TV season, for example, I rarely check out WGN's news at 9, but with less competition, I watch it fairly regularly during the summer. In turn, I don't have as much use for any of the 10PM broadcasts. There's always people going back and forth, I just think that the Caplan incident is likely being overblown as a reason for the switch. I wouldn't be shocked at all if NBC 5's touted Blackhawks coverage (linked vicariously to NBC Sports and CSN Chicago) has some effect on their ratings, even though few of the games air on channel 5. No matter what, WMAQ is bringing in more non-regular viewers, but the question is if they can keep them, which is something they've struggled to do in the past...especially in post-Olympic sweeps periods.

Nothing that I've noticed. They're investigative-heavy like 7 & 9, the team hasn't been touched. I'd assume an improved NBC line-up has helped some, but until this becomes a strong trend, I'm guessing it's a mostly isolated incident. They've won a few demos before, but haven't usually maintained that momentum. It's funny, though, as everyone on Feder's comments keep bitching about the Mike Caplan firing, and many say they haven't watched 7 since because of Cheryl Scott. That #1. doesn't mean they're flipping to 5, #2. Scott doesn't appear on the late newscast in question (though a station-wide protest is true for some), and #3. both stations' ratings increased, debunking much of the notion that viewers are switching from one to the other.

NBC 5 is poised to take the demo this sweeps period by a tenth or two of a point over ABC 7. Both stations are up among younger viewers over the last month and year, and a total viewer win still seems elusive for the peacock. http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/05/18/nbc-5-may-have-top-story-at-10-p-m/

With today being Chicago's municipal inaugeration day, channel 7 has Alan and Linda at the desk, ready to break in for the mayor's speech. In the meantime, I'm fairly certain that this is the first co-anchor WCL news update. Considering it's only 4 minutes long, it felt really silly to see the multiple camera angles and tosses.

It was a combination. From what I understood, she had been wanting more convenient hours, and the 4 afforded her the opportunity.

Is the station incapable of maintaining stability, or do they just choose not to?