NowBergen

I don't think anyone was inferring Stefan Holt's move back to Chicago was budget driven. He's been pretty open on social media that it was a return the family wanted. The comment on budget cuts at several NBC O&Os and local NBCSNs was in relation to WNBC not replacing Stacey Bell at 5, no announcement of a co-anchor when Adam takes over, nor any announcement if there will be one on weekends with Gilma. It probably comes down to if the viewers actually notice and care, not those that notice every detail of a broadcast. There are enough remote reports and investigative stories at 5 that it may not make a big deal to most viewers. Could that change? That's up to the execs at NBC.

I suspect both Adam and Gilma will go solo with their respective broadcasts for a while. NBC was in no hurry to replace Stacey Bell. NBC budget cuts hurt other O&Os with both on air and off talent, which doesn't seem to have hit WNBC. Probably not filling the 5 pm co-anchor slot has helped manage the budget.

I believe that is the same desk and studio area that they used for New York Live when they used the studio. It seems to only be used for TINY. Not at noon, 5, 6 or 11.

Stacey Bell left to end her bicoastal commute and be with her husband full time. He is the HC of the LA Chargers and she was actually on Hard Knocks season premiere last week. In the case of Stefan, he is going to another NBC O&O. Although NBCU has been cutting staff in the last couple of weeks, it does not appear this is the case if he is actually transferring within the company.. Unlike other markets, it does not seem that any local on air staff have been let go, yet.

I'm shocked. I just read the story on TV Newscheck. I guess for whatever reason NBC determined he needed to be back in Chicago. I wonder how WNBC reshuffles, does David get 4 and 11, and Kuperstein gets noon and 5, or does David stay where he is and Kuperstein gets 4 and 11. I imagine it's up to what David wants. I imagine if WNBC has identified who will be the 5 pm coanchor, they'll need to determine who has the best chemistry.

People are entitled to time off and staycations.

I noticed that. It's also the desk and area used for NY Live. We'll see tonight at 4 or 6 if they use it.

The promo began airing when Chuck returned to 30 Rock last week. He is also standing throughout the news cast as well. Darlene is on vacation this week. I'm assuming when she returns, she will be in the studio as all other anchor teams now are.

Correct. Pat Battle was home this am while Gus was in the studio. It will be interesting to see if they allow two anchors during the week. They are standing more than 6 feet apart using different parts of the studio. It may be one reason they have been having most anchors stand in front of the desk the last couple of weeks as a trial run for camera angles.

What a sad day here in NY. And using a sidecar to skirt FCC regulations yet be controlled by Nexstar is total BS. Hopefully if a change in control happens in November, this may get caught with new appointees to the FCC.

Honestly, I have not noticed this at all, and most likely neither have most viewers. The sound quality that bothers me most is the CBSNY set which sounds like the anchor is in a tunnel.

Living up to the Eyewitless News nick name. I hope the station reached out and apologized to the family that has gone through hell and back the last six weeks.

Yup, messed that up. It was early this morning.... You do wonder if at some point they will transition to both at home as well.

Both Chuck and Natalie are co-anchoring the news from their respective homes tonight. Darlene switched off with Michael this am, with Michael in the studio, Darlene at home.

Exactly.

But does he really? Call me skeptical but anytime a big wig at a cable news network is “part of the story,” that is usually the network trying to milk it for ratings. That would be an absolutely sick thing to do, but let’s be real, do we put it past CNN and Jeff Zucker? “I have COVID-19, but I feel fine and I’m going to continue working from home.” You are one sick person. To think someone would fake this is absurd. I have no clue where you live, but in Metro NY, it is hitting the area hard. And the stories what it is like for the severe cases are heart breaking. Our hospitals here are overrun. There is not enough equipment, or PPE to protect health workers. Testing sites are overrun since so many have symptoms. Each O&O has been impacted with someone infected, and several anchors, weather, and sports anchors broadcasting from home. And any sense of feeling you are immune because you don't live here, is false. It is spreading and not all states are taking steps to contain it. This was not a hoax. Next time, show humanity even if you don't like the guy by just saying hope he gets well soon.

I was reading just before it how twitter deleted a Crazy Rudy false info tweet. Good catch. Thanks.

This morning, Darlene Rodriquez began co-anchoring TINY from home, along with weather reports from Mara LaRosa. Both Michael Gargiulo and in a separate area, Lauren Scala (traffic) were in studio.

Last night at 11 Stefan Holt was broadcasting either from his home or his dad's. John Chandler did sports from an empty newsroom , whereas earlier in the week Bruce Beck had switched to at home. This morning Rafael Miranda also was broadcasting from home. On Saturday Today, Dave Price has been filling in for Dylan Dreyer who is on family leave. Like yesterday on News 4, he broadcast from home. It seems NBC is being much more aggressive at getting on air folks out of 30 Rock and setting them up at home. Both Holts seem to have been set up with green screens, the rest including Chuck Scarborough, Janet Huff and Maria LaRosa from home offices or dens. I assume space, ability to be separate from spouses, kids, and pets (except fish as in Price's case) and capabilities (space for lighting, cameras, teleprompter, high speed connection, etc) for each on air person is taken into consideration as to who can broadcast remotely or not. After all this is done with, it would be interesting to see how they were able to pull all this off.

Dave Price and Bruce Beck switched to "from home" the last few days too. Part of reducing the density of people at 30 Rock.

So as part of the deal, did YES part owner Sinclair demand CBS2 run any of their must runs?

Lots of "if only's" which won't help the current situation.. I also suspect the issue may be more than studio space since the building itself is closed down. The question is what are the current options CBS has, and what they will do short term, and perhaps long term. At the end of the day, does the typical viewer get the local information they need, including local weather and what little sports news there is? That is CBS's primary objective.

CBS News President issued an email earlier today that out of abundance of caution, they will not be returning to the Broadcast Center. CBSTM will be using Colbert's set at the Ed Sullivan Theater. I suspect CBS is scrambling to find studio space to move to. Could they convert a studio at MTV? Or a rental studio? Not a lot of options. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cbs-news-film-morning-show-late-shows-ed-sullivan-theater-1285179?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=CBS+News+Moves+Production+Of+Morning+Show&utm_campaign=CBS+Could+See+%24350M+Ad+Hit+On+Canceled+NCAA

Most NBC O&Os have added a 7 pm report and an 11:30 pm report.

Would WABC be any different? Once they move everything will be consolidated unless they send the anchor team to Bristol CT. NBC has the advantage with different facilities in NJ that have been used as a back up in the past. Fox5 has FNC as a back up. At the end of the day, the typical viewer probably did not see much of a difference. I will say that IMO, I do not like the use of the CBSN NY set, it seems the lighting, camera angle, and sound are off. On Saturday, it took a couple of minutes for it to even air and I would assume they lost viewers at that point to competition considering the pandemic crisis we are experiencing. That did not help.