promoguy98

After 38 years of having every newscast ranked #1 in New Orleans, WWL has finally been dethroned. FOX 8 beat them at 10PM during May sweeps.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/new-orleans-station-suffers-first-ratings-loss-in-almost-40-years/171317

Nexstar slims down to get approval for merger with Media General. EDIT: @CircleSeven posted the same news a couple minutes after me in the "Nexstar Bids for Media General" thread. Go there for all the details. [URL]http://forums.tvnewstalk.net/index.php?threads/nexstar-bids-for-media-general.14994/page-22#post-157881[/URL]

FTVLive has definitely made its share of mistakes. The guy generally doesn't get stories wrong when he talks directly to a source or has a "secret" memo. Outside of his source lying, it's a raw deal to have a potential new owner having major influence this far out in the game. Right or wrong, it's not supposed to work that way. Lets see if there's a followup soon or more of that type of activity to come to make a final judgement call. C'mon Mardek1995, the late Media General Chairman Stewart Bryan had been sick and additionally suffered a fall days before his passing. Highly doubt Nexstar took him out. He wasn't the only one calling the shots, his family made major decisions with him as well, considering how they had their ownership/stock structure set up. So even with him gone, the Bryan family still had the final call.

They might've, but they won't tell us until after the spectrum auction

 

The original point still remains. If they are doing what they are said to be doing, it's illegal. Regardless of whether they get away with it or not. Also, Nexstar can't magically withhold which 6 stations they are selling. That matter has to be worked out and filed before the FCC will even consider approving the MG/Nexstar deal.

They do realize that they still have to sell at least 6 of the stations?

 

Yeah you would think they would have all of that worked out, made public and filed with the FCC before sticking their paws in other issues.

Well, they obviously want to establish themselves quickly, sort of like Sinclair, but more glaringly obvious

 

It's one thing for them to be working quietly behind the scenes with Media General to figure out how best to align processes "after" the sale goes through and to make the transition smooth. That is supposed to be the extent of things until the FCC approves. You are right, they are making it glaringly obvious. It's also glaringly illegal, if what they are doing is true.

Nexstar may already have their hands in the Media General Cookie Jar. They can't even wait until their summer station tour blitz to meddle with things.

 

http://www.ftvlive.com/todays-news/2016/5/8/does-nexstar-have-its-hand-in-the-media-general-cookie-jar-already

Oh god it sounds awful

 

Lol....standby for more spots that reference "swarming".... from high above in Sky Action News Jax, we swarm to cover breaking news in your neighborhood every day, then swarm to another neighborhood across town to cover more late-breaking important details. Aaaaaaction News Jax is EVERYWHERE. Local Coverage You Can Count On!

Cox continues to spend money to be competitive in Jacksonville. They now have "Sky Action News Jax" the market's only chopper.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/florida-cox-station-gets-markets-only-chopper/169707

Does anybody know who composed the WTVJ 2012 Theme and WPXI 2014 Theme? I have wanted these packages forever!

 

I've suspected off and on that Juan C. Rodriguez may have composed the WTVJ 2012 Theme. I have no proof/confirmation, only that he mentions WTVJ on his website and references whatever he composed as "NBC WTVJ Local News" .... anyway, who knows! Hard to believe that after 4 years that nothing has shown up in BMI, ASCAP etc sites... if it's there it's listed in such a bizarre way where it's impossible to find it - OR WTVJ paid the composer in such a way where they aren't receiving back-end royalties and it's not listed... http://www.juancrodriguez.com/about

 

Thanks to TMBtD mystery solved... Maybe one of these days somebody will figure out the composer. It'd be cool to know that answer, since it's such a big secret.

Here's two clean and clear versions from Robby Elfman's soundcloud.

[MEDIA=soundcloud]

[/MEDIA]

WSMV in Nashville used This is Home by Switchfoot in a previous campaign a year or so ago, but they've now added This is Home from Warner Chappell. It looks like they're officially going to go deeper into this image campaign, judging by what the producer posted in the description on his YouTube channel. He called this their "kickoff spot!"

 

Media General and Nexstar held a joint video presentation to share surface-level info on the merger process with employees and shareholders. Both companies indicated that they wanted to begin the "conversation" and to bring employees into the loop before the official closing happens, instead of beginning the discussion after the merger, which is how things are typically done. They loosely hit on benefits, operating structure and management in a big-picture/snapshot sort of way.

 

It's too bad video isn't available, but you can check out the link below for a text transcript.

 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/216539/000119312516532379/d177283d425.htm

SUPER RARE 1997-98 Birmingham, AL Video!!

 

See the radical transition from WBMG 42 to WIAT 42 Daily News, which included blowing up all newscasts/branding. The video shows everything from how much viewers hated the old station, to the transitional countdown clock that ran in place of newscasts, to the new launch of WIAT Daily News... It may be worth someone "saving" this video in case it's ever unavailable.

 

 

Plus, here's a story from April 1998 from the American Journalism Review. http://ajrarchive.org/Article.asp?id=2317

Early days of WVBT's FOX 43 News at Ten from 1998:

 

Is that actually David Kaye in the open?

 

Yes sir, that's him. Nice to see that station think creatively back in the day to take the time to do that. Nice touch!

Yup, that's it. It might be Megatrax. I've gotta dig deeper...

 

You're definitely looking in the right places. I know WAVY has used Megatrax throughout much of the 2000's and assume it's their current production music. Before that was Firstcom. Preceding Firstcom I believe they used Network.

WLBT's story on Bert Case's passing:

http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/31073456/legendary-reporter-bert-case-dies-after-extended-illness

 

WJTV story:

http://wjtv.com/2016/01/28/legendary-newsman-bert-case-passes-away/

 

There will never be another personality like that in Jackson, MS television.

 

 

Beeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrt Case! RIP

J. Stewart Bryan III, Media General Chairman of the Board and former CEO, passed away Saturday. Very unfortunate, considering the future ownership of his company hangs in the balance between Meredith and Nexstar. I purposely made a double posting, and placed this information under the Nexstar bids for MG thread, but felt it was appropriate to place it under the Out and About catch-all thread.

 

Here's the story of Bryan and his passing from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

http://www.richmond.com/business/article_e454b2e6-a65e-5936-8e69-e6895ab1b914.html

Maybe not in the close, but that ID at the very beginning sounds like what WLS uses in the morning...

 

 

 

It appears that Gari gave them a more synthesized (custom) version of the ID. In the EWN series I pack, the remixed version isn't there, but there are 3 cuts of the theme that Gari renamed as "News Magazine" when he retitled all of his themes in their current packages. Outside of the O&O's and some their past unique customs, there is a 16 second open (WLS morning talent), 30 second bumper and 60 close for general syndication. The first 30 seconds of the 60 close reminds me of the old 80's HBO movie opens. Anyway, back on subject... I assume POP-TV continues to use the close without it being looped like WLS does.

 

I threw a low quality copy of it in my dropbox... the link is in my sig.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

 

It's time to stuff down a few pounds of turkey, then a good nap. Not sure if I'll be conscious enough for too much sports watching. haha [emoji884] [emoji884]

Who could they go after next, Gray?

 

With most of the Gray stations having standardized newsroom, master control and Virzt play out video/graphics equipment, "me" thinks it's just a matter of time. I think Gray and Calkins will both will get snatched up over the next 2 to 3 years. Hard to pick which group will go first, but I think Nexstar will be after both.

I found the new staff on WHPM's website and discovered through research that the newscast for the Meridian station and Hattiesburg station is actually not in-house but is probably going to be recorded. http://www.mygtn.tv/story/11414354/about-us

 

 

Eeeeek if that's the case Freddie, boy they sure didn't go out of their way to offer anything truly local and compelling for the Meridian market as the newspaper article that promoted the new newscast mostly implied. If you don't have memorable, local faces out in the market every day, does a bond with viewers really happen? Worst/cheapest case I figured they would record or do inserts for the Hattiesburg newscast and possibly their other small markets, and that Meridian would have a decent setup with some kind of promotable commitment to the viewer in place. This is disappointing that the effort seems so micky-mousy and half-ass. It's exactly the reason why nobody has been competitive, by any measure, in the past. Give it a drop of time and they'll be scratching their heads mulling over why ratings are so dismal..... only to rinse and repeat the cycle in the few years.

It will be interesting to see how similar the efforts are. I'm i'm not mistaken, WHPM is essentially operated out of WGBC in Meridian, which could mean a total simulcast, or even something very much like WHLT has done with their parent station, WJTV in Jackson by inserting local content segments into a newscast fed by the parent station.

 

This also could explain why there's only an effort to produce a 9pm show as opposed to on at all of the other times for WGBC's .2 (NBC) and WMDN. The last time those stations had news was when WMDN ceased producing it over a decade ago, and a few years prior, they had taken over WGBC's as well by just simulcasting the news on both stations before settling on airing news on just WMDN.

 

It's a long overdue move that should be an alternative to WTOK for Meridian viewers and that gives both markets a 9pm newscast finally.

 

After so many half-ass attempts in the past, hopefully they realize and have found a path not to repeat history. Crime in that market is at an all-time high. The communities and neighborhoods are seriously on edge. If the station takes more of a promotionally-active "investigative/holding accountable/taking back our streets" type of approach and offers something besides a carbon copy of what the viewers would see on WTOK then there may be some hope. Another thing they will surely have to do in the long term is focus on weather, always be ready for storm coverage and offer weekend shows .... None of the prior attempts at newscasts offered weekend shows and having a presence every day will prove to viewers that they are serious and are in it for the long-term. A weekday newscast may work to get them started, but they had better be prepared to go 7 days a week at some point. Best of luck to them!

Hey @Raymie, I'm not sure if I ever passed that tidbit over to Mr. NMSA, so feel free to pass along. I have confirmation over that two ways. Back in the day, I asked WLOX Op. Manager Roger Garrett where it came from also reached out to Jeff a few years ago. He was shocked anyone remembered the theme. I thought it was a great tune. He is the owner of Ford Soundesign out of Baton Rouge. Ugggh, can't seem to figure out how to make a quote with the new design, I clicked the quote button..... oh well I'll figure it out!

It's nice to see a "rare" WLOX newscast from 1999, which features the custom Jeff Ford 1998 theme. Check out the Newsactive3 link

 

Also, in my dropbox look for: WLOX98_PARTIAL TO VAMP

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qaae8xleopm5u0i/LLCVKlwSfV

 

I quickly made a rough edit of how the theme sounded on-air minus the voicover part of the open. Basically it's the end sting of the open to the vamp. The quality is well...pure analog audio buzz and fairly horrendous, but you'll get the idea.