lanman

They're working for me, including my hometown WTAE:

https://www.facebook.com/koco5

https://www.facebook.com/ketv7

https://www.facebook.com/wtae4

The domains pittsburgh19.com and kdkaplus.com were recently purchased by CBS (6/20 and 7/28, respectively), and are currently pointed to a MarkMonitor parking page.

7 hours ago, Tyler said:

In Pittsburgh, on the largest cable provider (Comcast), the channel number branding has never aligned with the actual channel numbers on tv. For example, KDKA2 was channel 6, WTAE4 was channel 8, and WPXI11 was channel 12. And when HD came along, those stations are now on channel 8xx. Not to mention on streaming (the major focus), channel numbers are 100% irrelevant. 

Not only that, but it seems in general people don't refer to KDKA as Channel 2, yet Channel 4 and Channel 11 are commonplace references for WTAE and WPXI, respectively.

IMO, WBZ's implementation is done right.  It maintains the heritage of the local call sign and news brand while also embracing the streaming news platform and unified brand, without making it ambiguous (so many people still don't understand "CBS News <city>" or where to find it - look at the KDKA 2.0 comments on social media).

I like it.

I'll also add this, since it was brought up.  How much of a big deal is the Wendy Bell fiasco in 2023?  It's been 2 and a half years since she was taken off the air at KDKA Radio.  I don't follow her, I don't know if she's still on broadcast radio/TV or just on the internet.  She's never going to be back on KDKA anything, ever.  I would think by now many people have largely forgotten about her time on KD.  I could be wrong, though, as I don't actively follow her.

This is an aside, of course.  Back to the main topic.

On KDKA's "KDKA 2.0" special last night, Wendy McMahon emphasized the brand equity of the call letters, so hopefully that means they're not going anywhere.

https://youtu.be/C9hjNRXSfLc?list=PL-g6w-CsfQ1K_rDpCypnPJjtAG7UKe65C&t=408

There's not even a prompter on the camera over in the proper anchor desk area...

The new look for KD is coming sooner than we think.  Check out this tweet:

1 hour ago, CircleWXYZ said:

Apparently KDKA is going to be yet another CBS owned and operated station that’s going to do away with its channel reference, joining KCBS, KPIX, and WWJ.   Heard there’s a CBS News Pittsburgh logo with just the call letters “KDKA” to the left of it.  Unsure how I feel about this.  Yikes!!!

They've had this version of the logo on their website since its relaunch, though I haven't seen it on-air yet:

Check out the old branding still up on the walls.  That's been covered up since the late 90s.

Here's another video from his channel where you can very clearly hear the News Music Now chirps in the intro music:

In the rejoin at 12:01, that's not even their station ID in the corner...

Looks like WBZ has already adopted the new "CBS News Boston" branding on their CBSN stream.  The logo bug and "we'll be right back" graphics have changed.

WPXI has gotten rid of Chopper 11, and apparently they're now sharing with KDKA, according to this instagram post and comment thread:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ0-Hi0Bbxo/