sanewsguy

 

On a story posted on the WFAA website about Greg Abbott pulling out of appearing on the WFAA-hosted Gubernatorial debate, WFAA touted that Gannett has a 83% reach in Texas:

 

 

One note: it seems odd they names their former Belo sisters by name, but when referring to their newly adopted siblings, they only referred to their market.

 

News to me. Not about Abbott pulling out of the debate or Gannett's 83% reach in Texas, but Gannett actually keeping the Belo debates. But if Abbott pulled out, really no point for them to do it.

 

Well the robotic camera can do a fast, but controlled zoom.

 

Yes, but not a super fast and sudden one like what KHOU and KABB did. I always thought that was cool and gave the news a sense of urgency.

 

It looks like this(https://twitter.com/abcWNT) is a dummy account. Theres no tweets and they have very little followers. Not sure if ABC has the account as the profile claims but I'm sure ABC could get the handle. If i recall correctly, CNN did the same thing when they start "@ This Hour"

 

Maybe they're just "parking" the account?

 

I was logically thinking since some stations still had camera operators in union environments, and I do not know for sure if TX is a right to work state - to me in a modern day environment with the cost of robotic peds and other related technologies probably less expensive than before, which was making me wonder why. The sudden zoom on KHOU's leading from stingers a decade ago looked so tacky and so obviously it was remotely controlled.

 

Yes, TX is a right to work state. In fact, unions are (mostly) a foreign concept in these parts. That's not to say they don't exist here, they very much do. Their presence isn't as big as where you are though.

 

As for KHOU's sudden zooms I actually liked it. KABB also used to do the same thing manually until they went robotic. The robotic camera apparently can't zoom in that fast.

 

I must say, I like that cut of TiH they used. If anything, WFAA should've probably been first out the gate in Texas...

 

Disagree. I think you save the best for last. WFAA should've been last. But KHOU will be. KHOU isn't special to me but WFAA is.

Sounds like a different sig in the open. Definitely not what I'm accustomed to hearing. It also looks odd they're using the night time open at 5. It doesn't get that dark here in TX until after 8. Or out of daylight savings, 7.

 

Also embedding your video:

[yt]I1GIAbhC3NU[/yt]

 

Hey why is the Belo stations the last major TV group to not have robotic camera systems? I thought TX was like right to work state and any automation technology I would think they would take advantage of. Some of their stations look so old fashioned the way cameras can't move on their own. Would Gannett step in and automate those finally?

 

I think it's an added dimension to KENS. They can do more with their shots compared 12 and 29 which have robo cams. Newport was another group that never switched to robotic cameras and I think over at 4 they only have one guy running cameras. So when they were on one camera the guy would run and set the shots up for the other cameras and then run back. So they cut personnel running cameras but not actually going robotic. But with Sinclair now on the fold, they're a huge proponent of automation and robo cams so they should make the switch after the move.

 

Just because you can make cuts, why should you? Sinclair may think that way but Belo never did. In fact back in 2008, they were one of the last to lay people off. They didn't want to make cut backs but they were forced to, at least in Texas. They cared about the state of Texas. In fact, it feels weird not seeing "The Belo Debates" this year for gubernatorial race. I have no idea if Gannett will keep the concept going but I doubt it.

 

"The Spirit of Texas" died when Belo Company did. And it wasn't just a slogan but I'd say kind of how Belo ran themselves too. Decent company.

 

The streaming worked during the 4:30-6am portion of Daybreak. After that, it just went blank from there.

 

Yeah I don't think they should've launched the site then graphics on the same day. Doesn't seem like they've had time to iron out the kinks.

Bad news: stream doesn't work. Because, you know, this is the best time for their stream to screw up...

 

That is most likely their meeting the FCC requirements mandating that the station identify itself and the city of license either visually or aurorally at the top of the hour or as close to it. Most stations use small 10 pt text that is automatically inserted with out human intervention. Other stations like WTAE's sister insist going this route:

 

 

 

Reminds me of how stations used to identify themselves in the 70's-90's:

 

 

While WFAA is launching the graphics tomorrow, they're switching over to the Gannett website tonight at 11pm.

 

Are they launching the graphics at noon?

 

They did it from WBFF's studios in Baltimore. Newly-acquired Newschannel 8 aired it in the DC area, not sure if any other station is airing it. (EDIT: I see that WSYX aired it as well.)

 

As far as St. Louis is concerned, KMOV aired a very similar Town Hall debate a few days after the actual shooting and riots happened. KDNL hasn't done squat. I live in St. Louis so I'm used to KDNL being a joke when it comes to being a part of the community.

 

And why oh why must Mark Hyman be the moderator for these "I'm Mark Hyman from Behind the Headlines"? First, how many people would actually know him from that segment? Secondly, why not have the local anchors do it so it looks more like a local debate instead of some corporate mandated program?

 

Mark Hyman is not that good with them. It ticked me off when he called Michael Garofalo a "reporter" for WOAI when he's really the morning anchor (he never reports).

 

If The Chew were to run at 11am CT, then it would be at Noon ET. Would ABC want that for their eastern time zone affiliates?

 

He's not saying that. He's saying ABC should provide a separate feed for 11AM CT. But, the eastern stations can delay it until 1 so it's not a big deal. But, the networks seem to think that there are only two timezones in this country...

 

Does anyone know if KSAT ever pre-empted Ryan's Hope, Match Game or the The Home Show in the late 80s/early 90s, for their noon newscasts?

 

Sometimes I wish KSAT was threatened with their ABC affiliation being taken away.

 

I'm pretty sure KSAT only had 30 minute noon newscasts until 2004 when ABC gave that time back to the affiliates. There's some old noon newscasts from 12 in the 80's on YouTube that are only 30 minutes and I used to have a noon newscast from 2001 on tape and that was only 30 minutes as well.

 

And why would KSAT have their affiliation taken away? They're the dominant number one in the market and ABC does surprisingly well here. I doubt ABC cares as long as they get their reverse comp payments...

This is for whoever is in Denver: Is Cheryl Preheim from Channel 9 moving to mornings and if this is correct who is taking her spot on the weekend news? Also who is Cheryl replacing?

 

At least the Chew isn't a live show. But what's stopping them from airing it at 1PM?

 

1PM General Hospital (becomes SA Live September 8)

2PM Katie Couric (replaced with General Hospital September 8)

3PM Queen Latifah

4PM News and Inside Edition

 

Daytime's filled up.

 

And the Chew is live and day to date. They'll often have themed episodes that correspond with the day, like "Extra Value Friday". And on KSAT, that means it airs on Monday but is still labeled as "FRIDAY". That ticks me off. ABC needs to provide a same day early feed like they did with the soaps...

 

 

God, how can these stations get away with such preemptions? In 2014 of all ages?

 

This is one of the reasons since I consume lots of TV, where I'd rather live in an O&O market, not these sissy large affiliate markets.

 

Why not? ABC doesn't feed the show until noon central and they want to air a noon newscast. GH isn't fed until 1 central and maybe they want to air syndication at 2 and 3 and a local news at 4.

 

It kinda ticks me off because ABC is basically turning a blind eye to the differences of the central time zone, although I see that a lot here on this board from east coasters as well so I kinda expect it now. It's not WFAA's fault. They don't want to do an 11AM news like KXAS or O&O KTRK does. They want it at noon and The Chew is not flexible in that regard. It's not an issue in all the other time zones since the show would already be fed to those markets by that time.

 

WFAA does have a midday newscast, and hourly noon show (The Chew airs on a 23-hour delay at 11am).

 

Nice to know KSAT is not the only who delays The Chew by one day to accommodate a noon newscast...

KENS5 just streams the air feed. So what you see on the web stream is exactly the same as what's going out OTA and on cable.

Sinclair has named a new GM for WEAR and WFGX in Pensacola and that is WTTO/WABM's GM J.C. Lowe. Mike Murphy, WBMA's existing GM retained from Allbritton, will expand his duties and now oversee WTTO and WABM as well.

 

http://sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Murphy%20and%20Lowe.pdf

Sinclair names new GMs in Washington and Columbus

Looks like Doug Gealy isn't going to be the GM in Washington which is a total shock. They're moving Dan Mellon, the GM at WSYX and WTTE in Columbus to replace Bill Lord at WJLA in Washington.

 

Tony D'Angelo has been promoted to GM at WSYX/WTTE. He is currently the director of sales there.

 

Press Release:http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Mellon%20and%20D%27Angelo.pdf

 

(also as a side note I didn't know Steve Marks was based in Tampa, I thought he was in Baltimore like everyone else)

 

I'm curious are you watching on an old CRT? If so I think you may be out of luck, if your viewing it with out a cable or digital converter box because of the overscan.

 

The whole point of them using a 16:9 layout is so they don't have to worry about the safe areas.

 

Ideally the station should identify & update the auto format description for each program (and check it frequently). The benefit of active format description is so that if you are viewing the station in a wide screen but viewing a standard definition feed is that if the content is letter boxed it should automatically "zoom in" on the letterbox feed. Now granite it's not going to be HD quality but it will fill your screen. I remember reading an NBC document on it when they were starting to letter box content and one thing they said is that while the network may be sending a signal to go full 16:9 or letterbox a lot of television station encoders may not get the message and transmit it out to the viewers. Another issue is that the cable company may not be equipped to pass through a signal.

 

No I have AT&T U-Verse. I have a flat screen plasma and a CRT. I don't pay the extra $10/mo for the HD package because I have no need to watch TV in HD even though my flat screen is an HD set, it's an unnecessary expense. U-Verse does not letterbox 5.

 

I also hate letterboxed video. I would rather see the 16:9 video compressed to the 4:3 aspect than to see black bars hogging up my screen.

 

Also, forgot to note, Great Day SA did not have any graphics changes. It looks out of place now because it was clearly based off their now former graphics package. The show promo graphics, like "Wheel of Fortune, tonight at 6:30" are also still the old Belo pack. KENS5 is now a big mess graphically.

Well I managed to watch KENS this weekend. They use the same cut of This is Home for all opens regardless of time. They use the dark version of the open at 10 and the light one at all other times.

 

I'm actually starting to dig this Gannett look the more I see it. The one thing that keeps me from liking it completely is the fact that the text isn't within the safe zones so some of the words still get cut off. Other than that it's not a bad look. KENS chopping off the first 2 or so seconds from the open helps too. It's more to the point than the other stations.

 

http://mobile.philly.com/blogs/?wss=/philly/blogs/phillygossip/&id=271389461

 

I didn't notice it never mentioned there. This article doesn't either, but it includes her farewell video where she mentions it. Also check out kcradio.tripod.com and it'll be listed there.

 

Well in the video she didn't say which station and I'm not sure that KC Radio and TV blog is very reliable either

 

Although that blogger is smart and does not think it's a good idea to move to KC especially when your football boyfriend may not make the roster. And then you're stuck in KC for a couple years because of your contract...

 

I really hope she ends up at WDAF because she would fit in better there and I've got to admit I'd rather look at her than Nick Vasos...

 

Now that I think about it, it wouldn't surprise me if she fills the vacancy left by Michelle Apon on the weather team. Also, didn't Apon also do traffic at 'SHB? McDonnell is not a real meteorologist obviously but neither was Apon.

 

BTW, KSHB has no male main anchor. Come to think of it, all but one of their anchors are women...

All right, get this, KENS5 is hiring a stand up comedian to do traffic. Beginning tomorrow, Jennie Stencel is taking over as the traffic reporter. Nice to know standards have stooped this low. I just puked. Well, I stopped watching KENS5 anyways so it's not a big deal. Just another reason to stay away.

 

Article: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/jakle06/2014/08/meet-kens-tvs-new-traffic-galcomedian/

 

I usually advise to stay away from E-N comments but this is the one occasion I actually agree with them. Many aren't looking forward to her. This one is my favorite:

Meet her? No thanks. I watch JOURNALISTS AND REPORTER...I don't want my CPA, doctor, attorney, judge, doctor to be rapper/comedians.

 

Yeah, we USED to hold the media in that much respect...until they whorred themselves out.

 

PATHETICALLY SAD. Truly. Words fail me. SOOOOO tremendously sad.

 

Kacie McDonnell is leaving WTXF in Philadelphia for KSHB in Kansas City. She's also girlfriend to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Aaron Murray.

 

I tell you what, never I have seen just pure hatred and rudeness directed at a personality for leaving a station. The comments towards and about her are atrocious. They're along the lines of "why would you ever want to live/work in Kansas City?" "some people spend their whole careers trying to reach a market of this size and you're choosing to leave it to go work in a small market like Kansas City," "you should have had a ring on it before you ever decided to move." What makes it odder is that her boyfriend Murray might not even make the roster...

 

Edit: WTXF in Philly and WFXT in Boston are way too similar. Originally said Boston.

 

How do you know she's going to KSHB and what will she even do there? It does not say which station in the article...

 

And this may just be how I was raised, but you should not make a cross-country move to live with your boyfriend unless you're married. They could break up tomorrow and she might regret leaving Philadelphia. But that's just me...