Greggo

One of their reporters posted this sneak peak on social media yesterday to mark KPRC’s 75th birthday. I realize it’s not done yet, but it’s kinda … underwhelming. Too much gray. As of now, at least, it’s a big step down from the not-very-old set it’ll be replacing. Also … based upon the multiple boxes, please tell me they’re not really ordering some set pieces from Amazon?!?

As you can see from the FB post below, KPRC moved its newscasts to the newsroom beginning today at noon while a new set is being built. It looks pretty cramped, but the newsroom provides a decent backdrop. Curious to see what’s in the works. Their current set debuted in 2016 when the station moved into its new building and has held up really well, with no significant signs of wear. One issue they have had recently is that their livestreaming show from 7a-10a has a unique format and often has kinda funky setups. Same goes for the new 10a newscast. They do a super-tight shot of the anchors for that show that shows almost none of the desk and stick a small, lucite table between the anchors. For interviews, they often put stools in front of the 3x3 video wall instead of using the designated interview area. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02WRZX3xqu12Nx16Jou75o4DPMWQibfVM5sYR7vqA9BB8ZTXtuDf2L2bfGqb7jApKyl&id=100058222113278

This Tulsa setup is clearly a test by a very desperate Sinclair. If they’re willing to torpedo a newsroom in a market that size, the sky’s the limit for them. They’ve obviously done the math and know that, even with lower ratings, they’ll come out ahead due to the cost savings from shedding all those salaries. I could totally see them doing something similar in Austin, for example, where KEYE has been in the cellar forever, moving production an hour south on I-35 to the WOAI/KABB studios in San Antonio.

They’ve got a duopoly in Houston too. KTBU airs a straight feed of Tegna’s Quest, which used to be on a KHOU (CBS) subchannel. (KTBU has aired MLS games.) A total waste of the airwaves, especially when there are a lot of syndicated shows — shows that would have higher viewership — that either aren’t shown at all in the market or are slotted overnight. No one airs Seinfeld, for example. And Court Cam, Funny You Should Ask (2x) and iCrime are relegated to 2a-4a on KPRC (NBC).

Gray’s KOSA in Midland/Odessa has been using this First Alert News branding for a bit now. They are the. No. 1 station so not really clear why they felt it necessary to rebrand. It’s super clunky and cheesy. Leave it for weather, not for news.

Another site — Radio Insight — is reporting that Scripps fired all its GMs today, replacing them with regional VPs overseeing clusters of 6-8 markets. Any Scripps insiders who can verify or offer more info?

What is the newsroom “structure” FTV is talking about when he teases small-market newscasts without anchors?

Why in the world would she go from Seattle to El Paso? Yes … I realize she will be the main anchor, but still …

Competitor KTVT gave up on that timeslot during the early days of coronavirus. And earlier this year, KPRC/Houston killed their 4:30a newscast allegedly due to a producer shortage. They’re also now airing 2 Early Todays. Not aware of any others, although I’m sure there are some more. In both markets you still have the Fox O&O starting at 4a though.

KPRC/Houston has added a third hour to its Saturday morning news: 6-7, 8-9 and now 9-10 as of this past weekend. Also, they will be replacing Dr. Phil at 3 p.m. with a 3 p.m. newscast this fall. These on-air additions — plus recently expanding their morning online stream from 7-8 a.m. to 7-9 a.m. — are all happening after they canceled their 4:30 a.m. newscast earlier this year over what they alleged at the time was a shortage of hiring and keeping producers.

KTRK doesn’t do morning traffic?!?

They’ve been doing this for several years now. It is produced by KXAN and airs live on Nexstar stations statewide. In San Antonio, the address typically airs on Graham’s KSAT since that city doesn’t have a Nexstar station.

Interesting. The Graham station in Houston, KPRC, has been hit hard too. Lots of abrupt departures in recent months, including midday and 4p anchor Christine Noel, 5p anchor Lauren Freeman, Houston Life co-anchor Courtney Zavala, Houston Life reporter Joe Sam and the news director, who had been in the market for nearly two decades (first at KTRK). Plus a morning anchor change-up, bringing back a former anchor and bumping the current anchor to middays and 4p. Bizarre programming changes too, including canceling the 4:30a newscast, sticking a day-old rerun of ET between the 11a and noon newscasts and moving Houston Life back to its old, less desirable timeslot. Some of this is no doubt related to getting a new GM after the old one retired, but it still seems excessive. I’m wondering if it’s more indicative of potential turmoil at Graham corporate as opposed to station-specific issues.

I get it … FTV said today they’re down by half. The people left are probably burned out due to all the OT they’re being asked to work. Understandable in a small market, but not in Houston. Why the hell did they allow it to get that bad? Things aren’t anywhere as dire at any other large market station that I can think of. New ND and GM are both very experienced and have plenty of connections they could work to try to find people. They have (or had) one producer who arrived from tiny Lake Charles many years ago. Certainly there are others who would kill to make a jump like that. Better pay, larger city and a ton of fancy toys to make your shows better, such as their storm tracker and their chopper. Hopefully they can bring back the 4:30a show at some point. Dumping it makes them look weak and a bunch of people were complaining about it on social today, with some folks saying they were switching stations. You can’t help but think the numbers at 5a will drop at least some without local news as the leadin. If people get their start elsewhere each morning, many likely won’t switch when the clock strikes 5.

KPRC/Houston will no longer air a 430a newscast starting tomorrow (Monday, 1/9). An extra Early Today will air in that timeslot. Seems like a bizarre move for a station in such a large market, esp one that has had a lot of momentum lately. Their 4:30a newscast is around 15 years old now and every other Houston station is on the air at that time. KRIV goes on even earlier at 4a.

Doesn’t really look like anything that special. Considering all the hype.

Well, maybe not. Looking like a runoff.

Pretty big anchor shuffle announced this afternoon at KPRC/Houston: 11a, noon and 4p anchor Christine Noel is leaving. Weekday morning anchor Lisa Hernandez is her replacement. Former weekend morning anchor Sophia Ojeda is returning just a few months after she left to take over the weekday morning shift. Switch happens later this month. Lots of changes there since the new GM arrived. https://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2022/10/big-kprc-2-2022-anchor-changes.html

Precisely! Amen.

He’s a young, very good-looking guy with some news chops in Hollywood. I can totally see him getting picked up by ET, Extra, Access Hollywood, etc.

It’s bizarre that he felt the need near the end of his post to say it was his choice to leave. Pure ego. Um, you’re going from Detroit to Chicago. It’s a clear promotion. No need to explain yourself other than you being afraid someone might think you were demoted … to a bigger market.

Um, no. Look at her social media and tell us it’s appropriate for someone in her position in a Top 10 market. It’s “ME. ME. ME.” She even blocked FTV because he’s called her out before for posts she’s made. (And yes … I know others have blocked him too.)

After the dumpster fires at KTLA and KTVI in recent days, I’m sure Nexstar (and Mester and Faust) are thankful the spotlight is now on NY1’s Erick Adame https://nypost.com/2022/09/19/nyc-weatherman-fired-after-webcam-nudes-sent-to-boss/

The latest Nexstar dumpster fire. With that audio leaked and the language he used, it would be hard to imagine him back at the anchor desk. He (allegedly) swore 40 times in 4 minutes, saying some really awful things to her.

If they want to be taken seriously about weather, they need someone other than Ella.