24994J

So, I just saw a promo for WMAQ/NBC 5's 10pm news, and Mike Adamle is featured alongside the other anchors. So, it finally seems like he's being acknowledged as the lead sports anchor, a role he's essentially filled for over two years. I know this didn't deserve it's own thread, but it didn't fit into any others, so I guess we can just have one for random rumblings at the old number 5.

I actually thought of that the other day, as well. Let Troy do the early half of the Sunday show, and Phil takes over at 7 (during GMA) or 8. This is good, but still not ideal.

Is it really that expensive, since they merely adapted another website, already in use? And that is a question, wouldn't it be not as expensive?

So, I was crunching some numbers this evening and came up with this... With WBBM's switch to new graphics tonight, the 4 non-WLS stations in town have changed graphics approximately 9.5 times, meaning that 13.5 packages have been used and/or retired since the Hothaus look debuted in June of 2005. That half package represents the mid-cycle refresh (digging out the car lingo) WGN did in 2011, redesigning the L3's and bug, and heavily updating the opens. The others include the tail-end of the WMAQ Novocom package (unless that had already been changed), Look A and Look F, WFLD's in-house package and 3 standard looks, WGN's pre-HD look, and WBBM's blue graphics, 'Heart of Chicago' and two network jobs. And let this one sink in for a moment. News Series 2000 Plus has outlasted/existed alongside almost THREE DOZEN other themes on the other 4 channels.

HOW WILL WE KNOW WHAT COMPANY OWNS THEM???

You know, I think weekend mornings are blowing up so much because there's really no more wiggle room on the weekdays to expand. Yes, 4am is an option, especially since the network early shows (America This Morning, CBS Morning News, and Early Today) are produced at 3ct, but after that, I'm guessing the employees might step up in protest.

Sad news from WLS tonight; Hugh Hill, who spent 33 years (1963-96) as the station's political reporter has died. He was 89. Me, being weird like this, find irony in the fact that Mr. Hill's retirement practically coincided with the run of "ABC 7 News". As I recall, the station made the branding switch not long after he left, and will make another within a few weeks. Story by Frank Mathie: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/chicago_news&id=9292392 There better be something at 10.

So, through programming changes and management moves, Rob Feder is rarely critical of ABC 7...until now. In a rare Friday night posting, Mr. Feder reported on the station's 5 AM weekend morning expansion. The first part of the article is surprisingly blunt and refreshing... http://www.robertfeder.com/2013/10/18/abc-7s-early-to-rise-on-weekends/

I also made a note of this the EWN thread: I think we might have a launch day for "Eyewitness News". Effective Saturday, November 2, BOTH weekend morning newscasts (like WMAQ a few months back) will begin at 5am, and Ben Bradley will officially join Stacey Baca on the Saturday morning anchor desk. No word on any whether or not new hire Troy Christensen will play a part on the Sunday morning show, but it's becoming obvious that management is trying to murder Phil Schwarz. With college football in full-swing, the Saturday night news has been ending about midnight, leaving only 5 hours before he'll be back on the air. http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/6042-abc-7-to-again-expand-weekend-morning-newscasts

Seriously, man. Dial it back a little. I too will be really disappointed when/if they dump NS2K+ (more than you think) and I'll have my fair share of choice words on the subject, but we just don't know anything yet. I really do get your point, but nothing's confirmed.

Crap, I'm good. I also had made this up a few months ago for fun... [yt]_JaRObcLsds[/yt]

Let it go on the record, I'm curious, excited, and cautiously optimistic. I'm just pleased that this appears to be a long thought-out process, versus something rushed and ultimately sloppy.

Wait...what?

Seriously, lighten up. I'm just kidding.

[intended sarcasm]

Holy frick, they finally added the new logo to the weather graphics. Everything's virtually the same, but the main upper thirds (?) are now left-alligned but maintain a similar style. I'd get an image and all that, but their live video page is "not found", so you'll all just have to believe me. But that damn '98 sonuvabitch won't go away...

Because Mark Bishop only did Saturday mornings. Frankly, Troy should do both weekend mornings, but Phil's been doing the Sunday morning show for its entire existence, and they may just want to keep it that way.

So, this one flew right under my nose. The ABC 7 weather team has a new member... http://www.robertfeder.com/2013/10/13/new-face-on-abc-7-weather-front/ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=411585715609147&set=a.357109677723418.1073741828.328192337281819&type=1&theater http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=9284519 https://www.facebook.com/TroyChristensenABC7

Oy vey...JUST GET NEW GRAPHICS!

Okay, I haven't been a big fan of the new 7-day graphic, but oh, this is a boatload of sexy...

For the next few weeks, I think the newer version is better. They can switch to the night shot in November/at the time change.

I don't think it's any sign of new graphics. It looks exactly like the "Join the Conversation" blurb that shows up at the top of most newscasts.

What segment/story was it? It should be up on the website a by the top of the hour.

Not that it matters, but... - Monday was Tracy at 4:30, Phil at 11, 12 and 4, Jerry from 5 on. - Tuesday was the traditional Phil in for Tracy schedule. - Today was Tracy at 4:30, Mike at 11, 12 and 4, Jerry at 5. On another note, I think I just saw the one of the longest closes ever on ABC7. From the moment the anchors stopped talking, the full close on tonight's 6 o'clock show was one minute, thirty nine seconds. The music played in all for about 2 minutes, and the last 1:03 was completely uninterrupted after the WatchABC promo played. They even showed live shots of the city after only a few seconds. There wasn't a break where they started the them over or anything glitchy, either. It was absolute perfection.