CLETVFan

On September 23, WKYC is changing their 6pm newscast from "Channel 3 News at 6" to "What Matters Most." Saw it in another promo.

Just simply that and "it's time for change." That's all they're teasing. Plus, one promo had their current logo go through a shredder. It's all supposed to hit on-air on September 23, though the station is likely being coy.

WKYC/3 is "reassembling" on September 23. They're teasing on-air changes leading up to that date.

I am actually surprised that WBNX is dropping 90 and Nine altogether. I thought that show, at least at 9am, was untouchable on 55.1. Ernest Angley is now reduced to one hour on Sunday mornings every week.

(Cross posted from 2019-20 Syndicated News) WBNX in Cleveland has released its Fall 2019 lineup and there are some changes. The biggest two are: No more "Ninety and Nine Club" on weekdays at 9am "Dr. Oz" moving to WBNX from WJW. Also joining TV55 are Protection Court, America Says, and Sheriffs: El Dorado County. https://www.wbnx.com/fall-schedule-2019

WKYC has added Mike Polk, Jr. to its team. He's a popular Cleveland stand-up comedian who's created popular viral videos, and has appeared on WJW and WUAB in almost two decades. Channel 3 has really beefed up its hiring this year. https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/television/wkyc/clevelands-popular-social-and-political-commentator-mike-polk-jr-joins-wkyc-studios/95-e6a54c48-6ebe-4884-829c-8817f54086aa?fbclid=IwAR1xWKIWksnL0COcsEidBV5qLr1qiA3iFKIboT0vxXvhi8WwglHAPNcloLA (I also posted this in "Out and About," but thought this would go on here as well)

Cleveland comedian Mike Polk, Jr. joins WKYC and will appear on different newscasts. He's also been featured on WJW and WUAB in the past.

Jim Finnerty (and when he was Jim Finerty) was at WJW/WJKW in the '70s and early '80s where he was a weekend evening anchor and also the original co-host of the city's version of "PM Magazine" from 1979 (when Channel 8 started airing it) until 1982. Robin Meade was also in Columbus as well (she too was at WJW before, but as an anchor trainee). I should add that Bill Martin was at WUAB before he went over to WJW in 1994 right about the time the CBS-Fox switch took place. Plus, Duane Pohlman worked with Ted Hart at WEWS before they would reunite years later at WCMH.

WOIO and WUAB is adding a new local weekday talk show this fall hosted by former Cleveland Browns player Josh Cribbs and his wife Maria. It will be called "Cribbs in the CLE: Josh and Maria Live." It will air on WOIO at 9 until 9:30am, and will repeat from 7 until 7:30pm on WUAB.

Could TEGNA force Jerry Revish out at WBNS or let him leave on his own terms?

Lydia Esparra is no longer at WOIO and WUAB. https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2019/6/11/gone-in-cleveland

I can see WEWS and WOIO possibly tweaking their anchor lineups between now and January to better compete with WKYC. Not sure about WJW with new ownership (finally) coming on board, and not sure what will happen to the on-air look regarding talent. (Speaking of, I have a feeling they're giving away their red couch from their current set because they're going to get a new on-air look. Just a guess.)

What about Live on Lakeside and Wendy Williams? Plus, could Daily Blast Live (and even Sister Circle, which WKYC has kept in overnights since its launch) even return in the fall?

Could WKYC bring in Denise Dufala for a role with the new midday and 5pm newscasts to join Jay and possibly Betsy?

WKYC is planning to launch the new 5pm newscast in January, according to The Plain Dealer. No word on who will co-anchor with Jay on that new show, but I think with Channel 3 at 5, it will likely leave both WEWS and WOIO in the dust.

Former Cleveland (WKYC, WJW) and Columbus (WCMH) anchorman Doug Adair has passed away at age 89 https://www.wkyc.com/article/life/people/longtime-ohio-newscaster-former-wkyc-anchor-doug-adair-dies-at-89/95-0d47c000-5b4b-4e65-9458-a45a5215a01c?fbclid=IwAR2UkxseN9cztUhqLcYJZlzpNs-sTM88QzlgqR27KfQOTjKVZL3v2I86rQ0

Sharon Reed is leaving WGCL in Atlanta! FTVLive has the story here.

Could there be new anchor teams coming to 19 News? Back to the new graphics, I love them. Much better than the Cleveland 19 look. I will add that nothing can top "Hometeam 19/43 News" as the most disastrous branding those two stations had. Plus, Dawn Kendrick appears to no longer work at WKYC. Maybe she can return to 19.

In honor of the new logo and name, let's remember the last three-plus years of "Cleveland 19 News" on WOIO with this video: Wouldn't it be funny if the station read a statement on the "Cleveland 19" ear saying "it was all a dream" like Dallas (and even Saturday Night Live) circa 1986? The "Cleveland" branding was the brainchild of the management that was around in 2015, and it never paid off. The news music sounded too similar to what WEWS has been using, the logo and its color scheme reminded people of both the Golden State Warriors and University of Michigan Wolverines, and some of the new anchor teams were boring. The new image seemed to have been built around a team, whose anchors once worked together at WKYC, but only appeared together on WOIO on two newscasts, while those who initially stayed from the "Action News" branding eventually leaving or reassigned to other slots. There were also new morning and midday teams that never quite clicked with viewers, and didn't last very long. Neither did some new reporter hires during those three-plus. Hopefully, "19 News" with throwbacks to "Action News" can find success and get the station (and WUAB) competitive again.

Could Natalie end up at CBS This Morning?

I think the new logo looks great. Layout reminds me a bit of ABC 15 in Phoenix, and even WOIO circa 2002-15. It looks they're going back to full on red considering how blue WEWS and WJW are. I love the idea of going back to the "19 News" name. "Cleveland 19" and "Cleveland 19 News" just never clicked. Now I am wondering if there are going to be more changes beyond logos and graphics at WOIO (and WUAB). It's safe to say that the last three-plus years have not been going well for WOIO, and a better branding is needed.

Chris Tye is leaving WKYC after this weekend, while Denise Zarrella left WOIO/WUAB yesterday.

Nick Camino is the new weekend sports anchor at WKYC. He comes from WTAM radio across town. https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/television/wkyc/nick-camino-to-join-wkyc-sports-team/95-e4929180-a2cc-43bc-abc4-4efbda7197fc

How is WKYC doing in the ratings between the morning and evening newscasts?

Wasn't Yolanda supposed to have been paired with Jeff Hogan once Jerry Ravish retired if that was to happen? I think Jeff got impatient and bolted for WRAL. Speaking of WSYX, weren't they #2 when WCMH had Duane Pohlman co-anchoring the 5pm news? Just curious, because he was there when Cabot Rea retired from the station around the same time.