sanewsguy

Seems like a useless move. I get they are moving closer to DC since more money can be made in that area, but at the end of the day, it's still a rimshot signal most of the DC metro wouldn't be able to receive. I mean, can't they just stick WDVM on a WDCW sub and vice versa? Seems like a better use of spectrum to me and continue to give the people of Hagerstown some OTA broadcast outlet.

The concept of sweeps dates back to when ratings for TV were only measured in the months of February, May, July and November. This all also goes back to when ratings were measured via the diary method. With Nielsen now utilizing electronic methods to measure ratings, the whole concept of sweeps no longer really matters, and hasn't for some time. Stations often get ratings back the next day (hence the term "overnights") rather than just four times a year now. So many stations are now treating every day as if it's now sweeps and that's why you're also starting to see stations tease "sweeps month" like stories throughout the year. That's why it doesn't matter when talent takes time off anymore. But some stations continue to hold on to the concept of sweeps, perhaps because it is more practical to adjust spot rates four times a year as opposed to every month.

no change, same graphics and all. only change he made was getting rid of Sean King's voiceovers entirely and replacing him with Brian Lee completely.

Where is all this speculation that NBC is going to ditch WHIZ coming from? Nothing is going to happen because Marquee is buying this station. In fact, Marquee has some leverage with NBC because they at least own another affiliate in Bowling Green. OTOH, the Litticks had no leverage with the network given that WHIZ was their only property. If NBC wanted to leave this station, they already would have. In fact, I could see the quality of this station's product improving. They'll invest in getting everything up to date and then forget about it (see: WMDT – now with the same graphics and virtual set for 8 years, but at least it took Marquee for them to go HD). You know, Because Local Matters™. Get used to hearing that a lot on WHIZ. Also, I could foresee them adding other networks to their subchannels (like they have in Bowling Green with CBS). Who cares if the Columbus stations lose their Zanesville audience? It is a distinct DMA and Marquee is well within their right to pursue additional affiliations. ABC, CBS, Fox only care if their reverse comp checks clear. In other words, nothing is going to happen. This whole "WHIZ is going to go independent or be moved into Columbus" needs to stop.

Didn't they just hire Jeff Andrews from WAOW a few months ago to be their chief? They seem to go through chiefs (and talent in general) like infants go through diapers. Not to mention, the previous chief, Jason Lindsay, didn't last long in that position either. TG should rent, not buy, once Morris finds out he's not moving the needle.

They're not syndicated. Coastal owns both the former Waypoint stations (except for Hattiesburg for whatever reason) and News Hub now, so one in the same company. It's not surprising that NewsNet was dumped in Alaska and Wyoming in favor of News Hub-produced shows, since they own it now. I'm a little surprised they kept News Hub intact as well aside from ditching the in-house meteorologists (that's now outsourced to Praedictix out of the Twin Cities area, and honestly it's an improvement, their weather graphics are better because they use a Baron system as opposed to the AccuWeather crap the in-house mets used).

Simple: he was caught with his pants down and moved to quickly scrub the use of the stuff ripped from News Music Now once it was exposed to the right people that he was doing that. He probably made it private hoping nobody else would see that he was doing that. I am going to go out on a limb and say that he had probably hoped nobody would ever catch him doing this, and it worked, almost. Kind of an odd logic to have when you boast about being seen in over 115 million households. He also started to scrub the NMN stuff from his other show, "The Reed Report" and now uses some random YouTube music: It looks like he was doing this with his other show too, "Valley View with Austin Reed" (how many shows does this guy have?). That one is/was using the old TXCN music and Impact in a sponsor bump. Again, I think once Austin realized what he was doing was not cool, he corrected this. That said, he shouldn't have been doing it in the first place.

Completely agree. I will probably post a follow-up video on Friday to show my audience the improvements he has made, and to be fair. I don't want people to just see the first show, think I was there just to post it because it was bad, and move on. If he's making a true effort, which he is, I will spotlight that. For a one-person operation he is trying. I believe in being fair and equitable in my uploads (as the person who brought attention to this - I doubt we'd all be here talking about this if I didn't make that upload, and to be honest I almost passed on it, so I'm glad I did end up going for it). Not every station is going to be WPVI or WRC — conversely not every station is going to be WBKB or The Delta News. It's important to provide as wide of a variety as possible. Is this product better than what KFSN was providing them? No, but nobody is claiming that either (I don't even like KFSN's product to begin with - too tabloidy for me). This is the same market who has bestowed the world with TikTok/IG stars Caroline Collins and Liv Johnson (KSEE/KGPE), remember. Fresno is not exactly the mecca of quality storytelling. I think Austin is making a legitimate effort to provide a serious newscast. Like I said, he is looking around for a graphics package and so it will start to look more polished with time. If you want to blame anybody here, blame Cocola. They are a notoriously cheap company and have been since day one (they are still using outdated EAS equipment in 2022). I'm surprised they even picked up the KAIL lineup to begin with. I'm not surprised they didn't renew the KFSN agreement. I will give them credit for at least wanting to keep some type of 8pm newscast going when they could've just plugged in syndicated or paid programming (and the Cocola stations air a lot of that). I have seen much, much worse, and I will defend Austin because he is at least taking people's concerns to heart and trying to improve. He is more than aware that his product doesn't look like the O&O in town, but I'm sure if he had the money, he would. I don't think he is doing this for ratings or to make money, but doing it because he is truly passionate about it. And in this day and age when many people are exiting the industry and not missing it one bit, Austin should be commended for continuing to truly have a burning passion for journalism and local news.

My53 did not broadcast an original broadcast tonight — instead repeating Monday night's broadcast. I hope Austin didn't just give up all of a sudden.

Not saying I agree with that comment to begin with, but in the interest of fairness: csreedabc is Chris Reed, owner of Newsmusic Central and also a copyright lawyer in his day job. So I can see why he said what he said.

In the interest of fairness, as the person responsible for posting the video that went "viral".... Austin Reed did post tonight's newscast and he did take everyone's concerns to heart. He has replaced all of the various music lifted off of News Music Now with proper News One tracks that he is authorized to use, downloaded directly from WCPM, and only that package. I think he did read the FTVLIve piece that was published this morning and got rid of the podcaster-hosted sports segment in favor of an extended interview. He also put a disclaimer at the end that it was recorded at CentralValleyTalk.com studios (an obvious swipe at FTVLive for claiming that it was shot in his basement). He actually did license it — he sent my friend the contract he has with WCPM, so it is legal. Mark Agent is a legitimate person, the licensing director for WCPM. Apparently he had difficulties downloading the audio tracks and resorted to NMN for the first show. Should he have done that? No, but give him credit for getting that rectified quickly. News Music Now is very much aware. He commented on my video: They are licensed, so nothing is going to come of this. At the end of the day, I do feel kind of bad that Austin has received some of the hate he's gotten. Some of it is rightfully so and well deserved: lifting others' news video (even if he gave a YouTube credit) is not acceptable, and is not fair use if he's profiting off of it (which he is, there's advertising, it's all direct response ads, but there's ads) and he does seem to be making some strides to getting things right. There was a fair amount of lifted video this evening so I think it'll take him a while, but nowhere near the amount that there was Friday. The presentation could use a lot of work, and he knows that. He is actively shopping around for a graphics package and has had interest from a couple of designers. Given the fact that is a one person operation, I will give him credit and I think this product is only going to improve over time. He had a week to launch (they were airing NewsNet in the timeslot the past three months after they declined to renew their outsourcing arrangement with KFSN at the end of 2021) and I guess they had to have NewsNet gone by the end of March. So I will give him a lot of props for stringing together what he could on such short notice.

I know you do. You’ve made that quite clear.

Not that. The fact you have been on here all day doubling down on your stance. I think we all get where you stand.

you are WAY too invested in this at this point

Lol first of all I am not an "M&A advocate" by any means — most of the quality broadcast groups left are the privately, family held ones or the O&Os, and anyone looking to work in the business is going that route. Secondly I don't necessarily yearn for the "good ol' days of TV news". We are well past the prime era for broadcast news. I don't think there's a point in "innovating" your linear product when younger people aren't going to really watch it. Turning on a TV channel is not a habit for someone who "doesn't have cable". Broadcasters NEED to do way more with their digital platforms but don't because they don't want to invest in it. Hyperlocal coverage, short 5 minute segments that appeal to a younger audience, longform packages only for your website and social platforms. That's how you get the younger eyeballs. Not what Tegna is doing. I'm not one who believes in the whole "Tegnaitis is bad" thing and I hate that word tbh. But if your audience on TV is 55+, then cater to that audience, not the 25-54. I know that's the desired demographic for advertisers but most in that age group just do not consume media the same way their grandparents or parents did. I just don't think terrestrial television has much of a future in its current form, which leads me to this: Because most of my guests on said podcast couldn't tell you what ATSC 3.0 is to begin with? Because some of them don't even watch their own stations when they get home because they "don't have cable"? I'm not out of touch with the medium — the medium is dying and ATSC 3.0 came too little too late. Streaming is the future and that's where their money should be focused. Not on OTA television. I think some companies are trying but not hard enough. Maybe they should invest in quality original content and create the next hit show which they can make exclusive to their own platforms. Nexstar/Sinclair/Gray have the money for it, but they won't spend it that way. That's why I am all for new blood coming into the broadcast landscape. I'm not the biggest Scott Jones fan by any means but he had a much better take on this whole situation: I would tend to agree with Scott in this case. Maybe they do want the spectrum, but I stand by my initial comments and maybe they see something in local television we don't. Again, nobody here really knows what's going through David's head but him. And another edit: where was the "spectrum" speculation when Byron Allen announced he was buying stations out of nowhere? What makes this situation any different? Byron had no track record of owning stations before and he seems to be doing fine. He runs them cheaply and makes very little investments into them, but he seems to be doing fine. I can't say this is going to be any different. I'll be happy to eat my words if the transaction closes and the stations are reduced into nothing more than repeaters for the INSP TV network, but until then, we will just have to wait and see. Kind of hard to speculate on a company that has no track record, and I have better things to do with my time than to keep going at this when you so strongly believe a certain way about this deal.

This is well written and a fair way of looking at things. I think it’s fine to look at this deal with a skeptical eye. But to jump to the chase and say “they just want the spectrum” like the commenters above you is just premature. I agree that INSP’s business model is dying and they are looking to diversify. But we really don’t know what their plans are until the ink dries. I’m sure the networks are figuring that all out now. Cerullo may also not care about the content aspect from the local affiliates as long as it makes him money. Bonneville doesn’t care as long as it makes them money (as long as you’re not a casino or alcoholic beverage - they don’t want your money then). Yes, they own an NBC affiliate but they also own classic rock stations and I don’t think you could consider that music to be “moral”. I am just trying to remain cautiously optimistic is all. Maybe INSP realizes local news is more trusted than national outlets and that their core audience still believes in local news (I know a lot of “social conservatives” who hate the national outlets but still watch and trust their local news). We really don’t know what their plans are until the ink dries. Edit: also whoever said that they are buying these for ATSC 3.0 spectrum - 3.0 is DOA and would be a complete waste for them to invest in. I don’t think that is the reason at all let alone having the spectrum in general. If they really wanted to get INSP cleared over the air they just have to strike deals with the existing groups and they have not done that, leading me to believe there’s a bigger reason why these are being bought.

You're right. They aren't, but will be when the FCC approves the deal. Also not sure why you are comparing this to the WAKC situation when that was over 25 years ago — neither the station nor the company exist anymore. I have nothing further to add.

You don't know that. Only David Cerullo knows why he decided to buy these stations. He could be a step up over Apollo and be a long-term steward for these stations and make the needed investments, he could do absolutely nothing with them and just collect stations like Byron Allen does, he could be buying them as a way to be expanding INSP carriage to digital subchannels. I wouldn't want to think the worst for these stations — give him a chance and see what he does. A lot of hard working people at these stations would be put out of work if your idea is ultimately what ends up happening. I hope Mr. Cerullo is not retaining you as a consultant. I don't doubt that Apollo wanted to cash out, I completely agree there. It was going to happen sooner rather than later. To your first point though, you are right — INSP has zero track record, so let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Again, what makes you think that? Why would a company that has never owned stations before all of sudden be interested just to own broadcast spectrum? There's more to the story than is being reported, and unless you personally know David Cerullo, then you have no idea why he decided to buy these out of nowhere. Give them a chance. The INSP TV channel is not my cup of tea but I don't want to speculate simply out of respect for the staff at the stations who would be put out of work if your idea of mass news department shutdowns comes to fruition.

How do you know that INSP only bought them for the spectrum? Or what leads you to believe that? You have a track record of not necessarily being optimistic with your analyses.

Basically the former Northwest markets along with Memphis and Tulsa are going to the owners of the INSP TV cable network. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/03/30/2413122/0/en/Cox-Media-Group-to-Sell-Television-Stations-in-Twelve-Markets-to-Imagicomm-Communications.html

I know why - because neither stations' opens were done by Gray's hub and it's very obvious. Almost anybody can design and animate stuff better than the Gray hub.

thank you for tipping Dado and Larry off so they can get them (w/ Bandicam logo) for their channels

Those sites look nice but they automatically lose 5,000 points for having those stupid Admiral nag pop-ups.... the ads were already paid for, disabling your adblocker doesn't make a difference. if they get rid of that this revamp wil get an A++ in my book. Those hideous CBS Local sites needed to go ten years ago. Interesting to see the defense of the above two posts given that most people on this site yearn for station individuality. I guess not in this case?

that my little pony pun was cringe ngl

I've talked with enough people connected to Nexstar who would agree with that assessment.