CircleWXYZ

On 8/4/2023 at 9:02 AM, TheNewsTV said:

Does anyone know if there is any prediction of the WWJ launching the weekend newscasts?

They keep saying soon.  The station seems to be preparing the anchors who were hired to do the weekends by filling in for the regulars whenever they are off.  
 

I’m guessing either late this month or at the same time WKBD is set to go independent, which is on September 1st.

KDKA is still using the old mics.  It’s time for them to upgrade.

Looks like WKBD is about to return to the News scene, and their newscasts will be produced by WWJ.

Question is, will their newscasts be called  CBS News Detroit or will it be called WKBD News, powered or streaming on CBS News Detroit??  

I love KDKA’s newscasts, but it’s time for them to change their mics.  They are still showing the old logo.  Same with KPIX.

3 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

FTVLive is reporting that the new and existing independent stations (minus Tampa and Seattle) will be going news-heavy (similar to KCAL) this fall. He also reports that CBS is ending the hybrid local-national NOW newscast in August.

 

(h/t @24994J)

This explains the job postings for Detroit.  

Looks like WWJ is adding the logo box.  Thought all channel references are gone lol.

No official word on Detroit, but it’s expected that the CW affiliation will go to WADL.

“FTVLive told you that Scripps was looking to swing the ax, and it appears they have pulled the Pink-slip Express into the WEWS (Cleveland) parking lot.

A source tells FTVLive, “At least 8 of the 12 employees in the station’s Operations Department will be or have been laid off.”

We hear that some of those are longtime employees at the station.

“I need to point out that management positions in the newsroom — so far — remain unaffected, despite the absurd number of managers involved in the day-to-day operations at News 5,” an insider tells FTVLive. “We have the news director, assistant news director, digital director, digital EP, dayside EP, special projects EP as well as another manager whose role is so ambiguous that no one has any earthly idea what she does day to day,” the source adds.

More Scripps stations are expected to see layoffs.

Stay tuned…”

This is company wide for Scripps!!

Overall, the newscasts are improving each and every week.

1 hour ago, abric said:

Since we are approaching the 6-month mark, have you been or still watching CBS News Detroit? Truthfully I have.

I am

3 hours ago, ns8401 said:

Have they caught 20 yet? I kinda have my doubts…

This is about the debut of the weekend newscasts.  I was told this from someone who works at the station.  It’s this summer.  They already have the anchors for the weekends.  Summer  was their target date a month and a half ago.

Have no idea about the ratings.  
 

Last I’ve heard, ratings were improving each week.  Again, I heard this a month and a half ago.

They just finished hiring all the spots for the weekend newscasts.  They are supposed to debut this summer.  Heard this from a couple of people who are involved with the station.

There’s a good reason why WCBS, WBBM, and KCBS are all in last place in their respective markers.  All are a complete and utter clown show.

On the other hand, we can clearly see why all the former Westinghouse stations like KYW, KPIX, KDKA, WBZ, and WJZ are all the better performing CBS O&Os based on their handing of the new CBS I&O graphics rollouts.

Also, would WWJ dare go to the call letter box, following KDKA, WBZ, etc?   I didn’t think so a month ago but now, I don’t know.

Just heard about this.  Wow!!!

Don’t know about you but I think WKBD going independent is going to benefit the station.  Not only can CBS News Detroit expand which will only mean more advertising revenue for the station, WKBD can go back to its roots, which is to do OTA live sports again.  I for one am excited.

Looks like CBS is putting a lot of money into WWJ which only helps its sister station.

I still feel WMYD will pick up CW programming.  

If they cancel Superman and Lois, which happens to be a great show, than I’m done with the CW.

5 hours ago, mrschimpf said:

Scripps dumped MNTV clearly to extend WXYZ's news reach and flee from a filler network in MNTV and the station's Granite-era failures post-WB. They're not going to abandon that strategy if there's a shot to get the Pistons, Red Wings and/or Tigers on their air to boost their own news product, and I think Nexstar will end up sucking it up and dealing with WADL because it's that or HC2 in the Detroit market for them.

 

I can definitely see a fair battle between Scripps and CBS to get the Red Wings/Tigers and/or Pistons though (Red Wings and Tigers will not be separated by Illich Holdings).

I also think they dumped MNTV because they are a bad network.  I can see them affiliating with the CW.  As for sports, Ch 20 can work around the CW schedule as they don’t offer nearly as much network programming.

50 minutes ago, nickp said:

 kudos to David Zaslav for being the reason the CW is in such bad state and selling it to Nexstar before the liv golf deal

The CW is losing good stations.

In Detroit, I really do think the CW will end up on Channel 20.  I doubt it goes to 38.

I also think we are going to see sports OTA again on WKBD 50.

Furthermore, I do think we are going to see live newscasts again on Ch 50.

All I’m going to say is the newsroom format WWJ uses is looking better and better.  Stations like KCBS and WBBM are just a hot mess.  My goodness!!!

Hate it!  Hate it!  Nothing authentic about what WBBM did at all.  KDKA, KYW, WCCO, and WWJ are all authentic!  WBBM is just a mess.  

11 hours ago, nycnewsjunkie said:

I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, but the station is not going to tell you or me if the ratings are not what they want it to be. As far as having a “great product”…I guess it’s good for what it is, and I’m glad CBS is finally making an effort after decades of nothing, but let’s not pretend they’re surging in the ratings if we don’t know the full extent of their ratings growth.

 

That said, they expanded their newscasts quickly despite a delayed launch, and if they are seeing consistent and significant improvement, good for them.

It’s all good.  Can’t say what the exact numbers are, but again, I’m going by what I was told from someone who actually works there and is a well known on the air personality.  The fact that they expanded so quickly is what’s most surprising, especially to the local competitors. This isn’t even all that I’ve heard but from the looks of it, CBS is heavily invested in Detroit news.  

9 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Since CBS is taking their local news channels to the digital realm, the opportunity for viewership is much greater than if it was just a TV station. 

 

Many of the viewers are probably going to be coming this way, and because of their investment in this, it makes sense to put it on TV as a side-effect...to provide a valuable service once and for all for the long-beleaguered "CBS Detroit"  

 

Basically, any TV viewership is likely going to be eclipsed by "impressions" or hits on the digital side of things.

Agreed!!!

7 minutes ago, ns8401 said:

Growing fast by what sort of measure? If it’s 0.2 to 0.4 that’s not exactly celebration worthy…

I suggest you contact the powers that be.  Just relaying information.